Drive into a scenic alpine valley to access the majestic Waimakariri River! 5-6 hours of fun grade 1-2 rafting

Duration

1 night – 2 days

About

Our Waimakariri multi day trip starts with a scenic drive towards Arthurs Pass where you will be surrounded by lakes, mountains and spectacular scenery.
What better way to get the kids out of the house than a multi day camping trip, where all you have to worry about is turning up!

This is an exciting and educational experience for the kids, especially first timers. It is also a pretty cool spot for the parents as well and is one of our favourite trips to run.
There are a few fun kid friendly rapids and plenty of spots to swim, but the scenery is definitely something else!

We start our raft trip high in the braided section of the Waimakariri where we will raft for 3-4 hours to our chosen campsite.
We camp out riverside for the night and cook amazing food over the campfire. Theres a chance for a spot of fishing and exploring the Waimakariri gorge along the way as we drift back to civilisation.
Full transport and catering available.

Itinerary
Day 1 – 8.00am
Please arrive at our base located at 272 Island road, Kaiapoi no later than 8:00am.
We will issue all your rafting gear required for your adventure and give you a run down of the trips events , then drive for 2.5 hours to the trip start point located near Arthurs Pass.

Day 1 – 10-10.30am
After arriving at the river your friendly guides will deliver a safety briefing and all information you need before embarking on the journey through some of the Braided river beds of the Waimakariri river.

Day 1 – 12.30pm
We arrive at the top of the Waimakariri gorge, where the river closes in around us, giving you some amazing views of the towering country above.
First stop is the historic Hamilton hut perched high above the river giving spectacular views up river from the front porch. We might just have to stop here for a cuppa.
As we head downstream into the main gorge the towering cliffs around us close in and display some very unique formations.
Next stop Mannering cliffs and a 100+meter high waterfall if you fancy a shower or a selfie.

Day 1 – 2-2.30pm
Further down stream we reach the Hamilton rapids where we finish our on water activities for the day.
Our campsite is located on the banks of the river, once set up you are free to explore or try your hand at fishing while your guides crack on with cooking an amazing supper and desert.
Settle in for the night and do a bit of star gazing.

Day 2 – 9.00am
Begin the day with a leisurely cooked breakfast then prepare to leave camp for more rafting adventures downstream.
We depart camp at 10:00am to further explore the Waimakariri gorge and its surroundings.

Day 2 – 12.00pm
We arrive at the famous Staircase viaduct. The mighty Staircase Viaduct crosses the Staircase Gully 240 feet above the bed of the stream. It is the tallest structure on the Midland line. The Christchurch Cathedral could easily fit under the Viaduct.
The viaduct is 72 meters high and 149 meters long. Construction of the viaduct started in the late 1800’s and was finally opened in 1906, supplying a much needed route between Christchurch and the West Coast.
This is a great photo spot so we will be stopping here!

Day 2 – 3.00pm
Reaching the end of our trip we disembark, get changed and load up for the journey home.

Day 2 – by 6.00pm
We arrive back at our base where you are free to go home and dream about your next adventure.