Waimakariri River - Below The Gorge
Below the gorge, the Waimakariri widens out and meanders quickly down the valley. An easy conveyor belt transports you through a stunning landscape.
Quick Facts
Start - End of Woodstock Road, View Hill, 7495
Finish - Waimakariri Gorge Ramp for Boats, Waimakariri Picnic Road, 7495
Distance - Approximately 13km
Time - 3 hours
Difficulty - Easy to Moderate
White Water - Grade 1 max, mostly ungraded flow
River Levels - Between 30 and 130 cumecs is paddleable below Otarama.
Start by driving to the end of Woodstock Lane, a road which gets progressively smaller until it finishes on the gravel bank of the river. This bank is solid enough to drive close to where the water is flowing.
The water flows quickly, so once you step off the bank you'll be heading downstream! That said, the ever changing gravel banks make plenty of easy eddies to stop in. The braided nature of the river means that the course of the river will often change, but you should just try to look for where ever the water is flowing fastest and follow that. Be careful where the river meets the bank, keep your eyes peeled for strainers. Make sure to keep looking back over your shoulder to soak in the amazing views of the Southern Alps!
The trip ends just after Gorge Bridge. There is easy parking here for your second car. Pass under the bridge and pull up on the gravel bank on river right. You'll have a short walk up to your car.
