the_catalpa
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Queenstown Township ▷
Rippled Earth Kayaking
Went out with Rippled Earth for a paddle out to Pigeon Island on Lake Wakatipu, and I'm pleased to say it was nothing short of spectacular.
I've done a decent amount of paddling in NZ, and this trip was one of the best.
Sam, owner/operator of Rippled Earth was a world class guide, and a Glenorchy local; full of interesting information on the flora/fauna and history of the area, he had answers to all of my questions. This is my third time visiting Queenstown, and I still managed to learn a lot.
Also (and this seals the 10/10), since I was traveling solo, Sam was generous enough to loan me his one solo boat, which made a huge difference in my enjoyment of the trip. I really can't recommend him or his company enough - it's the antithesis of the typical Queenstown commercial operation, and if you're at all interested in kayaking or the lake, you owe it to yourself to get out there!
-Mitch
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North Island ▷ Hawkes Bay ▷ Napier ▷
Mohaka Rafting
I spent last weekend rafting the mighty Mohaka with the crew at Mohaka Rafting, and I'm pleased to say that it was a fantastic experience.
I'm a confessed whitewater junkie, and the Mohaka clocked in as the 9th river I've rafted on in New Zealand.
I had planned on coming down for a trip down the grade 5 section, but decided to make a weekend of it, rafting the grade 3 section in order to see as much of the river as I could. Norm, the owner/operator, was very communicative and great in helping me plan my trip.
The grade 3 trip on the upper section was great - a scenic trip complemented by a handful of fairly exciting rapids. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get a taste of what rafting has to offer. Our guide, Drew, was friendly, competent, and made the trip quite enjoyable.
I have to say, however, that the grade 5 run down the lower section absolutely blows the upper section out of the water (excuse the pun). It was, to put it simply, technical rafting at its finest. Boulders the size of houses everywhere, large drops, mean holes, burly rapids with must-make moves, and stunning scenery and wildlife (whio, wild horses, and much more).
It is a class 5 trip for a reason, as it is a river with some serious consequences - some obvious, many not. However, expert guidance from our trip lead Gywn (as well as Lu's spot-on safety kayaking) never once put me out of my comfort zone.
It was without a doubt one of the best stretches of river I've had the privilege of rafting, and would recommend it to anyone passionate about rafting in a heartbeat.
In short, the folks at Mohaka Rafting are a class act. Do yourself a favor and get out there - you won't regret it.
-Mitch
Hi Mitch and to all those that have sent in a review. Thanks for all the reviews. Thanks for taking the time to help other travellers as others have helped you. It was great to have you all come out rafting with us - without you we would not have the great experiences we have.
On behalf of all the guides and myself it was great to meet you all
Regards
Norm
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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Turangi ▷
Rafting New Zealand
Been out twice with these awesome folks on three rivers - the Tongariro in November of 2010, and the Wairoa/Kaituna trip more recently.
Luke, Nat, Kim, and the rest of the crew are pure class, and a joy to raft with.
Whether you're looking for a first time rafting experience or a shameless whitewater addict (like yours truly) they've got something for you. Their impeccable attention to trip safety means you'll always be in good hands. And despite my best efforts at catching eel on the bottom of Tutea Falls, I never felt like I was outside of my comfort zone.
In short, a top notch North Island rafting experience! Check them out!
-Mitch
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua ▷
Wet'n'Wild Rafting Company
Went rafting on the Rangitaiki with my cousin earlier this year with Wet'n'Wild - oh man what an experience!
I'd called a few days earlier, and the owner put together a trip for us. Two others signed on as well, so it was 4 of us total.
HUGE storm ripped through the area the day before we went, leaving trees all over the access roads! Long story short, there's a reason lumberjacks don't wear wetsuits.
Once we got the river, it was clear it was worth the effort. The trip rips off with Geoff's Joy, an extremely fun and certainly memorably grade 4 rapid. Lots of 3+ and 3 rapids to follow, covering some excellent scenery. Great river, would recommend the trip to anyone who's interested in rafting.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Cron street ▷
Eco Rafting
I had the privilege of being part of Eco Rafting's inaugural trip down the Landsborough River, and am pleased to report that it was a trip of a lifetime!
I had originally signed on to a trip on the Karamea river, but low water levels on the river led to us heading down to the Landsborough.
Not only did Josh pick me up from my accommodation in Karamea, he drove me down to his home and put me up for the two nights before the trip! I was treated to a great home-cooked meal, and had the pleasure of meeting his lovely wife and adorable children. Talk about kiwi hospitality!
The trip itself was simply amazing. The heli ride in was thrilling, and we were fortunate that it poured rain all night, as the river was absolutely pumping the next morning. We put in about 7km higher than the other operator on the river, which meant for some thrilling big-water rafting to start the day off with. We camped that night at a picturesque flat, and enjoyed a phenomenal dinner.
The next morning, we rafted what was by far the most exciting portion of the river - we even managed to paddle the one grade five rapid on the river (Hellfire, usually portaged), which was wild! Due to Josh's excellent leadership and Pat's expert guidance, I never once felt unsafe on the river.
I could go on and on, but suffice to say, it was by far the most amazing wilderness rafting trip I've ever been on. There is nothing commercial about Eco Rafting - these guys love what the do, and it shows. If you're at all into whitewater, you owe it to yourself to raft with Josh and his crew. I can't wait to get back down to the west coast for more!
-Mitch
Good stuff mitch, cheers for the review and we will see you next time you come to NZ, we just got off the Landsborough today and some of the rapids have changed quite a bit from the big floods we had before christmas. I will tag you in a few of the photo's on facebook so you can see the changes.
Josh