Tubing the Wild Wet Water

Saturday 9th October 2010

Tubing the Ohinemuri River down the Karangahake Gorge (5.5km). A great way to travel!

An amazing nineteen people had booked and it was a real challenge to accumulate all the gear. Everyone needed a truck tube, helmet, life vest and wetsuit. The Greater Auckland Area was combed and several truck stops wondered why old tubes were suddenly in big demand. Big Blue, the Auckland Tramping Club bus, was filled to the gills with gear and people.

We stopped at the lower gorge and had a good look up at the bottom rapid, which looked hairy but do-able. On to Waikino and the get-in point.
We offloaded everything needed, then I drove back, parking up the bus at the finish, and hitched back up to the start. No messy car shuttles and a relatively smooth getaway. A car backing out of the narrow carpark caught up a tube and rope and dragged it up the road, never to be seen again.

The weather forecast had been lousy with heavy rain. The conditions on the day were overcast but not much rain. Slow going at the start, flat water with quite strong head winds then a gentle build up of rapids. Some people got cold quite quickly and chose to walk along the path. Other diehards, even after falling out several times, stayed in to the bitter end. The big drop at the top main rapid was considered too dangerous in these surprisingly low water conditions. There were too many rocks so we all portaged around and got in at the bottom for the final bounce to the bus, where many of the group were already cleaned up and dry.

A few of us had grazes, bumps and sore knees. Some found the water colder than expected, even with wetsuits on. One of us fell out three times. With tubing you are submerged in the water for considerable lengths of time. A very enjoyable day, made safe by everyone wearing the correct safety gear. Thanks, guys.

We were: Carol Exton (leader and scribe), Brent Rose, Judy Begg, Kathy Engelbrecht, Graham Pollock, Jackie Hillman, Willie Williams, Hiria, Julian, Marie, Allison, John Engelbrecht, Kirsty, John Tasker, Jo, Becks, Brooke, Ash, Nat.

Photo - John Tasker and Carol Exton looking their usual shy selves, accompanied by Jackie Hillman