Club Trips and Events

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.

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.
This is an easy Orange grade paddle.
High tide 4.2 m at 11 am.
To register Copy and paste the link below 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.