New Zealand Coast to Coast Packrafting Expedition | A 15 Day Solo Cross Country Adventure
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ต.ค. 2024
- 15 days, 131 kilometers of hiking, 5000 meters elevation gained, 135 kilometers of rafting and three crossings of the Southern Alps' main divide. Beaches, forests, rivers, lakes, wildlife and mountains- this route showcases everything that the South Island of New Zealand has to offer.
Watch along as I embark on a massive expedition starting from the Tasman Sea at Hokitika on the West Coast, navigating through the Southern Alps by crossing from west to east, east to west and then west to east again before packrafting the length of the Rakaia River to reach the pacific ocean.
This route was the result of years of dreaming up an adventure that would take me through New Zealand's biggest mountain range from coast to coast whilst exploring some areas further off the beaten track. I hope you enjoy the video half as much as I enjoyed the trip.
Thanks for watching, please consider subscribing and let us know your thoughts in the comments below, time to plan the next one.
We'd also like to say a massive thanks to the brands that support us on trips like these. We only work with brands that provide good quality gear that we can rely on in the harshest of environments. If you're after decent gear we highly recommend using any of the kit you saw in the video. If you have any questions about the gear don't hesitate to ask us below.
Full Route Description:
Hokitika Beach to Lake Kaniere.
From Lake Kaniere up the Arahura River to Browning Pass.
Down Browning Pass then down the Wilberforce River before going up Griffiths Stream to Hokitika Saddle.
Over Hokitika Saddle then down the Mungo River to Bluff Hut.
From Bluff Hut up the Hokitika River to Frew Saddle.
Over Frew Saddle then down Frew Creek to the Whitcombe River.
Up the Whitcombe River to Whitcombe Pass.
Over Whitcombe Pass then down Lauper Stream to the Rakaia River.
Rafted out the Rakaia River.
Hokitika Saddle Alternate Route:
Although this route was doable I discovered an easier route when reading the hut book in Mungo Hut (just after crossing the saddle...classic).
"From Griffiths Stream head up the ridge towards point 1850 (on the true right of the unnamed creek leading down from Hokitika Saddle). Once near the top sidle around the left of Hokitika Saddle until a very obvious break in the cliffs/rocks exposes a gentle scree slope. Follow this to the valley floor rather than the scree leading directly off the pass".
Music sourced from:
www.epidemicso...
You're a powerful little Packhorse Raddy, massive load, the utmost respect from me, to you and anyone that takes on a 15 day solo adventure in NZ's hardest, but most spectacular conditions
Great vid all the way thru with some awesome scenery. Didn't you feel "naked" without a rifle?
Good bits of humour with the hookgrass (the curse off us hairy legged buggers), and arseing off the walking pole lol
Haha cheers for the kind words Bob! Yea sure was a fun trip! Believe it or not but I actually enjoy myself just as much without a gun as with one!
Farkn huge mission bro well done...must of had enough of mince an mash by the end of it surely haha..what a weapon 🤙🤙
Haha yea was well and truely over it by the end. I was more then happy to get food from the service station for the last night 😂
Man that would have to be one of the greatest videos I've watched ever. So inspiring. I only wish that I had done something like that when I was Alot younger.Absolute respect, well done.
Cheers Rob! Yea it definitely was a trip to remember!
A very sad day here in Japan as our ex Prime minster was shot and killed. I used to tramp alot in the south Island some 30 years ago, time flies. It was so great to see the Keas, Thank God they are still going strong.. Thank you so much for making this Video. it made me forget about all the problems here for an hour.
Epic video and mission mate. Get in as much as you can while you're still young - from a slowly aging hunter
Bro my knees would be f@!*d. Good to see a raro brew making the trip. Epic lads keep it up.
Haha yea mate raro is an essential on any trip! Cheers mate!
awesome trip and some huge country too. I followed along on topomap and you definitely took the scenic route. Thanks for taking the time and effort to create the video, very inspirational.
What an outstanding adventure! Thank you for the time and effort you took in capturing, editing, and sharing the fantastic footage 👌👌👌
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!!
Not sure I can add anymore to what has already been said, but for sure one of the best vids I've seen. The scenery, the effort, the load you carried(who pack rafts in the Alps). Wow, Raddy you've set a pretty high benchmark.
Congrats man!!
Cheers for that mate! Glad to hear you enjoyed it. Haha yup is going to be a hard trip to top, have a few ideas in mind though…
Beautiful scenery. Gorgeous. Thanks for sharing. New subscriber here ❤️
What a great trip mate, well done👍 Something you'll remember and look back on for the rest of your life.
