Canoeing Facts

The usual season is September through to April. The river tends to be higher (and therefore faster!) in spring when the snow on the mountains is melting.

Best time to go: December (after the school trips have finished and before the summer holiday rush starts).

Five days on the river is ideal. Shorter trips are also possible.

We have hired canoes 5 times in the last 12 years for various trips. Each time we have hired canoes from Pioneer Jet Boat Tours and found them very easy to deal with. On one of our trips one couple had their own canoe. They were delivered and picked up with the rest of us for a small fee.

Help and advice is freely given and off road parking is provided. This trip we stayed at a motel a short walk from their office and barrels were delivered prior to our arrival for overnight packing and picked up the next day. They are members of the Wanganui River Commercial Operators Association and have been in business for nearly 20 years.

Costs:
Canoe hire, transport and hut fees in 1998 for 3 days for 2 adults and 2 children cost $477 ($119 each). For current prices - contact the hire firms.

Contact:
Pioneer Jet Boat Tours
PO Box 399
Taumarunui
Ph (07)895 8074
Fax (07)895 8074
for Canoe Hire and Jet Boat Trips

Taumarunui

A short walk from Pioneer Jet Boat Tours is the Kelly Motel. The owners are friendly and well used to canoeists. The units are older style buildings showing the wear of time but are comfortable, clean and spacious (helps when packing!)

Contact:
Kelly's Riverside Motel
10 River Road
Taumarunui
Ph (07)895 8175
Fax (07)895 9089

On the River

The choice is camping or Department of Conservation Huts. Fees for huts are payable in advance wherever canoes are hired. Huts have water (water tanks), sinks, tables and chairs, sleeping shelves with mattresses and gas cooking and heating. They sleep around 30. It does pay to take tents though - there were reports of 200+ people on the river in the height of summer!

Camp sites are available at various points on the river.

Information re: Huts and River:
Taumarunui Information Centre
Railway Station
Taumarunui
Ph (07)895 7494

Department of Conservation
Corner Ingestre / St Hill Streets
Wanganui
Ph (06)345 2402

ITEM	REASON
Canadian Canoe	Takes 2 people comfortably and gear
or Kayak	Harder work, gear is harder to pack
Paddles	Long one at back for steerage, shorter one in front
Life Jackets	Wear them at ALL times!
Plastic Drums - water tight	Each trip - someone has over turned
Chilly bins & Duct tape	Easier than barrels for food storage. Duct tape keeps them waterproof
Ropes	Tie Everything in. If you fall out it prevents loss of gear
Bailer	You'll need it
Map in sealed plastic bag	Water splashes in
First Aid Kit	Help can be a day's paddling away. Burns, bleeding and sprains can happen. Muscles ache.
2 sets warm, dry clothing	Wool or equivalent is best
Enough clothes	Tee shirts, shorts etc
Waterproof jacket	They are windproof and provide warmth as well as dryness
Change of shoes	Nice to get out of the wet ones in camp
Plastic bags	for wet clothes, dirty clothes, spare food....
Torches and spare batteries	Try NOT to be on the river after dark! It is extremely dangerous. Needed around camp
Candles, lanterns	Useful in camps
Tents	Huts can be full
Sleeping Bags	Nothing like a nice one at the end of the day!!!
Bed rolls	The ground has lumps
Cooking Stove & matches	To cook
Billies, frypan	To cook with
Plates, cutlery, cups	To eat with
Tea towel or 2	Good for wrapping cups in and occassionally using
Liquid Soap	Washing up; Rub on outside of billy before hanging over fire
Dish brush	Yesterday's scraps are not so appealing today
Sponge	Leave huts tidy
Plastic bucket	Washing things
Full water containers	Giardia is rife
Food	Enough for trip plus spare day. Scroggin goes down well
Drinks	Lemonade is nice. Resealable bottles
Sun cream	Sun + Water reflection = sunburn
Sunhat, dark glasses, warm hat	Protection
Optional - thermette	Have used ours on the riverbank for hot drinks. Saves gas

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