Waimakariri Gorge Trip (1 Day)

• Minimum Age: 15 years
• Minimum Qualification: Coast to Coast Grade 2 Kayaking Skills Certificate
• Minimum Experience: A successful decent of the Waimakariri Gorge within the last 2 years, in the same model of kayak you intend to use for this trip.

• Free shuttle departing from Sheffield.
• The opportunity to paddle 55km of the Coast to Coast race route from Mt White to Woodstock.
• Professional on-river guidance and safety support for the entire trip.
• Option to hire a kayak, spray skirt, paddle, PFD, helmet, and paddle jacket.

Meeting: 7:45am Sheffield – Finishing: 4pm Sheffield.

You can leave your vehicle in Sheffield for the day and travel with us in the van. We’ll load your kayak onto our trailer and take care of the logistics so you can focus entirely on paddling at your best.

Once we arrive at Mt White Bridge we will conduct our gear check and safety briefing.

As you move downstream, your guide will lead you on the safest, cleanest lines through every rapid. They’ll explain what’s coming up, tell you exactly what to look for, and keep the encouragement flowing. If you make a mistake or take an unexpected swim, they’ll be right there with safety support.

We will stop for a short lunch break on the side of the river around midday.

When you paddle into Woodstock, our van and trailer will be waiting for you so you get changed immediately and get dropped back to your vehicle in Sheffield without delay.

By the end of the trip, you’ll feel far more confident, more capable, and more familiar with the Waimakariri River.

If you are flying into Christchurch, you have two good transport options:

• Hire a car, giving you complete independence, or
• Taxi/Uber to Lake Rua (10 minutes from Christchurch Airport) on Day 1, then arrange to ride with someone else in the group for the remainder of the course. This almost always works out well.

Transport and river shuttles on Days 1 and 2 are handled by the group using participant vehicles. On Day 3 (Gorge Day), Canterbury Kayaking provides free transport for you and your kayak, so all shuttle logistics are taken care of.

We recommend booking accommodation near Christchurch Airport on the western side of the city, as this keeps you close to the Day 1 meeting point and makes logistics much easier for Day 2 and 3.

We have hire kayaks and gear available, so you can reduce your luggage size.

All required gear can be purchased from the Canterbury Kayaking website in advance of your course. You can also purchase gear from us on the first day.

Required Gear

• Long sleeved thermal base layer tops
• Long sleeved mid layer tops
• Thermal gloves
• Full length thermal base layer pants
• Neoprene (wetsuit) shorts
• Waterproof pants
• Kayak booties
• Thermal hat
• Thermal socks
• Cloth repair (duct) tape
• Dry-bag
• Survival bag
• Whistle
• First aid kit

Gear Available for Hire

• Kayak
• Spray skirt
• Wing paddle
• Bouyancy vest (PFD)
• Helmet
• Long sleeved paddle jacket

Participating in activities such as whitewater kayaking, multisport kayaking, river safety training, and associated travel involves inherent risks and potential hazards, including the risk of serious injury or even death. These risks include, but are not limited to, capsizing, drowning, or being swept downstream by strong river currents; injury from hitting rocks, trees, submerged obstacles, other paddlers, or jet boats; hypothermia, muscle strains, or dislocations; psychological stress caused by challenging situations; falling while walking on uneven surfaces like rocks, mud, or riverbanks; environmental risks such as changing weather conditions, flooding, or natural hazards; and damage to personal property or equipment. These risks may arise from your actions, inactions, or negligence, as well as the actions, inactions, or negligence of Canterbury Kayaking staff, other participants, or third parties.

You must inform Canterbury Kayaking staff of any medical conditions, injuries, or medications that may affect your ability to safely participate in activities, as well as any other factors, such as fitness level, that could impact your safety or enjoyment. You must be physically fit and able to participate in the activities, as advised by a medical professional if necessary, and not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs (whether legal or illegal) that may impair your ability to safely undertake activities. You agree to wear appropriate clothing and use all safety equipment as required by Canterbury Kayaking staff, and to follow all instructions given by guides, instructors, and coaches at all times. You must act in a safe and respectful manner, avoiding reckless or dangerous behaviour that could endanger yourself or others. You understand that failure to follow instructions or engaging in reckless behaviour may result in your removal from activities without a refund, and you agree to comply with any decision made by Canterbury Kayaking staff to withdraw you from activities for safety reasons.

If you damage any equipment, property, or landowner belongings, you agree to cover the cost of repairs or replacement. A cleaning fee will apply if you urinate in a Canterbury Kayaking fleet kayak. Canterbury Kayaking reserves the right to cancel or modify activities at any time if we have concerns for your safety or the safety of others.

By participating in these activities, you consent to Canterbury Kayaking staff providing or arranging necessary medical treatment in the event of an injury, accident, or illness during the activity. You are required to provide emergency contact details to Canterbury Kayaking staff prior to participation.

Photos and videos taken during activities may be used for promotional or social media purposes. If you do not consent to this, you must inform Canterbury Kayaking staff before the activity begins.

You acknowledge that it is your responsibility to arrange personal insurance for any injuries, property damage, or losses that may occur. We strongly recommend arranging insurance to cover medical expenses, property damage, travel disruptions, or other unforeseen circumstances. You confirm that you understand and accept that New Zealand’s ACC scheme provides limited cover for injuries but does not cover all associated costs or losses.

This risk acknowledgment does not exclude or limit your rights under New Zealand law, including the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, and the Fair Trading Act 1986. Canterbury Kayaking will take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure your health and safety during activities, but you accept that certain risks, including the risk of serious injury or death, are inherent and cannot be eliminated.

By booking a course, you confirm that you have read and understood this Risk Disclosure and Acknowledgment, are aware of the inherent risks involved in the activities, and agree to participate voluntarily while accepting responsibility for your actions and their consequences.

Days 1–2

We run the first two days of this course in all weather conditions.

If our preferred training locations are unsuitable due to weather, river flows, or any unforeseen events, we will provide you with skills coaching at our "next best" alternative locations within the Canterbury area.

Day 3 (Gorge Day)

Paddling the Waimakariri Gorge is always our goal, but this depends entirely on river conditions on the day.

If we cannot run the Gorge on Day 3, we will attempt to offer a rescheduled Gorge Day at no additional cost. However, no guarantees can be made, particularly during busy periods close to Coast to Coast race day when scheduling constraints can limit available options.