Rangitata Gorge Whitewater Kiwi style

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Lake Tekapo
January 28th 2006

Published: January 28th 2006

Rangitata Gorge River rafting

Life doesnt' get much better. I caught the Rangitata bus to the Rangitata lodge. We loaded my bike trailer and baggage into the bus. The bike got the front seat. I decided to bypass the trip out of town because drivers in Christchurch are nuts. I'm glad I did because it was 2 hours of flat boring landscape with lots of traffic. Anyway we arrived at a beautiful lodge perched on a hillside with lush green forest surrounding it. They fed us lunch so we'd have energy to paddle hard. Then we took a bus to the put in. A wide open river plane with mountains in the backdrop up stream. Stunning.

I ended up in a boat with an Israeli couple and a couple from the UK. Both very friendly. It was their first time rafting on a class 4-5 river. Simon, or Chunky (from the movie "Goonies"), as Simon referred to his nickname was our guide. A young fun loving Kiwi guide with blonde Rastafarian dreads and a great sense of humour. He was referred to as the mortar that held the group together (inside joke).

The first part of our jouney was on flat water where Simon taught the new rafters all the commands they would need to survive the coming rapids. Then we practiced flipping the boat in calm water for practice. Cooolld glacial water. But, hey, it was 100 deg out.

The water was the most beautiful shade of blue I have ever seen. Its the color of the sky. Its this way from the rock flour that comes off the glaciers. The surrounding walls of the gorge are greyish white. Creating a sureal river gorge that is stunning. Besides the whitewater the trip was worth it just for the scenery.

So, our first two rapids were class 1 and 2. Then came the class 5 called Razorback. A short but intense drop down a narrow chute, bouncing of a rock on the right side. The clincher is that you don't want to get pushed to the left because of a giant recirculating hole. Simon, with his Kiwi accent said we'd bloody well paddle hard. So we did and punched through the rapid with no problems. I learned two commands that I'd never used rafting in the states. That is hold on and get down. Both which are used to keep you from flinging out of the boat and into the whitewater. Works pretty well.

Then some class 3 and 4. Then the next bad boy. A 40 meter, rock garden. Simon who I had told that I had been a river guide said "ok , you guys if I go out of the boat listen to Lisa, she is second in command. Great I thought. Its been a few years. The head guide told everyone that I was the most important person on the trip because I was a paramedic. I followed that up with. Yes, if we go out of the boat rescue me first as I will have to save all your lives (o:

So off we went. Right, then left, then right, then center. Something like that. It was a blast. Fast moving water in a narrowing gorge that was dropping fairly quickly through white gorge cliffs. We made it through the whole thing with everyone still in the boat and most importantly the guide was still in the boat.

After that we stopped in an eddy and all the rafters jumped of a 15 ft cliff into the river for a swim down a calmer section of river. The water was cold but it felt great on this incredibly hot day. Although with the wetsuit, and life jacket I felt like a folling beach ball. I got circulated through a couple of small whirlpools which are real common when all the river's water is squeezed into a narrow gorge. Its just a gentle wswirling so you feel like you are caught in one spot.

After that a few folks dared the 30 foot jump into the deep gorge pool. I passed. No injuries for me and I had already done that, been there.

We did a few more rapids and swimming and then pulled in to the take out. Absolutely a blast. Our guides were a lot of fun. I love river raft guides. Fun loving group of Athletic, non athletes (for the most part). Who are always characters. Being a character is required for this job. Keeping the guests entertained and light hearted as they crash through class 5 rapids.

Then we loaded up and headed back to the lodge for showers and a Kiwi BBQ. Sausage burgers, salad, and ofcourse potatoes. I sat with the couples I rafted with and and got to know them a bit more. Then they headed back to camp and I hung out, put up my tent, and talked to a young boy from the UK about the meaning of life as he was taking a year off to figure it all out.

So, I've experienced rafting in New Zealand. I may have to do it again before I'm through. Great fun mate!

Rangitata Gorge to Fairlie

The next day it was over cast so I decided that instead of staying another day I would use the cover to get some more miles in. Big mistake!!! The cloud cover burned off around 11am and by 1pm it was over 100 degrees. I was like an egg in a frying pan. I had also looked at the elevation map and decided that the little mt. compared to the big pass didn't present much of a challenge. So off I went to make it to Fairlie and if I was really optimistic I could make it all the way to Lake Tekapo. Well the heat was overwhelming at times. I pulled off in the shade a number of times just to cool off. I was at least lucky that I had a tail wind. The small elevation blip on the chart turned out to be a long mountain climb. Steep, narrow, endless, and hot as &^^*(. At one point I had to take a break or my brains were going to fry. After that I made the long push to the summit of "Mt. Michael". Elevation 420 meters. Not a terrible climb in cooler weather. Imade it to the summit and the Allandale Tea Room farm barn. I was sweating more than I ever have. I was soaking wet, my hair discheveled. I walked up to the cafe and asked first for water and second for a cup of coffee. I needed fluid and caffiene now. I sat, drank lots of water, and sucked down my coffee. Regaining strength to continue. By now I had decided that Lake Tekapo was out of the question for today. I had another larger mt. pass to climb to get there. Fairlie was my destination. The woman at the counter assured me that it was all downhill from here.

Cool wind, camp waiting for me to pull my bike up and quit for the day. I stopped at the Fairlie Motor camp. I love the way the Kiwis do camping. There is a clean, free shower, a kitchen, a BBQ, and I've been told hammocks snuggled in the forest. I pulled in, set up camp, took a shower, and ate a large dinner.

Today I decided to take a day off to catch up on reading, sleep, and e-mail.

Tomorrow at 0500 I'll be heading out to climb that pass in the cool of the morning. Next stop Lake Tekapo.

Rangitata Gorge Whitewater Kiwi style

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