We had the most fantastic 4 days canoeing along the river in lovely sunshine. We left Ohakune (the carrot capital) early Tuesday morning and were driven to the river where we loaded up our barrels, tents and valuables onto the canoes.
Our group had 7 canoes with 2 people in each. Almost all were kiwis apart from us and a guy from South Africa. Our main guide Grant knew the Whanganui river like the back of his handand every so often we would pull in and walk up the steep banks to visit a Maori Pa (lookout point) or a Morai (maori meeting house). The mud at the banks was often so deep that at some parts we were almost thigh deep in it but it was never really a problem as we had the river to wash in. The weather was blazing hot for the most part and at lunch on the second day it was 33 degrees. A water fight as we rowed along was the only solution to getting over heated. We rowed at a very leisurely pace and travelled about 3
0km per day. Our campsites consisted of a tap and basin, primitive but servicable toilets and an area for preparing food. We were lucky in that our guides prepared all the food so all we had to do was pitch our tents and start opening beers. The section of the Whanganui river that we travelled is not serviced by any roads or electricity and it was nice for Matt and Emma to see that it's not impossible to live without tvs, nintendos et al. They both really enjoyed the trip too especially a mudfight today in a riverside cave.
In the comment sheet Emma wrote 'Best river trip ever' and Matt wrote 'A great experience. Really cool' Matt kept to his barefoot promise and was barefoot for almost all the trip. With no nettles or brambles round here there isn't really much that you have to watch out for so barefoot isn't so hard. Matt lost his other front tooth on the second day and thankfully the t
ooth fairy was able to get in past the mosquito netting to leave him $2. We're back in Ohakune luxuriating in soft mattresses and hot showers and now trying to figure out the next stage of our trip. I think we will head to Taupo and then to Roterua and decide from there if we will head all the way up to Coramandal before Christmas.
We had the most fantastic 4 days canoeing along the river in lovely sunshine. We left Ohakune (the carrot capital) early Tuesday morning and were driven to the river where we loaded up our barrels, tents and valuables onto the canoes. 
Our group had 7 canoes with 2 people in each. Almost all were kiwis apart from us and a guy from South Africa. Our main guide Grant knew the Whanganui river like the back of his handand every so often we would pull in and walk up the steep banks to visit a Maori Pa (lookout point) or a Morai (maori meeting house). The mud at the banks was often so deep that at some parts we were almost thigh deep in it but it was never really a problem as we had the river to wash in. The weather was blazing hot for the most part and at lunch on the second day it was 33 degrees. A water fight as we rowed along was the only solution to getting over heated. We rowed at a very leisurely pace and travelled about 3
0km per day. Our campsites consisted of a tap and basin, primitive but servicable toilets and an area for preparing food. We were lucky in that our guides prepared all the food so all we had to do was pitch our tents and start opening beers. The section of the Whanganui river that we travelled is not serviced by any roads or electricity and it was nice for Matt and Emma to see that it's not impossible to live without tvs, nintendos et al. They both really enjoyed the trip too especially a mudfight today in a riverside cave. 
In the comment sheet Emma wrote 'Best river trip ever' and Matt wrote 'A great experience. Really cool' Matt kept to his barefoot promise and was barefoot for almost all the trip. With no nettles or brambles round here there isn't really much that you have to watch out for so barefoot isn't so hard. Matt lost his other front tooth on the second day and thankfully the t
ooth fairy was able to get in past the mosquito netting to leave him $2. We're back in Ohakune luxuriating in soft mattresses and hot showers and now trying to figure out the next stage of our trip. I think we will head to Taupo and then to Roterua and decide from there if we will head all the way up to Coramandal before Christmas.
I didn't realise Coromandel was a real place, which shows how sadly undereducated I am. If you are going there make sure you squeeze The Yonghy Bonghy Bo into your "home" ed curriculum http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-courtship-of-the-yonghy-bonghy-bo/
ReplyDeleteGreat news on the tooth, Matt! That's one you'll always remember.
River trip sounds fantastic. Now, hmm, what are you missing here? The Budget... and erm well that's it, yes, you're in the right place.
xxx