Christchurch to Queenstown & Back

Last Friday a felt a need to escape the city. I arranged an extended weekend and organised a little trip south.

1st stop was the Tekapo Release on Saturday, I'd heard through the grapevine that a few of the good old Dunedin crew were coming up. So after packing the car I drove the 3 hours south to Lake Tekapo.

High temperatures meant that the normally icy cold water was a welcome relief from driving in a car that's window doesn't wind down. A solid 5 hours of playboating in the top hole wore me down & I decided to head to Timaru for a cold beer.


Craig Adams trying to suss out an entry move.... Photo: Antz Longman


Howie - Photo Antz Longman


Craig again - Photo Antz Longman

After a night in Timaru, Shanan & I headed out to Jack's Point for a midday surf, clean small waves dished out some nice flip turns from Shanan, a few blunts n donkey flips for me. Also one huge backwards bounce to something by me...

Then I was back on the road to Queenstown to check out my parents new lifestyle as moteliers... Abba Garden Motel in Gorge Road if your looking for somewhere to stay in Queenstown! They are keeping busy and really have their hands full with cleaning, reception work, maintenance etc.

A couple days in Queenstown using Dad's computer to edit some footage for the Bliss-Stick Video Competition & I was on my way back. A stop at the traditional Tuesday Meg Night on the Kawarau was awesome. The Roaring Meg hole was working, although not at it's best but good fun for a few ends & loops. I then made the late night drive back to Timaru. Wednesday was spent relaxing in the sun and catching up with Gareth (check out the blacklight blog) for his view on Aoraki's 3rd year thus far... Also caught up with Logie as he supervised the 1st 1st year kayak intensive, supervising from his van. now that's the ultimate in laziness.

Then dinner with my brother at a Thai restaurant to semi celebrate his birthday and back to Christchurch.

The next issue of Cumec is coming along pretty nicely with articles & photos coming in from all directions. Advertising is starting to trickle in as well..

Antz

Surfing New Brighton

Wicked, had a little escape yesterday and went for a midday surf at New Brighton. Lindsay Froggart came along and snapped some sweet pictures from the pier.
All photos copyright Lindsay Froggart (All paddlers me! haha)

The Local Bouldering Scene.

After moving to a new neighbourhood it's natural to explore your new surroundings. First of all the local shopping centre. Ours consists of the local Pub "The Vancouver Inn" with free pool on Wednesday's, although we haven't been over for an evening yet. Next to the inn is Frank's Fish & Chips an establishment of fine repute (according to a guy I met at my brothers party in Timaru a week ago.) Then there is a hairdressers and a token cultural dairy.

We started exploring further afield and found Christchurch's Recycled Items SuperShed. So the lounge has now been adorned with 5 free arm chairs, and stereo cabinet, dining room table & chairs (plus other random items).

It was now time to test the recreational facilities, a couple of sports fields adjacent to Christchurch's Sewerage Facility. Makes for a stinky morning run. A short drive/bike & your at New Brighton Beach for a surf or swim.

Then back to the point of this article, we discovered a local gem. A sculptured outdoor climbing wall in Wainoni Park. The locals had even been kind enough to leave us various contact numbers for "a good time" as well advising us of there names "KO" and "AK". Looking forward to meeting the local boulderers and working some problems...


The girls in blue (Megs, Kim & Laura) with Lindsay in corner. Wainoni Bouldering Photo Antz Longman


Kim wonders where to go next, Wainoni Bouldering. Photo Antz Longman


Girls not interested in Lindsay's show of force, Wainoni Bouldering Photo Antz Longman


Megan defies the laws of nature & engages the rubber arm, Wainoni Bouldering
Photo Antz Longman



Lindsay climbs the mini arete, Wainoni Bouldering Photo Antz Longman

www.cumecmagazine.com

The magazine has started it's advancement into the cyber realms. Although there is still no content it is a step forward!
So check into www.cumecmagazine.com for progress on the site.

