Yesterday was an adventurous day. No kayaking (to windy) but Devon and I went for a drive to the west coast of the South Island to scout out some future kayking runs. This coast is blessed with some of New Zealands most beautiful and rugged scenery, as well as more than its fair share of great kayaking rivers. The biggest of these is the Buller River. This is a BIG volume river and is a mecca for kayakers and rafters alike. It is fed into by dozens other rivers and lakes as it carves through this rugged landscape to emerge into the Tasman Sea on the West Coast. One day we hope to paddle its entire length from its source at lake Rotoiti, to the sea at Westport. Then there's the Karamea River, the whiskey coloured Oparara River, Mokihinui River, the Owen River, the Matakitaki River, the Maruia River (not to mention the falls), and the legendary Granity Creek to name just a few of the great rides we have to look forward to. Unfortunatly alot of them are class 4-5, and we a still thrashing around in class 2-3 stuff. There experienced to be gained... but we have heaps of incentive!
The tunnel to nowhere.
The West Coast gets a lot of rain. The bush is lush.
In places this road is literally carved out of rock. That's the Buller River to the right.
This Matai tree is huge. There are large vines that take over the tree and almost smother its base.
The canopy above is a whole new ecosystem.
YeeHa! One of many views of the buller from the road.
Karamea beach. (mental note. Return here with kites and buggy in a westerly.)
Lake Hanlon. 10 minutes walk through dense bush from the road to Karamea (click for large view 160k).
The windswept coast.
The Buller River just before it meets the sea at Westport.
2:15:12 PM 
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