The Perpetual Flow: The waters of Southland New Zealand

Camping in Milford Sounds

I have been down in Queenstown for a few weeks now hanging out with friends, doing some hikes, riverboarding and kayaking. Liz, my friend from Wet Planet, is working at Mad Dog River Boarding and has taken me out my first couple of times riverboarding which has been a nice change. Its fun being uncomfortable in an environment that you are generally quite comfortable in. The section of the Kawarau - the Roaring Meg - is not difficult, but has a lot of water going through a very tight canyon, so there are lots of strong eddylines and boils that tug your flippered feet and body board in different directions.

Lake Wakatipu

I rode along with a rafting trip on the Shotover Canyon, which was a fun sunny day out. The rafts provided the usual entertainment and the run ends with a 100 meter long tunnel from the mining days that opens right into the final and unscoutable grade IV rapid - Cascade.

Charlie, Liz and Moose rafting the Shotover

Me watching the rafting action on the Shotover

Photo: Liz Arnold

Raft entering the Tunnel on the Shotover

Liz and I had been wanting to do a long day on the river and get a chance to seen the infamous Nevis Bluff rapid on the Kawarau at river level. We put in above the bungee bridge and ran the Dog Leg section, which had about 200 meters of HUGE waves. Fun stuff. She brought along her co-worker Ian "Twiggy" who was keen on scouting and possibly running Nevis on a riverboard. Being the only kayaker, and not feeling 100%, it didnt take long for me to decide to portage at least the 1st two drops. Ian fired it up. Both his fins were ripped off, and he probably spent more time underwater. Nevis is huge.

Nevis Bluff from the road above

1st drop of Nevis Bluff at river level

Twiggy about to go deep on the second drop of Nevis Bluff

Liz and I headed on down to Citroen Rapid, which we had pre-scouted on the way out. Liz styled it on the riverboard, I followed behind her with a good line through the fun, big water rapid.

Liz scouting her line on Citroen

My birthday was soon approaching and I was itching to get out of town and do something fun. Moose was able to hook up 2 tandem sea kayaks for a few days. So in a day we made quick plans for food and logistics of a 3 day sea kayaking trip in Milford Sounds - Fiordland National Park. Liz and I had never been in a sea kayak and Moose and Charlie had one practice day in Lake Wakitipu. The weather was looking like it was gonna hold so we made it happen.

Liz and I ready for action!

Choppy first day!

The first day was a beautiful drive to Milford Sounds, but didn't put on until around 2pm so the water was quite rough with a strong headwind. This area is spectacularly beautiful. Think of a bigger version of Yosemite with fiords reaching out into the Tasman Sea. We spotted a protected bay for a fall-back option because there are only a few places where you can get out of the water. Its mainly 100-500 meter sheer granite cliffs dropping right into the sound. Found a small spot to camp above the high tide line and boom - home for the night.

Birthday Camp!

Harrison Cove - Where I spent my 27th birthday

We enjoyed good food and drink and even Dutch Oven brownies for my birthday. We realized the sea was much calmer for paddling in the morning and evenings, making better time the next day passing under the many looming peaks and magnificent waterfalls. Dense fog rolled in and made things interesting. We made for Anita bay, the next known landing site. We ventured in the ocean briefly, but were cautious due to fog and rising winds.