In other news the good fellows over at Feed The Rat in Melbourne have been dealing with insomnia and have updated their website. Plenty of good stories to read about including my mission to Costa Rica, Panama & California at the start of the year. Make sure to swing by their Rat Gear section and check out the clothing range for sale.

I have also started some part-time work for Kayak Unlimited in New Brighton, just to keep myself even busier! Hopefully get out on a decent paddling mission sometime in the not to distant future....

Happy Days...

Antz

Back to work?

The summer holiday finally wound it's way to an end. Now find myself in Christchurch setting up a new house, searching for a job & trying to get the magazine off the ground.

We finally got phone & internet installed yesterday after a weeks delay so we now have regained contact with the outside world....

A few more shots from the north island & travelling around the west coast.


Aratiatia Rapids, Photo Antz Longman


Finished another good run, Earthquake take-out on the buller. Photo Antz Longman


Charleston sunset. Photo Antz Longman


Castle Hill Rock formations. Photo Antz Longman


Looping at Kaituna Playhole, Photo Megan Foster

Up North Part 4 : The Wairoa

I had 1 date fixed in my mind for the north island. Sunday the 17th of December, it was the only Wairoa release while we were up North. I had organised for a crew of mates to make the mission over and was keen to get on the river I'd heard quite a lot about.

An early morning drive from Rotorua we made it to the Wairoa at about 11am. Early morning being an 0830 get up! haha
For the top section Shanan & Jimmy were our "guides" and Gordy and myself were new to the Wairoa. The action was short and quick through the entry rapids and we made our way downstream quite quickly.
Time flyed and before I realised we were at Roller Coaster (site of the Wairoa Extreme Race) I got out for a look & grabbed the camera, Jimmy & Shanan went down to show us the lines but Gordy & I were both amused as they both went through the bottom of the rapid upside down. Then Sam Sutton & Coyo came through showing us some sweeter lines & then we were up.
No carnage stories unfourtanetly and we continued down to the slalom course and met up with Megan & Tully who had walked up the track.
The last few rapids were short boulder gardens before the final 2m waterfall and paddle to the take out.

Everyone had nice lines off the falls & we had break for lunch. After driving back to the put in we geared up for a 2nd run. While getting ready we watched a nameless paddler (maybe Mark Robertson) run McLaren Falls. Then the 4 boys had another run down the river, we were joined at the bottom of Roller Coaster by Louise Urwin, who was making a solo mission down in her new rad 175. She ended up having a bit of fun in the back wash of the bottom waterfall. Good clean fun for the whole family.

That was it for the Wairoa & everyone went their seperate ways. Gordy & Tully the long drive back to Masteron, Shanan to Waitomo, Sheree & Jimmy to National Park (Jimmy had a couple of days left before his shoulder operation). Megan & I headed south and checked into a campground in Papamoa to finally do some much needed washing of clothes & selves....


Shanan Miles run the Chicken Chute while Jimmy & Gordy watch on.
Photo - Antz Longman


Is it Mark Robertson? Mc Laren Falls
Photo: Shanan Miles


Sam Sutton goes through the center (Roller Coaster Rapid)
Photo - Antz Longman
Antz

Up North Part 3 : The Kaituna

From National Park we made our way north to Rotorua, hoping that the NZ Kayak Buyers Guide & Cumec Magazine would be finished printing. After discovering that it was still at least 4 days away, we quickly made our way to do the 1st of many runs down the Kaituna River.

Megan had never paddled the Kaituna before so she followed me down. Tracing my lines through the 1st few rapids and then over Okere Falls (about a 2m drop). The river thens drops into a weir created by the old power station with the safest line being a boof hard right into the eddy.
Just down stream lies Tutea Falls 7m after briefing Megan on the line, I set off paddling left to right and boofed off the falls, landing on the pillow and being pushed out in to the pool. I turned to see Megan boof out from the drop land nicely and flip off the boil, she rolled up and had a big smile. Her 1st big waterfall. Although she had her eyes closed the whole time to keep her contacts in place.

