"Thank
you so much for our eco rafing trip with
you! It was a highlight of our
trip and we have enjoyed telling our friends and family about the
experience! John even tries to call birds by saying 'Hello, Boys!' like
you did, but it doesn't seem to work here like it did with the
Fantails. Thanks for our wonderful adventure!"
~ Judy and John Hughes, San Francisco, USA.
Half-Day
Eco Rafting
This
is our classic
eco rafting trip on
Grade 2-3 easy whitewater. It is ideal for first-timers, families, and
veteran paddlers. We run a remote and pristine 22km section of
the Upper Clutha Mata-Au River, with the easiest water first, before
entering the swift but fun "Snake Rapids". Somewhere in the
"Snake" we stop on the riverbank to pick Tea-Tree tea and boil
the billy. We have time for native bird encounters and gold-panning,
before running the "Pioneer Rapid" and the
amazing "Devil's Nook" whirlpool.
Departs 1pm.
Returns
5pm.
(Drive to river is 5
minutes, return drive is 15 minutes.)
Adult
NZ$135. Child NZ$75.
(Child is 15yrs or under. Minimum recommended age
on this trip is 5yrs.)
Family / Group discounts available.
Minimum two persons to
confirm.
Full-Day
Eco Rafting
A mighty 45km journey, also Grade 2-3
but slightly more demanding. This is recommended
for
paddlers with some experience, though
first-timers are welcome as part of a group. We run the "Snake
Rapids"
in the morning, pick Tea-Tree tea, and stop on an island for
lunch (provided). Later we find time to fossick for quartz gold on one
of the terraces. The whitewater becomes more
challenging as we run "Hassing's Hole" and "Smokin' Joe's Rapid" at
the entrance to the more peaceful Maori Gorge.
Departs 10am.
Returns
4.45pm.
(Drive to river is 5
minutes, return drive is 25 minutes.)
Adult
NZ$185. Child NZ$95. (Child
is 15yrs or under. Minimum recommended age on this trip is
12yrs.)
Family / Group discounts available.
Please
note, minimum four
persons to
confirm.
Our Season
We run eco rafting
adventures on the Upper Clutha Mata-Au, daily on demand, from September
to April.
Age
Range
The
Half-Day trip is perfect for most
ages. We have no age restrictions, and will take children as young as 5
years old, or sometimes younger if they are accustomed to boats or
the outdoors. On the Full-Day trip we recommend a lower age of 12 years
old. We have no upper age limit!
River
Safety
Our
first priority is
always safety -
there is no other option! Your Guide is a qualified Senior Raft Guide,
has Swiftwater Rescue and Outdoor First-Aid certification, and is a
member of the New Zealand Rafting Association.
Pioneer
Rafting is a safety approved
rafting operator certified by Maritime New Zealand, who undertake
annual audits of our Safe Operational Plan. Our commitment to
safety
and our safe operational record is as good as it gets.
Every raft
trip begins with a safety
and familiarization briefing on the riverbank. Our aim is to ensure
your safety and comfort, and to give you a reasonable understanding of
the experience ahead.
For safety
reasons, we reserve the
right to cancel a raft trip due to adverse river, weather or road
conditions, or insufficient bookings. While we have strict safety
procedures, rafting still involves an element of risk, and the rafting
operator cannot be held responsible for personal injury or for
equipment lost or damaged.
Our
Equipment
We
use only legendary
AVON Professional
Riverboats - top quality expedition boats designed for high volume
rivers, which we outfit with quality gear. We combine 3-metre Guide
oars with client paddles for maximum manoeuvrability and fun. You
choose how much to paddle! Our rowing-frames are custom designed and
surpass anything we have seen elsewhere for strength and safety. We
provide maximum flotation whitewater lifejackets with head support, and
have sizes for all ages. Wetsuits are not provided or required, as they
are uncomfortably hot in the summer heat. We provide quality dry-bags for your
personal gear and cameras etc.
River
Maps
Half-Day
Map
Full-Day
Map
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