What an epic trip and video, the terrain is just incredible. What an accomplishment and a memorable birthday, good on you for rescuing the fish😃
Great stuff mate, what a great adventure, epic scenery and super weather, quite a contrast seeing you wearing a covid mask compared to the fresh air and surroundings in the Alps. Keep the vids coming mate. Thanx for your effort. 10/10. 👍
Haha yea was it’s a funny old world we live in! Can’t beat that fresh alps air! Cheers mate
All I have to say is I am glad I subscribed to your channel a few months back. You have done yourself and your country proud.
Electric pump and the fish were funny. The rest was So impressive.
Cheers mate! Glad to hear your enjoying the content, we’re enjoying making it!
Trip of a lifetime, good on you, thoroughly enjoyed the epic adventure
What an awesome trip.... and a bloody long way to drag a pack raft.
You guys know how to make a northland bloke jealous
What an awesome adventure! Well done. Your footage and editing is epic bro. Just found your channel the other day and have been binge watching everything!
Happy 25th, you will talk about it all your life and the many more adventures I am sure you will go on.
brother, I just watched that awesome mission you journeyed. Tracked your huts like i was there. Great memories for me from hunting those big beautiful mountains years back. Legend man
Cheers mate glad you enjoyed!
@@southislandriflewalkers5545 there is nothing in the world like our doc huts. A very unique idea and all the stories they hold. Keep enjoying bud.
Good to see you working for the plants...spreading hook grass seeds ! Actually these things are far more abundant now than originally because grazing pests like goats, pigs, deer and chamois make bare ground for them to grow and spread the seeds.
Great to see all the lush Olearia scrub. God's garden takes some beating. It puts man made parks and gardens in the shade.
Well done mate, and a great watch for us fatties at home too. Cheers
What a great trip, I lived in NZ for six years and loved my time in the hills. That film made me home sick for the mountains again.
Well done!
Epic gets over used in these strange days of social media but this is actually 'epic'. Good shit man.
Haha cheers for that mate, I appreciate it! Was a hell of an adventure
Awesome vid! In bed with Covid what better entertainment ! Footage was stunning. Inspiring!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I’m already looking at the Topo map!!
What more can be said? Well done,,,Thanks for sharing a great adventure in the hills, good to see a couple of old haunts on the west coast side,, enjoyed watching that.👍
One of the best videos I’ve watched!
Great adventure Boys thanks for all your great videos 😀
Absolutely enjoyed your trip. Cheers from Brizzy 🎉
I just found this video and I’m impressed with the trip you undertook.
Bloody awesome mate.
Cheers mate, was a bloody fun trip!
Legendary Effort and Footage! ,Well Done.!
Hecka! What an incredible adventure! Can't believe it took me so long to watch this and enjoy it just as much as the hunting ones. Awesome work on completing that distance and putting together this footage 👏🏻
Haha cheers mate! Yea sure was a hell of a trip! Great to hear it was just as enjoyable as our hunting vids 👍
Wow! Can I have your knees please? The rest of me is ok, but my knees ache just watching that trip! Awesome video mate, great watching!
😂😂
Epic Raddy, what a mission 👍
What an incredible trek. Thinking some of your trail was a bit sketchy but the views were absolutely beautiful. Thanks for taking us along.
Wow, just fkn wow!!!!
Words can not describe how in awe I was while watching this.
I can only imagine where your next journey will take you.
Totally blown away
Haha cheers for that mate! Yea have got a few trips on my mind!
Man that is living! Thanks for putting that together. A really enjoyable watch.
Cheers mate glad to hear it!
Great video myself and my brothers took inspiration from this and are planning to have a crack at this route next summer cannot wait
Wicked that’s awesome to hear!! Let’s us know how you get on!
Your a gutsy character mate, that’s one hell of a trip. Thanks for sharing, we live in a absolutely stunning country. Cheers
Haha cheers mate, yup we sure do!
I've found him - THE ONLY HUMAN THAT BUYS COOL CHANGE DRINK!!
Haha it’s one of the greats!
what an amazing adventure, thanks for sharing.
Now that's a proper transalpine adventure! Epic stuff!!
Absolutely awesome,well done you covered a lot of historic hunting grounds along the way,fantastic and Happy Birthday mate…
Yup sure did cover some epic country, cheers mate!
Looks awesome
Utterly brilliant.
40mins, and the missus and I watched every single second. Great editing, and an amazing adventure. Thanks for sharing it
Glad to hear it mate! Thanks for the comment 🙂
Huge trip mate, a great watch and definitely inspiring. Cheers for the effort you guys go to putting it all together 👍
Cheers mate! Our pleasure! We have a wicked time making them and is awesome to hear it’s appreciated!
keep it up guys, you will get picked up by main stream t.v in no time
great vid mate!....bloody enjoyed it...nice work!
