Sea Kayaking

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Sea Kayaking Wayne Stevens What is the best way of seeing largely inaccessible parts of New Zealand's coastline without carrying a heavy pack? It's not tramping that involves too much effort it's sea kayaking. I ew Zealand is one of the best countries in the world for sea kayaking therei is heaps ofinteresting coastline, as well as large lakes, beautiful beaches, and plenty of wildlife. Here's a quick rave on the places Jeanine and I have been sea kayaking since we took up this craze. Around the Wellington area: Wellington harbour is one of the most spectacular in the world and the best way to see it is from the water. Somes Island, now open to the public, is the best place to kayak to on thel harbour. DOC allows people to beach their Jeanine on Lake Waikaremoana Wayne Stevens kayaks in one specified area, and the island itself is an interesting place to accessible from the main coastal a great place for a soak (the water is explore. Whilst kayaking to the island, tramping track, SO seakayaking allows quitel hot in places so watch you don't little blue penguins, oyster catchers, you to see much more of the coastline. burn your bum!). and dolphins can often be spotted. Okarito Lake Waikaremoana Besides Somes Island, ManaandKapiti Probably the best way to observe the Thislake, in the Urewera National Park, Islands are great to kayak to. Both can white heron in the Okarito Lagoon is is excellent. Having tramped here a be landed upon, again in specific by seal kayak. Bykayaking you can get number of times, it's good to get a areas. Mana andKapiti have abundant a lot closer to these birds, and the fact different view of the Park from the lake. birdlife, as there are no predators on that you are not making a loud noise Mana Island, and few predators on like motor boats do, is probably much Bay of Islands Kapiti Island. Seals can often be seen better for the wildlife in this area. Great Dolphins are often seen in the Bay of on the Tasman Sea side of these views ofMt Cook andi the Southern Alps Islands andi they are incredibly friendly. islands. Both are fairly easy to reach, can be seen if the weather is okay. When we were kayaking back from the but there can be a swift current Cape Brett area, a school of a dozen between Kapiti and the mainland. Fiordland or: so dolphins spent a couple of hours Sea kayaking on Lakes Te Anau and swimming and jumping around our Marlborough Sounds Manapouri, as well as inMilford Sound, kayaks. These dolphins were quite This area is the next closest major isgreat. Lakes Te Anau andManapouri large they were longer than our destination for sea kayaking. There is have some excellent beaches as well kayaks, which are 5 metres. It is an heaps to do here. The whole of The as great views. Kayaking on Milford amazing experience to have such a Sounds is accessiblel bys seakayak. The Sound is also great because there's large animal come SO incredibly close. Club ran a trip to The Sounds in plenty of wildlife in this fiord got So The Bay of Islands also has plenty of November '94 which was great even if close to one seal that I could have early New Zealand history. A number it was a bit windy. actually touched him. Seals and ofthei islands in the Bay were inhabited dolphins seem to be rather curious by Maori when early explorers, such Abel Tasman National Park aboutseakayaks and enjoy swimming as Cook, arrived in the area. Abel Tasman National Parki is probably around them. the easiest and one of the most There's a rave on a few of the places beautiful to kayak around. Just about Lake Tarawera to sea kayak in New Zealand. There anywhere along the coastline is Thisl lake is an excellent place to kayak, arel heaps more places: Stewart Island accessible in one day's kayaking. and one of my favourites. The hot and the Coromandel are among the However, the best way to see the Park water beach, which is only accessible places we have yet to explore. Sea istot take your time and enjoy the view. by boat, is excellent. Hot water seeps kayaking is growing in popularity in Several of the beaches are not that out of the sand on the beach, and it's New Zealand; give it a go TRAMPING & MOUNTAINEERING