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south westland
Enter the untouched wilderness of New
Zealand’s South West World Heritage Area.
It is a vast pristine nature-lover’s paradise, filled with
the grandeur and spectacle of Mt Cook, the Southern Alps and the
Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers.
The grinding glacial ‘Rivers of Ice’ come within 30 kms
of the Tasman Sea. Full and half day guided walks, heli-hiking
and ice climbing are available. The collapsing terminal face of
the glaciers are an easy walk from the car parks.
Wild rivers course down the flanks of 3,000 metre peaks in South
Westland, crashing through mighty rimu forests to spill out onto
a storm-lashed coastline. Gentle moraine lakes like Matheson,
Paringa and Moeraki as well as the Okarito Lagoon (feeding
grounds of the White Heron) are ideal for a silent eco-experience
in a hired kayak.
The Landsborough River is an outstanding top ten whitewater
experience. Rafting operators based in Queenstown, Murchison and
Peel Forest (Canterbury) helicopter clients into the headwaters
for an exhilarating 1 to 3 day journey through thundering Grade 3
- 5 rapids that simply take your breath away. The Landsborough
runs southwards under 2,600 metre peaks on the Main Divide to its
confluence with the broad shingle bed of the Haast River. The
boulder bed of the upper gorge can create holes, standing waves
and pressure waves that make for exciting rafting, and names like
‘Hunt’s Hole’, ‘The Squeeze’,
‘Hellfire Rapid’ and ‘Surprise Corner’
conjure up images of a very memorable journey.
The Perth River and the Whataroa River are also used by the above
operators for full day heli-rafting trips into the Grade 3 - 5
headwaters. The mountain scenery is absolutely mind blowing and
the boulder rapids, drops, chutes and massive waves are
positively awesome.
The Haast River offers some light relief for the compulsive
adventure seeker, with riverboat safaris over a 30 km section of
this scenic river valley. A unique ‘Sea to Mountain’
backcountry jet boat safari operates on the spectacular Waiatoto
River.
The World Heritage Area of South Westland offers all the extreme
river action you could ever want.
This is awe-inspiring on-the-edge stuff - big mountains and
furious rivers with no prisoners taken.
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