Cheers mate! Was a bloody fun trip!
Fantastic adventure mate. Really well produced video to bring us with you as well.
Fantastic viewing ,cheers Raddy what a legend 👍🤘
Very cool 😎 bro
Epic trip Raddy - congrats on an amazing adventure - one to tell the grand kiddys one day ha!
An orsume trip with ex video, wish I was 30 years younger doing adventures like that again, impressive how much gear you carried.
well done young man that was a dream of mine WELL DONE
Awesome trip. well done, amazing country isn't. phil evans
Well done, mate, a bloody fantastic way to see the country.
Cheers mate, too right!
I can't imagine myself on a 15 day hiking journey. Salute to you and to all hikers who can manage the challenge.
Wow awesome adventure epic scenery you are a machine thanks for the journey
Huge respect to you bro that's one next level achievement indeed 💯 😎 that trout was a meant to be just for you moment too.. Awsumness!!!
salmon.. not a trout
Epic mission. Thanks for sharing cheers
Bloody epic mission man. Good stuff, such a cool trip and the hard grind makes it all the more rewarding.
Cheers mate! Too right!!
Watched your video a few days back guys. I couldn't imagine a 15 day trek myself from one side of the alps to the other. But i have been to some of that country before. Frews biv, Browning Pass, Lauper biv etc, all great country. Epic trip, well done and thanks for sharing your experience..
Yea it’s bloody cool in there eh! Glad you enjoyed!
Epic trip bro. Look after yourself, might not feel it now but when you get older , carrying heavy packs can really take its toll
Haha yup gotta make the most of these young years while I still can!
What a legend, the hell mission.
Awesome video mate. Can't get out at the moment due to family commitments but watching this has made me feel a kot better. Cheers mate
Freaking awesome Raddy, something you’ll remember for life!
Great video👍
Well done on a massive adventure.
Cheers glad you liked it!
Awesome trip and great footage team, thanks and thumbs up, Tony.
Bloody awesome stuff mate
Bloody awesome Buddy 👍
Wow. Great adventure. Thanks for taking us along. Really enjoyed it.
What a trip ! Huge effort doing all them hills. We are so lucky in New Zealand with the awesome scenery good huts and track networks. Great video to watch and well put together as always. Loved the big spend up at the end, you definitely deserved all that !
Yea we’re extremely lucky here with our networks of tracks and huts, no where else quite like it! Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Truely epic journey youve accomplished!! Well done to you and a life long memory in the process. Whoohoo!!! 👍👍
Awesome effort, you will inspire many to repeat it. Congrats
Awesome trip guys. Congratulations.
Epic walk and paddle. I wish I was 24 again and able to still do trips like that. Not sure I would have attempted 5000m up and down though. Thanks for sharing some of NZs great views. Cheers from the other side of the Tasman Sea.
Cheers mate! Glad you enjoyed
What a mish Raddy super well done mate!! Love the Westcoast scenery frothing to get back down there soon as! Keep up the great work guys 🤟
Cheers mate!
EPIC Raddy....Nailed it !!!!
Cheers for bring us with you 👍
Cheers mate glad you enjoyed!
Bro,
That’s a fantastic journey 🤙🤙
Amazing man! inspiration to others your age and mine. keep them coming.
Impressive mission and film guys! You should be proud of yourself Raddy, well done! Inspiring.
Happy birthday legend. What an amazing journey. Well done!
Geat video mate and hats off to you but......why the hell didn't you eat that salmon!?!?... It was like a gift from the gods!
Haha was very close to! Unfortunately though I had nothing to cook it with and didn’t think it’d last till the end!
Congratulations, what an epic adventure 🙌
Great vid again guys, you guys have some beautiful country over there! Shout out from over the ditch...keep up the great work
Brilliant.. well done
Mate that was absolutely phenomenal. Beautiful adventure and great videography 👍
Cheers mate!
Legend. Total respect.
You are a machine Raddy! Great vid from my favourite utube channel.
Well done, that’s some good adventure, have thought about doing that Whitcombe Pass trip. 😎😎👍 ✅
Nice would definitely recommend it!
EPIC.
Epic video and effort! Well done fella
Epic! Well done.
What an absolute epic trip mate. The things you lads accomplish are insane. Love it!
Cheers mate glad you like it!
Bloody awesome man - a trip to remember for sure! Mammoth effort, captured it really well 👍 Cheers
Top effort bro! 👌
Fantastic. The landscapes are amazing. Thanks for sharing.
bl00dy awesome! thanks for sharing.
Fantastic trip, that was one solid effort. Thanks for filming and sharing.
Legend!
Fantastic trip, well filmed! Cheers