LABOUR WEEKEND ON THE MOKIHINUI

Mokihinui! click on images to view larger!

What to take?? Gear carnage morning of day one.

Everyone out of the mazda... might not make it.

Virgin flyers- Isaac and Ricky.

Chris Sinclair. Or should that be Pilot Sinclair.

Flying over, the first crew of the day preparing to run from the forks down the lower Mokihinui Gorge.

There were three choppers for us on the day due to larger numbers flying to the forks earlier in the day. It meant for a fast efficient start to the trip. Lucky we showed up just in time to catch the flight.


The Crew from left to right, Chris Sinclair, Brendon Robertson (Bezel), Nick Leach, Craig Adams, Sophie Ballagh, Isaac Wilson, Ricky Hurst, and me in front (Howie Wilson).

Isaac Wilson liking what lies ahead.

Believe this is some of New Zealand's best untouched wilderness.

Ricky Hurst picking his line.

Adams giving the new boat a work out.

Bezel showing us the line on one of the trickier drops.

Nick Leach picking the right lines.

The crystal clear waters of the North Branch of the Mokihinui.

Craig Adams taking the direct route.

Sophie Ballagh having some time out from teaching kayaking. Get amongst it SOPH!

Chris Sinclair, the style master, still has it even with a lengthy layoff.

The team finding their way down.

Thats a strange looking rock

The green machine Ricky Hurst lining it up.

Great hut but make sure you take insect repellent! The sand flys here have to be some of the worst on the coast. It's got six bunks but we managed to get 11 in for the night.

Look closely. Being a photo boater requires more than just shots on the river, but capturing some of the things that you get to see by being out there.

The Forks clearing.

Night life on the river.

Gearing up for day two.


Plug the first rapid on day two if you want to cure your hangover from the night before! Bugger all that GOON!

After two days of paddling it was time to enjoy the scenery that the Mokihinui has to offer in the lower gorges.

Bezel and James having some quality time together.

PHOTOS FROM THE PAST

The Cleddau river offers several sections in the Milford Sound and is a great way to start a trip there.



The Lone Free Rangers getting into the Arthur. A 24 pack should cover it.



Jono Hay hitting a sweet drop on the Mokihinui. (Will get more photos of the Mokihinui in a few months when I go back there).

Two crews meet up at the end of a big day on the Waitaha. Where should we go have a beer??

Pete Eley cooling off on the way up the Styx. One of my original kayak instructors.

Its easier to take a heli into the Wanganui but walking in proved to be a great mission. Hour 1 of what turned out to be 8...!!

Dave Kwant and Kev England having a long look into Morgans Gorge, Waitaha River. Thanks boys for the great trip.

Myself on the Chasm Creek north of Westport. Its perfect when everything else is too high. Thanks Rich Taylor (Kayak Legend) for the photo.

Kev England on the Ngakawau. Great walk in, just dont take the paddling lightly.

Had some sequence photos of myself going off Airmail on the Upper Kakapotahi thanks to Brendon Robertson. SO put them together on photo shop... NICE!



A very cold start on the Wanganui River. (West Coast)

THE BEST SO FAR

How I get to the river. A trustworthy Toyota Carib. Cheap to run and easy on the environment also! Not bad looking with a kayak on the roof too.



After paddling the Arthur River that flows into the Milford Sound you have to paddle across the Sound to get back to the get out. Just make sure you get a boat to take you across to prevent didimo contamination from the Cleddau River.



The Ngakawau River has a beautiful walk in. The put in to the run is marked by the Mangatini Falls. Unfortunately the falls themselves are un-runnable.



Kakapotahi River on the Westcoast of NZ. Amazing upper section to be run with equally amazing scenery.



The Mokihinui is a must for those who have not been there. This photo will not be possible if the Mokihinui dam go's ahead!!



The Lower Buller Gorge is a stunning place and the kayaking in the uper section is great also. (Background image of Photo-Boater blog - Howie Wilson 2009)