Canoeing and Kayaking

New Zealand is a canoeing and kayaking paradise, being completely surrounded by ocean, dotted with a thousand lakes and covered by over 1500 rivers. There are more kayak and canoe tour operators per capita in New Zealand than in any other country. In New Zealand an open two-person canoe is called a Canadian canoe and a narrow one-person craft with a small cockpit is called a kayak. The most popular NZ disciplines are; Sea kayaking (using five metre long craft on the ocean, lakes and rivers). White-water kayaking (on fast-flowing rivers with Grade 1-5 rapids). Fun kayaking (on sit-upon plastic boats in surf or flat water). Big river canoeing (using canoes/ Canadians or kayaks).

Extreme Kayaking in New Zealand

Sea kayaking is popular in scenic coastal parks around New Zealand such as the Bay of Islands, Hauraki Gulf, Abel Tasman National Park, Marlborough Sounds, Fiordland and Stewart Island. Many of the NZ tourist resorts in these areas offer canoe or kayak rentals and guided tours into spectacular wilderness areas with amazing wildlife and pristine beaches. A true New Zealand eco-experience. The magical Abel Tasman Coast and Marlborough Sounds at the top of the South Island have combinations of kayaking, walking and water taxi options available. Mt Cook the highest peck in New Zealand has sea kayaking on the Tasman and Mueller glacier moraine lakes. The Whanganui River in the North Island offers a top-class big river canoe or kayak journey.

Canoeing and kayaking has something for all travelling tourists, catering for personal interests and ability levels. Experienced New Zealand adventure thrill seekers focus on white-water kayaking and revel in the challenge of New Zealand's large volume, fast flowing rivers like the Rangitaiki, Tongariro and Kaituna in the North Island and the Buller, Karamea and Shotover in the South Island.

New Zealand's waterways will offer the adventuring thrill seeking tourist a rewarding experience.