Steve was in New Zealand; Part 2
About a week after my first river adventure down the Rangitikei River in New Zealand, my family ended up on the South Island. Given that February is the peak of summer there, paddling around one of New Zealand’s most gorgeous coastal national parks was a good idea. After some searching, we found a beachfront rental shop on the northwest edge of the park near the town of Pohara. With the scorching sun and warm winds, everyone opted for either a sit-on-top kayak or stand up paddle board.
After about 20 minutes of paddling down the jagged shoreline, we had lost sight of the town. We navigated the headwind to explore some compact inlets and caves of Ngawhiti and Motu Islands. Around every outcropping there was a new archway to paddle under or submerged rock to eye through the clear water. We found a protected beach to park for lunch and play. Everybody tried the SUP boards, and despite some apprehension, all had success and fun. On the return trip we looped to the far side Ngawhiti Island to check the looming overhangs and birds perched above.
For being such a pristine place, I couldn’t think of a better way to see this National Park. The fact that the family was with made it that much more memorable. It also gave me a relatively tolerant group to irritate with my incessant pranks.
[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/92556091[/vimeo]
