Koranga/Waioeka River flood trip

Koranga Stream, Moanui Valley to Wairata

A few years ago, with a couple of mates we had rafted the run at low water, descending the 28km in seven long hours, at one point we had to reverse ferry the raft back off the lip off a drop that piled into wall, we just made it, by latching onto sharp rocks with outstretched arms and backpaddling for ever against current that wanted to take us.
It had been several years since that trip and with three times the flow in the river I was curious as to what would be instore for us.

There’s not many paddlers in the East Cape, some shuttles are long and its remote, gravel roads to put in
spots limit hitching, rainfall is regular but like all rain dependent rivers its all about timing!
As it worked out, 120mm rain, two keen shuttle drivers and a good stash of food, a more than capable younger brother and Wa La it was on!
Elby and I had paddled alot after work the week of this trip, heavy persistent rain from the north had the soil sodden and then the final 120mm whilst we were in the catchment I guess just kind of finished it off!
The first day was good technical class 3, nothing major just, enjoyable continuous whitewater down past the Forks Hut and the Te Kahika stream confluence, we continued on to The Nikau Flat Hut to spend the night.
With only 8km to finish the trip off on day two we agreed on a good sleep in, predicting only two hours on the water and some more class 3, down to the take out.


The rain continued to fall all night by morning the level was huge, big flood level, the kind most people stay at home for!
With a good breakfast down the hatch we pushed off into a brown heaving rollercoaster at 10am.
Making the first eddy downstream on river right we suddenly became aware of the power of the river and what consequences lay instore should one of us blow a line.
Logs floated past at regular intervals as we negiotiated massive recirculating holes, folding waves off the gorge walls.
Sitting on the edge of our pants we constantly moved about the river side to side with flying stroke rates to avoid the next hazard! Just the stuff that’s so much fun when you make it through!