River Overnight 2

We begin our three day Waikato River Journey at Rangiriri on SH1. Those who arrive the night before our trip can get accomodation, dinner and breakfast at the Rangiriri Hotel (approximate cost $90, food and accomodation ).

Rangiriri is a New Zealand Heritage Site. It was here during the Waikato Land Wars of 1863-64 that a small band of 350 to 400 Maori manning a defensive redoubt of earthworks and trenches faced 1500 British troops and seamen supported by gunboats and artillery. The controversial surrender of the Maori defenders marked the turning point of the war. An audiovisual presentation of the battle can be viewed at the Rangiriri Battle Site Heritage Centre and tearoom over the road from the cemetery containing the graves of the British soldiers. Those with time can walk what remains of the defences and Redoubt.

As we leave Rangiriri in the morning on the east bank of the river for the next 18 km is part of Te Araroa, the New Zealand - long walking trail. We also pass alongside the Waikato's second largest freshwater wetland (7000 hectares of swamps and bogs) inhabited by large numbers of native and introduced bird species.

After 25 kilometres easy paddling we spend the first night on the river near Mercer, in tents alongside the hulks of two of the early paddlewheel steamers (P.S. Rawhiti II and P.S. Freetrader) that used to ply the waters of the Waikato River from Hamilton to the sea at Port Waikato.

Next morning we pass Tuoro Island at Mercer (just off SH1) In the early 1900's Tuoro Island was the home of Caesar Roose, the pioneer riverboat man of the Waikato. We drift down the river past the cliffs at the end of Pioneer Road (named after the military gunboat Pioneer one of five armoured paddle steamers from the Land Wars of the 1860's when the river was the main access to the fertile lands of the central Waikato).

As we paddle quietly down the river away from the noise of the motorway it is easy to imagine what early journeys were like with todays stands of native bush while the hills have been cleared for farming.

After lunch we pass under Tuakau Bridge. Soon 18 km of easy paddling is over and we spend our second night in tents on Kaiwaka (no 2) Island, alongside an old duckshooters' hut (that we use for shelter and cooking in bad weather conditions.

After a hearty breakfast we paddle past the Elbow and head into the islands of the Waikato River Delta. The islands are home to many species of duck and shags (cormorants) plus native fantails, kingfishers, pukeko and the Austalasian bittern. These islands hide the dozens of duckshooters' maimais and whitebait stands that are inhabited by many keen locals during the open seasons. We will rest at a maimai for lunch.

There are a number of opportunities for photo stops throughout the trip - bring your camera (we can supply waterproof bags).

A short paddle after lunch brings us to Hoods Landing near the old Awaroa Stream that was the portage route to the southern Manukau Harbour and later the town of Waiuku. After three days and 60kms of gentle paddling our journey finishes with a short drive to Waiuku.

Those of you that are continuing on will be transported to SH1 at Bombay to catch your transport to Auckland, Hamilton or Rotorua *Those of you that are staying over will spend the night in Waiuku at the Kentish Hotel.

The Kentish was opened in 1853 by Edward Constable and holds the oldest continuous “Publicans Special Licence (No 47) for the sale of spirituous liquors” in New Zealand. Dinner and breakfast are available in house or at a number of nearby restaurants and cafes. *Approximate additional cost $50 to $80 . (accommodation and food)

StressFree Adventures shuttle to SH1 at Bombay the next morning to meet buses going North, South or to Coromandel leaves at about 8.30am.