The Monument To Packrafting – Beginner Friendly 3-Day Packrafting Trip
Set departure Overnight Packrafting Adventures run through the season that are open for all to join. If you would like to put on your own adventure, we just need a minimum of 2 people to put on exclusive dates. Contact us with enquiries.
Quick Info – The Monument Packrafting Adventure
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Trip length: 3 days, 2 nights
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Departure: 8 am from Queenstown (arrive Te Anau ~10 am). You can also meet us in Te Anau.
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Return: Back in Queenstown by early evening on Day 3
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Gear storage: Leave extra bags securely with us in Queenstown if needed
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Paddle times: Day 1 Waiau River 25km(Grade 1, beginner-friendly), ~4–5 hours paddling with breaks on. Day 2 16km lake paddling 5hrs with breaks, Day 2 10km 3-4km (short cuts available if preferred!)
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Hiking: The Monument climb (optional) Short but steep scramble (~290 m) with a rock chimney, fixed chain, and narrow ledges. 1–2 hours return. Incredible views from the summit.
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Camping: Two lakeside nights (near Shallow Bay Hut & George Bay)
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What’s included: Packraft, paddle, PFD, helmet, dry bags, safety gear, guiding, transport from Queenstown/Te Anau (full packing list provided on booking)
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What to bring: Clothing, personal medication, water bottle, sun screen, insect repellent.
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Fitness required: Comparable to a multi-day walk – it’s about effort, not technical paddling skills
Looking for a packrafting trip that’s more about effort and adventure than whitewater skill? The Monument Packrafting Adventure is a 3-day, beginner-friendly journey that takes you down the Waiau River near Te Anau, across the stunning waters of Lake Manapouri, and up the iconic granite spire known as The Monument.
This trip is designed so that anyone can do it – no paddling experience needed. The challenge here isn’t tricky rapids or technical skills, it’s the physical adventure: paddling, hiking, camping, and climbing. Think of it like a multi-day tramp, but with boats.
Our overnight adventure in the Rees Valley is an all natural mind & body rejuvenation package...
Sports scientists call it active recovery, we call it chicken soup for the soul.
Overview
DAY 1
Our journey begins with a scenic drive south, leaving Queenstown behind and rolling into Fiordland. The Waiau River is our gateway – a gentle, fast-flowing ribbon of clear water that carries us effortlessly through beech forest and open valleys. It’s beginner-friendly but full of character, with just enough current to keep your paddle moving and your smile wide. By the afternoon we drift into Lake Manapōuri, where we’ll set up camp near Shallow Bay and watch the light fade across the mountains.
Unlike most packrafting trips, we don’t need to lug heavy packs on this one – everything travels with us in the boats. It’s still designed to be a challenge, because that’s what makes it rewarding. By the end you’ll have earned the views, the climb, and the stories you’ll be telling for years. Like a multi-day tramp, it’s the steady rhythm of paddling, carrying your own camp, and embracing whatever Fiordland weather rolls in. For the right kind of adventurer, that’s exactly the reward.
DAY 2
We wake to the stillness of Lake Manapōuri and push out onto the water, paddling beneath Fiordland’s jagged skyline. The lake is vast and ever-changing – glassy calm one moment, textured with wind the next – but always spectacular. By midday we reach the base of The Monument, a granite spire rising straight out of the lake.
Day 2 is where the adventure deepens. We set out early across the vast sweep of Lake Manapōuri, giving ourselves time to handle whatever weather Fiordland throws at us. The paddle is steady and physical, but there’s a rhythm to it – stroke after stroke, the mountains sliding past, the lake shifting between glassy calm and wind-ruffled energy. By midday we reach The Monument, a dramatic peak guarding the lake. For those ready to take it on, the climb is short, steep, and unforgettable.
After summiting, we'll return to our gear on the Lake and glide on to George Bay, where camp and a well-earned rest await.
DAY 3
On our final morning we break camp and turn our bows back across the lake. The way home always feels different – the muscles are tired but the rhythm comes easier, and every paddle stroke carries the satisfaction of what we’ve already achieved. The lake can still test us, but that’s part of the story we take with us. By the time we reach the shore, we’ve earned not just the views and the memories, but the pride of completing a true Fiordland adventure.
As we paddle back to the van, the conversation usually turns to what’s next – a whitewater course to build skills, another valley to explore, maybe even buying your own raft. That’s the beauty of trips like this: they spark something bigger. Soon enough we’re rolling back into Queenstown, where a cold beer, a hot shower, and the comfort of your own bed feel all the sweeter for having been earned out in the wilds.
What's included
- Transport to and from Queenstown (or Te Anau, self driving is an option if you'd prefer)
- All packrafting equipment, backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, wetsuits, paddles, PFD's, helmets etc.
- All food (Lunch x3, Dinner x2, Breakfast x2)
- Camping and river access fees
- Fully qualified and experienced guides
What's not
- Any snacks or beverages for the evening that you'd like to bring along
- Sense of adventure
- Sunscreen, insect repellent, personal meds
- Water Bottles (water refills are available everywhere)
Who's this trip for?
The Monument Packrafting Adventure is built for beginners, no experience necessary...but that's not to say it's always “easy.” The challenge here comes from steady effort rather than technical paddling, which makes it surprisingly versatile. It’s a trip that works just as well for someone’s very first overnight adventure as it does for marking a milestone — a birthday, stag or hen do, or simply a chance to do something extraordinary together. Because it’s about endurance and rhythm, not skill, it’s also a rare trip that can span generations: teenagers, parents, even adventurous grandparents can all share the journey. The same goes for team-building groups, where nothing bonds people quite like working side by side in wild places.
And then there’s the climb itself. The Monument is not something you wander up in flip-flops. It’s a long approach across the water and a steep scramble to the top, demanding effort and focus — which is exactly why it’s such a powerful moment. Standing on the summit, Fiordland stretching in every direction, is a memory to be proud of and to carry home. It’s not easily achieved, and that’s the point: this trip is designed to leave you with a story you’ll be telling for years.
The Details
We've changed our model to work with set departure dates. More often than not we've found small groups (couples or solo travellers) wanting to come out with us on overnighters, however we've needed a minimum of 2 people to make the trip work. To ensure we can accomodate those enquiries, we've moved to a set departure date system. We'll aim to put on regular trips that people can join ahead of time to help us deliver more of these amazing packrafting adventures!
We can still put on trips outside of these set dates for groups of 2 or more, so please get in touch if the dates don't work for your group.
