For anyone thats been there, talk of NZ’s South Island will bring memories of beautiful whitewater and have the drool start running. If you haven’t been it usually brings a sense of longing and the inevitable “Damn, I need to go there”. It is these memories and the promise of more, that keep us going back. And this year was no different. After barely escaping Bullerfest (read more on Bullerfest) we made our way down to the epicenter of coast kayaking ... Hokitika and set up base at the camp grounds in town by the milk factory. There is no better way to shake a hard weekends festivities then a hike up into the Styx River. It is also a great warm up for anyone new to the coast, which was perfect considering we went up in a group of 10, and only 3 of us had paddled here before. None the less, everyone had sweet lines and good times. Shaking the rust off, it was time for our first timers to experience the quintessential coast run ... the Arahura. The Arahura is the classic of all classics and always makes for a great day out. Just getting to the put-in our newbies had massive smiles, which is no doubt as a first time Heli-flight with Dando would put a smile on anyones face. The level was a good medium flow and there was plenty of sun to go around. I was a little disappointed to learn that one of the larger rapids on the run had changed for the worse in this years spring floods. Dent Falls was now a portage due to new rocks forming a massive sieve on river left, where all the water was being diverted. Hopefully, these rocks will settle in and form a new runnable rapid over the next couple years. Thankfully, the two highlights of this run where still good to go, Billiards and the Cess Pit. After getting a late start, we decided that a quick blast down the Upper Kakapotahi would be in order. This is one of the most beautiful gorge runs in all of NZ, with amazingly smooth rock forming some interesting rapids. The level was on the low side of good, so if felt like every drop landed right beside a big rock. This was all good, just put the pressure on to nail your line. An added bonus of the Lower level was that we were able to see the Cave Rapid and found out that there was no hidden logs, which meant you could paddle through it. This is a way better option then having to do the scary portage above the Sieve of Death. On our forth day on the coast we decided to split the group up a bit and head to harder waters. The Upper Hokitika contains many amazing gorges and some top notch whitewater. I had paddled this river 4 years ago, but its river bed is one of the most active on the coast, so it had pretty much become a completely new river. Thankfully the iconic Gates of Argonath stood tall and proud as a gift to any who make there way down the Upper Hoki. Unfortunately, this is where my coast trip ended as I had to catch a plane from Queenstown back to Rotorua so that I could start instructing a 5 day kayak course with Te Awamutu College. It was there yr. 13 Outdoor Ed class, so lots of good paddling with a bunch of bright and talented kids. The rest of the crew had a sweet day paddling down Nevis Bluff a couple times and preparing for the Citroen Race, which was on the next day (for more on the Citroen Race). Big thanks to the sweet crew that helped rock this years South Island trip; Louise Urwin, Sam Sutton, Bradley Lauder, Phil Mac, Johann Roosenburg, Ryan Lucas, Ryan Hunt, Dave Earl, Graham Ball, Mike Dawson, Louise Jull and Canada! Tyler Fox Photos: Tyler Fox & Louise Urwin Bullerfest.htmlHome.htmlshapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1
NZ South Island Trip 09
Loading up at the Bliss Factory
Always an epic drive into the Styx
Death to Didymo!!
Lu finding the way on the Styx
Playing on the River Styx
Young Ryan Fly’n on the Styx
Pure beauty on the Arahura
Just another Arahura beauty
Clean Boof every where
Show Boating on Curtain Call, Arahura
The encore
Tyler coming clean out of Billiards
Tyler coming out on top of this game of Billiards
Billiards
WOW !
Lu and Graham playing follow the Leader on the Arahura
On line into the Cess
Tyler dropping into the Cess Pit
A bit of push
Exiting the Cess Pit
The lead-in to the classic last gorge of the Arahura
Tight Lines at Postman's Falls, Kakapotahi River
G.Ball lining up the Postman's
Lu thinking small thoughts on Airmail, Kaka
My name is Earl and i like Boof
Tyler sending some Air Mail
 In
the Cave on Portage Rapid
Out
Upper Kakapotahi
Entrance to one of the Hokitika’s Gorges
Lu finding her way
Sam eyeing up Mikey’s drop
Bradley looking hard
Johann getting deeper into the Hoki
There’s always another corner to turn on the Hoki
Congrats you made it, Gates of Arragoth
NZ’s finest
Scenic view
Top half of Nevis Bluff
The crew rallies the Top of Nevis
Ducky styles down bottom of Nevis
Lu following as Johann charges the Gnar, Nevis
Mike Dawson plugging the meat of Nevis
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