Paddle: 37km

Day 1 of our Great Walk on Water! The Whanganui River Journey (one of the Great New Zealand Walks).

We were collected from our campsite and taken to a base to collect waterproof drums to store our stuff in. As we had 100% waterproof Ortlieb pannier bags we used these (more on this later) and only needed two extra drums for bits and bobs.

At the base we were told we could go and see Rudolph the Reindeer. I thought the Kiwis were pulling my leg but there was indeed a reindeer called Rudolph who let you pet him. He and another reindeer had been orphaned and were then hand raised by the owners of the canoe outfit. They had had two foals together too! There was also a cute kitten so I got my animal fix for the day!

Back in the bus for a very dusty ride over unsealed roads for an hour until base number two, where we were introduced to our red Canadian canoe (Christened Rudolph shortly afterwards).

We set off, initially in a backwards direction (I was first in the steering seat!) and then hit the big Whanganui River, created by water flowing off Mount Tongariro.

The paddle was beautiful, we were in a National Park and there would be no road access for the next three days. The scenery was mainly jade green water and steep sided forests sometimes with sheer cliffs coming right down into the water.

We canoed 37km that day in warm weather, stopping for a leisurely lunch break. Although we had a break we couldn't entirely blame this on our being last to the campsite for the night. We were rubbish at paddling!

The John Coull campsite was basic and small but in a wonderful setting. Our fellow travellers were fun and loud - a group of Kiwi Hash House Harriers who didn't stop laughing, two Americans with paddling experience (damn them), four Kiwi/Aussie friends and Christoph our German friend. We were pooped from the paddling though and slept soundly despite the Hashers riverside antics!