Ruakituri Kayak Trip

In mid April, Jon Parker, Dean Benvenuti, Cam from the USA and I met Scott Bothwell from Gisborne and kayaked the Hopuruahine Stream and the Ruakituri River, both next to lake Waikaremoana. First we paddled the first 500m of the Hopuruahine Cascades, which was pretty intense and took over two hours including scouting, exiting the river via a cliff and taking photos. We got out just before an 8 m drop which may have been paddleable, but we didn't have time to assess it or the big drops we could see below it.

Timon in the main rapid getting air off a rock and in the next shot, submerged in the chute below

Next day we carried our kayaks 6km over very rugged terrain into the 72m high Waitangi Falls on the Ruakituri River.
These falls are well worth the tramp, are spectacular and quite unique in New Zealand. The portage down the hill to the get-in below the falls was a bit of a nightmare, but the paddling was excellent. The river flows over big wide shallow ledges which are up to about 5 m high and really fun to paddle. The rockforms in the bedrock were quite amazing.

The walk-in

Jon and two clones in the first rapid

Dean in a 4m drop

The day after, we paddled the Papuni Section of the river, immediately downstream. This was also a lot of fun, with some very tight maneuvering through tiny gaps.

Dean in two places at once in the crux rapid on the Papuni Section 

Interesting rock forms in the last rapid on the Papuni section 

Get in touch if you are interested in walking in to Waitangi Falls - I can give you some tips on the best route!