Introduction to today's journey
Today's journey continues down the remotest part of the Whanganui River, departing Ohauora in the morning, stopping at John Coull Hut and continuing to our next camp at Mangawai-iti perched atop a spectacular gorge.
Today's Journey
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Setting off from Ohauora in the mid morning continuing downstream. Today is more relaxed with just 20 kilometres to go and rapids few and far between in this deep set meandering river. |
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Deep in the national park, the river bank on either side is covered in rainforest vegetation under a great canopy of rimu forest. |
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Passing close to the bank as we paddle along the deep river, increasing in volume with each stream flowing into it as we progress downstream. |
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The valley here is wider causing the flood lines up the bank separating the grass from the dense vegetation to be lower than they were further upstream along yesterday's journey. |
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Stopping at John Coull Hut for lunch. A landslide came down here last year. Fortunately it missed the hut. |
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From the hut we continue heading downstream quickly passing the mouths of the Whangamomona and Tangarakau Rivers which nearly double the capacity of the Whanganui River. |
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Navigating through the log jam with numerous submerged logs brought down by the side rivers. |
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Exploring a very narrow ravine at Mangawaiiti Creek. |
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Heading out of the creek, we round this bluff into a beautiful gorge where we beach. |
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A narrow track up the steep side of the cliff brings us up to Mangawaiiti Campsite overlooking the spectacular gorge. The water is almost opaque due to sediment. |
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