- Duration: 6 Days (a mixture of day trips, one day off and then we like to finish with an overnigher)
- Hiking Difficulty: Our day trip rivers are relatively easy hike with only the things we need for a day rather than carrying sleeping gear and food. For the overnighters, we will have heavier loads
- Paddling Difficulty: Suitable for intermediates and paddlers looking to progress. Grade 2 and 3 rivers.
- All food provided whilst we're on the river
- Options to provide your own equipment
- Fully guided/instructed by world class guides
- Summer Months only
- Small Groups (Minimum 2-Maximum 10)
Typical Itinerary
- Day 1: Aspiring Packrafter, 9km Hiking, 9km paddle (Some short Grade II sections)
- Day 2: Whitewater Rees Trip, 0km Hiking, 4-6km paddle (Mostly Grade ii with some Grade iii. Some safety training/refreshing)
- Day 3: Kawarau River, 0km Hiking, 7km paddle (Bigger volume Grade iii. More work on team work and river based safety)
- Day 4: Rest Day. Pack, prep and rest ahead of our overnighter
- Day 5: Lower Landsborough overnighter. 15km Hiking, 0km Paddle. Sleep out on the river.
- Day 6: Lower Landsborough overnighter. 0km Hiking, 15km Paddle (Grade iii then grade ii)
Exact rivers and trips run may vary slightly to fit weather windows, paddling levels and stoke.
We've curated a progressive week of river running that culminates in an overnight trip into the Iconic lower sections of the Landsborough river. The week is aimed at refreshing on some skills and building others on a range of different character rivers ahead of a hike in/paddle out style trip to put all the skills together. We've stitched together some gloriously scenic rivers whilst ensuring that our guests not only have an unforgetable experience, but also take away skills into their own packrafting going forward.
This is your chance to explore multiple rivers, learn new skills, and join a crew of like-minded adventurers, all in a safe and supportive environment.
Who's This Trip For?
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Packrafters with a little experience under their belts already. This is not suitable as a trip[ to learn to packraft from scratch.
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101 Course Graduates keen to build confidence and skills.
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Visiting packrafters without time to plan their own logistics.
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Paddlers who wants 6 days of adventure, culture, and connection in one of the most stunning corners of the world.
We need a minimum of 2 people to run the trip.
Itinerary
Day 1- Aspiring Packrafter
Our retreat week starts with a relatively easy paddle to get to know our crew and for us all to warm up. We'll head over to Wanaka and jump onto the Matukituki river. A 1.5hr hike buys us a scenic 7km paddle with a fun grade 2 section and an optional grade 2+ section to finish.
The idea is to take on a small hike in/paddle out trip so everyone can blow out the cobwebs, get used to paddling together and guides can get an idea of how everyone is performing. This is your chance to show off to the instructors! There's a fun whitewater section to finish the day before we drive back to Queenstown.
Day 2- Whitewater Packrafter- Rees
Today we visit the spiritual home of Packrafting Queenstown, the Rees River. We'll be running the section we run our 101 courses on, with the opportunities to try some hard moves and sections.
We'll also have a brush up on our rescue skills here so that we're in good shape for looking after each other as the week progresses. Good chance to work on those perishable skills like throw bagging, whilst also pushing yourself on the techy whitewater. A mix of grade ii and iii depending on flows.
Day 3 - The Roaring Meg
A famous stretch of big volume Grade 3 whitewater on the Kawarau river. The switching up of character from tight and technical to big volume and more powerful is great prep for the our overnight mission and a great way of becoming a more well rounded paddler.
We'll be focusing more on water based rescue skills in addition to our personal paddling here. Team work, deep water re-entries, keeping together as a unit. This is where it all starts to click and we the joy of the dance we do as a team becomes super rewarding.
For some folks, the big swirlies, seam lines and bigger wave trains will be a new challenge so this is perfect chance to practice rolling cover and demonstrate some good situational awareness... all whilst bouncing down wave trains and grinning of course!
We lace up the boots this morning and wander into the Caples Valley, a place that feels wonderfully tucked away from the world. The track climbs gently through mossy beech forest, then opens into wide grassy flats framed by sheer rock walls. It’s classic South Island backcountry — quiet, green, and impossibly peaceful.
The Caples is one of our favourite and most scenic packrafting rivers in New Zealand. At the put-in we slip through a hidden gorge, before beginning a stunning float back down the valley. Clear pools, forested banks, and mountain backdrops make it feel like paddling through a postcard.
For those who want to keep it mellow, there’s an easy take-out just 25 minutes’ walk from the carpark. But if the group is feeling keen, we can continue into a short Grade 2+ section — a glorious canyon with sheer cliffs rising above the river. The lower rapids are playful and forgiving, with excellent spots to practice boat control and line choice for anyone looking to push their skills a little further.
Day 4 - Rest & Recharge in Queenstown
After three days of rivers and trails, today is about slowing down and letting Queenstown work its magic. This is your chance to rest the body, reset the mind, and enjoy the adventure capital of the world at your own pace.
Maybe this is a needed chance to do some last minute shopping or packing. Maybe it's a chance to go down hill mountain biking or sampling some local beers and wine.
Either way, you do you boo. Treat yourself and give your body a chance to rest ahead of overnight mini expedition.
Day 5 – Into the Wild
Here we go!! Our overnighter of choice is the lower sections of the Landsborough, one of the most beautiful and coverted rivers in New Zealand.
We've pioneered a route into the Valley that allows this potentially intimidating river to be run by intermediate paddlers, starting just below the grade 4 sections.
Today we throw everything we need for a couple of days into our bags and after a drive to the trail head, we'll get into it! No cell phone coverage, no emails, just a stunning river valley and great company.
The 15km hike includes some spots where we use our rafts to ferry glide across the river in spots. This is a trip that is hard to do any other way, which is part of what makes it so special.
Day 6 - The Landsborough Paddle
Our camp spot is on the edge of harper bluff. A place that has been used for decades by rafting groups passing through the Landsborough. Right on the edge of a stunning still gorge, it may be posssible to paddle up stream a little to "buy" ourselves a bit more river depending on the flows, before starting our paddle out.
The river starts with some grade iii sections and slowly eases off to some bigger volume wave, shingle bed wave train rapids. These keep on for the duration of our paddle all the way back to the vehicles. Plenty of opportunity for play and to enjoy every last drop of the run.
We'll then jump back in the vehicles and head back to Queenstown. Tired, dirty but satisfied!
What's Included
- All transport
- Camping and land access fees
- Fully qualified and experienced guides
- All Food on the river
- Pre-trip support with packing list, reminders about where and when to meet etc.
- Pre-trip Zoom call 10 days out to go over any questions you might have ahead of packing
What's not included
- ***Food or accommodation in Queenstown
- Travel insurance
- Tips or gratuities
Where to Stay in Queenstown
Queenstown has a variety of accomodation options from 5-Star resorts to Camp Grounds. Whilst this is entirely a personal choice, we really enjoy having groups at Hampshire Holiday Park a mixture of camping and room options to suit every budget and it's so close to town that you don't need a vehicle. We've held events there previously and the've been great with us.
