Thread: Anyone involved in packrafting / river rafting ?

Curious to understand how you guys figure out if a river is navigable for a particular craft ?

I tried looking at the satellite view in topomap.co.nz, but often the detail is not sufficient.

Are there better resources ?

More with a view of floating downstream in a packraft, and avoiding stuff like weirs, gorges, waterfalls etc haha

@thatguy

https://rivers.org.nz/nzww

@Boaraxa

Graham Charles has written a couple of guidebooks covering the main nz whitewater runs.



If you are talking about less known rivers the
best way is to scout the river on foot first.

If looking on google earth, then the most important thing to look for is a place ahead of the white water where the side can be easily reached.

This enables the rapid to be scouted 'looked at' on foot before it is paddled. Thus determining the safest 'line' or course to take.

If it cannot be safely paddled the craft can be portaged or lined through it

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I have three Packrafts
Google people's reports
Read the whitewater book above. But I loaned it to someone and can't remember who !

Never enter a rapid you can't see through and plan the route

Agree with all the above, get the nz topo50 app (or paper ones to use) and take a close look at the contours and spacing, can give an indication to where there are rapids. Also helps for planning potages or 'shit I snapped my paddle now have to walk out' routes

I can’t help you ebf but I am intrigued to learn what you are planning. Many years (decades) ago I did a few grade five white water rafting trips (guided) and I have often thought it would be a hoot to raft a significant distance on a river through bush country (like Te Uruwera) with a rifle handy just in case of a close encounter of the Cervidae kind.

Originally Posted by akaroa1

I have three Packrafts
Google people's reports
Read the whitewater book above. But I loaned it to someone and can't remember who !

Never enter a rapid you can't see through and plan the route

Like the originals down the MOTU on tractor tubes lashed together with wood and no wet suits.

Originally Posted by TeRei

Like the originals down the MOTU on tractor tubes lashed together with wood and no wet suits.

Also heard of a few people transporting deer caucuses down rivers on tractor tubes

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Originally Posted by Rushy

I can’t help you ebf but I am intrigued to learn what you are planning. Many years (decades) ago I did a few grade five white water rafting trips (guided) and I have often thought it would be a hoot to raft a significant distance on a river through bush country (like Te Uruwera) with a rifle handy just in case of a close encounter of the Cervidae kind.

I'm planing to raft the Grey river from top to bottom this summer just for fun.
The last half is really just a long slow drift
But I'm sure it will be interesting

Then the big one ... Buller from Lake to Sea would be pretty cool.
Even down the bottom the Buller is interesting because there is so much turbulent water

Originally Posted by Rushy

I can’t help you ebf but I am intrigued to learn what you are planning. Many years (decades) ago I did a few grade five white water rafting trips (guided) and I have often thought it would be a hoot to raft a significant distance on a river through bush country (like Te Uruwera) with a rifle handy just in case of a close encounter of the Cervidae kind.

Keen to do pretty much what you mention. Nothing wild as far as white water is concerned. Just tramp in, and float out, with riflle, tent and pack strapped to the packraft. And getting across lakes and the like to explore some more country.

The Wanganui Journey is something I would like to do, be pretty cool to do that in a packraft. Get the Mrs to drop me off in Taumaranui and pick me up in Whanganui couple days later

Originally Posted by ebf

Keen to do pretty much what you mention. Nothing wild as far as white water is concerned. Just tramp in, and float out, with riflle, tent and pack strapped to the packraft. And getting across lakes and the like to explore some more country.

The Wanganui Journey is something I would like to do, be pretty cool to do that in a packraft. Get the Mrs to drop me off in Taumaranui and pick me up in Whanganui couple days later

Keep us briefed on this as it developes.

I sooooo want to buy a Koaro packraft and raft either the Mohaka or the Ngruroro here in HB.
I even re-named one of the Mrs bank accounts to Daddy wants a packraft fund. She wasn't as impressed as I was.

I'm interested on doing it on the Rangateiki River.