Whanganui River, Mt Takanaki and Raglan

In Raurimu we hired a man Canadian and a Kayak to ship down the Whanganui River. DoC (Department of Conservation) counts it to one of the new great walks. The water was brown and full of algae, not that clear like all the other rivers we've seen so far. Flowing slow between hight rock walls and nice forests. We hoped to fined some rapids, but the first day was just floating down the river. After apx. 20 km we arrived at the first camp side. The second day was the longest distance. So we get up quite early and slipped our boats into the river long before the others. We've been most oft the 39 km alone on the river. We've been a bit bored and started to play in the few small rapids. we capsized with the Canadian and smashed it against a root directly behind a rock. Stef scarped his leg, it looked quit badly. The canoe got a broken railing, nothing more. All this just because we went bored. The next day we had to pass a bigger rapid. Our two boats went through nearly dry. Some other capsized and we carried our boats around to go though twice more. Stef and Valentin coughed so much water the second run, that the Canadian filled up to the railing and just sank. We searched for some minuets and found it a few meter further down. Lucky that we left our packs at the riverbank.All over all it was a nice scenic lookout and some minutes fun, but mostly very chilly :-)





From the rental we drove the "forgotten World Highway" direction West. We wanted to climb the Mt Takanaki a Vulcan at the west coast. The weather forecast told good weather for the next to day. Starting at around 26°C at Dawson Falls walking the first day 3h to the Sumy Hut at 1900m. The weather turned and it started to rain after 2 hours. later on we ended in the clouds and found later out that we missed the hut apx 30 meters. We climbed up to 2300m and turned when we find out that we are already apx 300m under the summit. during the night we thought the roof of the small hut blows away. It was raining so hard and the storm rattled the walls. The morning was still foggy and so we decided to go back to the car. back there we have been soaking wet. So I guess I have to climb once more. The view is told to be one of the ones in NZ. But not only because of the view. I lost one of my trekking poles which I my find in on of the screes.


At the way back we stooped in Raglan. One of the big surfing spots at the west coast. It's almost frightened when a water wall rises up to 3m above your head...cool I never play in such high waves. For the next day, it was clear to hire 2 surf boards. So we did. COOOOL a thing I wanted to do since a long time. My English is not good enough to tell you how cool this is. half a day in the waves and we managed to stand nearly 30 sec on the board riding the waves. It wasn't sunny, cloudy and some times small showers. We applied 30+ suncream and still burned our back and legs. never ever think going out without suncream applied...not even when it is cloudy.
Back in Auckland I brought Stef and Valentin to the airport on Saturday morning at 7.30. Now I'm alone. Trying to sell my van. It's jut to old. The dust of the gravel rods sneaking into the backdoor, every morning is a huge black cloud after starting the motor and the wiper is broken as well. so I bought a new one. A 4x4 truck, huge enough to sleep in and store my bike all other stuff. 400 bucks cheaper than my van but much newer and in a very good shape.
Right now I'm sitting again in Raurimu at the canoe rental station where I found some work for the next 3 days. Whats going on next? good question. There is the possibility to work as a dive guide and skipper for 2 Americans. Starting over next week in Picton. Hopefully this will come true. Exploring 4 weeks the Fjordland by boat over and under water while earning a good money... press your thumbs!!