Monday, March 16, 2009

A little less polluted than the North Island version - The Wanganui River

Situated 45 minutes South of Hokitika or 5 minutes North of Harihari on the West Coast of the South Island the pristine drainage of the Wanganui River. A good class IV+ runs where everything is scoutable, portageable and therefore manageable. With low water on the West Coast and the having just done the Kokatahi Chris Goodnough, Robin Scott, John Trembley and myself turned to the predominately snow melt fed Wanganui River for another great day on the river. Here is some photos of this amazing asset of West Coast Whitewater

John on the first section of the day

Get that nose up

Goody staying away from the light

Pool drop paradise

Myself pitching off the first substantial drop

Robin re-visiting the first run we done together

John coming into the first drop

Chris trying to stay away from a nasty slot

Wanganui boulder gardens

Come on through Chris Goodnough

Robin Scott - Model Human Being

NZ rivers are up there on the beauty scales

Robin about to eat shit and hurt his shoulder

Nice technique to punching a hole Chris - Arms up and Lean Back

Andi who meet us at the confluence - loving her first heli-trip

This trip offers a great beginners run from the conflunce of the Wanganui and Lambert River with only one class IV (ish) rapid and section. Also, there are some amazing hot pools to stop at on the paddle out but you can work out where they are because I don't want to turn up and find heaps of people there. Enjoy