Club Trips and Events

Every Wednesday at Riverside Pool.

Battle for the Banded Rail is just one of Te Tauihu Environment Trust’s current projects. Here is another project working with its local community in our region.

Come and join us at a Community Planting Day on the Waimea Inlet in 2026
Sunday 23 August 2026 Estuary Place, Richmond
Please bring gloves, spade and drinking water. Wear solid footwear and clothes suitable for the weather conditions.
Morning tea will be provided.

Every Wednesday at Riverside Pool.

Staying at Charleston Campground (self book cabins or camping) or nearby Charleston Lodge if people prefer.
Midday high tides make two paddles possible: Okari Lagoon and Nile River Lagoon. Biking and walking on nearby trails.
Possibility to continue further south for more fun after the weekend.
Contact Liz : wynneliz84@gmail.com

Every Wednesday at Riverside Pool.

This session is for anyone who does any teaching of river kayaking - either on the beginner course, or any club trips. We haven't run one of these courses for several years. It is a great opportunity to update the way we teach and develop beginner and intermediate paddlers. We are fortunate to have Steve Garside (an NZOIA Level 2 Instructor) teach this session.
Please meet in front of Nelson College (Waimea Road) at 7pm sharp.

Every Wednesday at Riverside Pool.

Tour de Waimea Inlet.
Launch into the channel at Rough Island near the entry to the Equestrian Park.
Tour around the inlet to enjoy the local birdlife and coastline on the high 4.3 m tide at 11.30 am
Approximately 14 km
To register, Copy and paste the link below into your browser or click the read more button for a clickable link.
https://forms.gle/Ew4itf39EUeimzHK8

Every Wednesday at Riverside Pool.

Last evening of the season

The aim of this course is to get you up to paddling easier whitewater (Grade 2) confidently and having fun. We start with 3 pool sessions (7, 13 & 15 Oct) to introduce and hone the basic paddle strokes and build your confidence both right-way-up and upside down. For those who want to try rolling, we offer that too (although it is not a pre-requisite for the river sessions. The river sessions start on the gentle rapids of the Wairoa River at Max's Bush on 18 October and build up to the Motueka and Rai-Pelorus on 31 Oct-1 Nov. Safety is paramount; we will really look after you.

See training page for more information

Launching from Stephens Bay, follow the coastline to Split Apple Rock, then round the corner into Marahau Bay. Enter Otuwhero Inlet in the channel at the end of the Marahau sandspit.
Paddle under the bridge into the regenerating Otuwhero wetland and be greeted by the magnificent birdsong of the locals.
Approximately 15 km
High tide 4.2 m at 11 am.
To register Copy and paste the link below into your browser and fill in your details
https://forms.gle/72f9yJjvCWqAZvtk6
or click the read more button for a clickable link

Leader required. Could this be you? Contact Jo 021 1169 877 if interested, full support given.

This is a chance to brush up the skills and confidence on easy water before launching into the new river-kayaking season. Max's Bush is the perfect place to do this as it has a good area of flat water to start you off and then a progression of slow to faster-flowing water between boulders creating easy eddies. By pushing yourself in this easy reach to make the moves exactly as you wanted to, it really builds confidence to gradually move up the grades again. Most of our club trips are of grade 2+ and this has a lot of grade 1+ and one grade 2 if you want it.
Max's Bush is really close to Nelson - drive south from Hope, turn left onto Clover Road East, right at Haycock Road and then follow your nose 1.2km to the river.

Based at the Mangarakau Swamp Lodge (probable cost per person per night is $20 lodge-bed or camp, you pay for the nights you are staying). Stay for the nights you want
Day paddles include paddle up Sandhill Creek to Lake Otuhie; paddles up the Wairoa River and/or Muddy Creek; paddle on the Westhaven Inlet.
Which & when depends on tide and weather.
Also possible are walks, eg Knuckle Hill, bike rides (metal roads) and short walks around the swamp. The bitterns should be booming.
Organisers/trip leaders - Margot and Peter Syms
To register: either Copy and paste the link below to fill in the registration form,
or Click the Read more button and click the link to fill in the registration form
https://forms.gle/Si5qGwr4iV4MqXbJ6

This trip is perfect for less-confident paddlers easing their way into paddling after a break. This trip is open to members but is also the last river day of the beginner river course. There will be instruction is you want it. There are lovely views of bush-clad hills from both these rivers. Which river we paddle depends on flows on the day.
For the Rai River, we put in below Rai Falls and take out at Totara Flat picnic area below the Pelorus confluence. There are some fun optional play spots such as Rai Falls (1.5m high) and a shingle slide into the river - most people really enjoy these. If we paddle the Pelorus, we put in at Tinline Creek about 13km upstream of Pelorus Bridge, and take out at Totara Flat picnic area.
Meet at the club gear containers on Akersten St at Port Nelson (map on website) at 9am. We usually get back in Nelson at about 6pm.

This course is suitable for people with little or no experience of sea kayaking. However, you must be confident to swim/tread water/be under water in the sea (wearing a personal flotation device).

By the end of the course, you will have learnt kayak skills including basic paddle strokes, paddle signals, assisted rescues (plus optional self-rescue) in the pool and in the sea, in addition to learning about different sea kayaks, gear and safety equipment.

Leaving from the Estuary side paddle anticlockwise around Pepin Island.
There are many opportunities for rock gardening and caves and chasms to navigate through if you're feeling adventurous.
There are also less challenging alternative routes if these are outside your comfort zone.
Helmets required, Bike helmets OK.
Contact Michele for more information.
High tide 10.30 am 4m tide

To register please copy and paste the following link into your browser
https://forms.gle/9d5uvTws5UN99tHL8

or... click on the read more button for a clickable link

Time to practise these basic skills no matter your level the stay for the Christmas Social get together lunch
Meet at Baigents Reserve at the end of Kina Peninsula.
Training for old hands and beginners alike. Practise advanced or beginner paddle strokes. Lastly after lunch, wet exits, assisted and self rescues.
Bring food, hot drink and change of clothes
Experienced paddlers will be there to help David and mentor the pods practise sessions.
It's really important to keep these skills up to date, think of it as your annual kayak WOF.

Grade: (all levels) green through to red

High tide 13.47 3.8m
Organiser Steve Johnston
Lead Trainer: David Welch
Register your details with the link below. Either copy and paste or go click the read more link and click on the link.
https://forms.gle/M8BajVEVnQQ351VZA

Celebrate the festive season with a fun club paddle from the Marina along the boulder bank in the Nelson Haven.
We'll find a picnic spot to enjoy some Christmas goodies.
Decorate your boat and yourself with a holiday or Christmas theme.
(no plastic or tinsel please, to keep our waters rubbish free)
Prizes awarded for the most interestingly decorated boat, Bouldest costumed Person and outrageous hat.
Postponement date is Sunday 13th December.
Leader or aspiring co-leader wanted.
Contact Jo to find out more.

Register your details with the link below. Either copy and paste into your browser or go click on the readmore link and click on the link

https://forms.gle/qcYgWFVG4G5DZUqc6