The next few days were spent with multiple runs of the Kaituna, and as the weekend came around our crew of buddies started to roll in to town (Gordy, Tully, Jimmy, Sheree, Shanan)

We managed four runs on Saturday, including a couple of decent play sessions at bottom hole. Also tried out the new Bliss-Stick Mystic for 1 run down the river.

We were then ready to head to Taurangu for the Wairoa Release....

Antz


Antz about to run Tutea Falls
Photo - Megan Foster

Shanan Miles, Antz Longman & Gordy Bulford on Okere Falls & the Weir
Photo - Megan Foster


Local Rotorua boy Sam Sutton going big in his Mystic
Photo - Antz Longman

Up North Part 2 : Manganui a Te Au?

After staying a few days in Palmerston north we headed north to National Park, catching up on Sheree & Jimmy and hoping for some Central Plateau action. All the rivers were low so we headed to the Manganui which according to the guidebook was paddlable at any flow.

We managed to rock dodge our way down through a scenic gorge and watch a couple of Whio (Blue Ducks) negotiate the same rapids as us.

The run was interesting but with some more water would be a great trip. Short Class 2-3 rapids lead into large walls as the river turns sharp corners.

Thats it for the Manganui a Te Au

Antz


Megan at the put-in
Photo - Antz Longman

Up North Part 1 : Mangahao

Once again it has taken ages to get an update on here. Megan & I have been rolling around the north island for almost two weeks.

Part 1:

Mangahao Slalom Course & Whitewater Park.

First stop on the way north was Mangahao, NZ's 1st man made whitewater course based around 30 minutes south of Palmerston North near the town of Shannon. When we were there the course was running at 16 cumecs. Both Megan & I wished we had slalom boats but still enjoyed multiple runs down the course.
Megan spent the time adjusting to her new Prijon Creeker & I played around in a couple of the holes down the course.

A couple of local paddlers showed up while we there. Don't remember their names but they ended up sneaking their way into my photos.


Local paddler (who remains nameless) playing in a small hole mid course.
Photo - Antz Longman


Looking down the 2nd half of the slalom course.
Photo - Antz Longman

12 Mile Creek & big rain

After a week of driving for queenstown rafting my rat was starving. A huge low had just passed over the lower south island bringing the Shotover river upto 220cumecs & washing out parts of the road, the Kawarau rose to over 600 cumecs and Lake Wakitipu was edging closer to flood level.
Thursday morning Megan & I headed out to check out Nevis Bluff at high flow, we were stopped by road workers blasting rock from above the road. We caught a glimpse of some big brown crashing waves from over a km upstream. On the way back to town we stopped and check out the few of the DogLeg Rapid, quite washed out with the high flow.

After some lunch we loaded the creek boats and headed out to 12 Mile Delta, a 40 minute walk up a well looked after walking track you come to San Somers Hut.

The Walk In - Paddler: Megan Foster Photo: Antz Longman

Just behind the hut lies a sweet 6-7metre drop. After some humming & harring I decided that the drop was good to go, we planned some safety and set up some cameras.

Scouting - Paddler: Antz Longman Photo: Megan Foster

I ran the falls twice with varying levels of success, a large boil pushes you into a small cave on river right, which isn't too bad & you can paddle out of successfully.

About to hit the lip - Paddler: Antz Longman Photo: Megan Foster


A little bit of a crazy shot - Paddler: Antz Longman Photo: Megan Foster

I then climbed out just below the drop and walked downstream with Megan, as we didnt like the idea of paddling the tight wood filled canyon at this high flow. We put in halfway down & ran some small & tight rapids. With a few sizable portages around wood infested sections.

12 Mile was sick, and can't wait to have another opportunity to explore the rest of the river & possibly the section below the Glenorchy Road (Altough this section traps even more wood.

Antz