Fiordland and a fantastic ride in a boat! River research Lake Te Anau

Image - Zak Shaw
The concept is good. The potential story has potential. If only I had a larger story to share.
Lake Te Anau, small power boat, food, maps, rifles, whitewater kayaks with carry systems and the idea that Fiordland still has rivers that have not been kayaked....
The excitement surrounding this mix of ingredients was in good supply but the river fruit was not found.

The crucial link for the Fiordland plan came in the form of Karl Boomsma (pictured below and left) Booms the boat owner came to the party just a week in advance agreeing to shuttle Keith and myself around the shores of Lake Te Anau. Loaded craft is a massive understatement. When all the gear (essential stuff) was loaded the boat concerningly sat low in the water but hey..."it will be fine"
Fuel comsumption was a major player heading into the second half. We picked the most distant arm of the lake to head to and that took three hours. (Big lemon) Severely under powered we chewed through a significant amount of fuel. Upon arrival at the Worsley River mouth we were met by sandflies (a given) and the relisation that our fuel tank was a little lighter than we would have liked.
To cut a long story short that night we played cards and drank beer with an old school mate of Keith's who was easily persuaded to hand over some of his gas.
The kayaking....Didn't happen. We left the creekers on the beach and headed up the Worsley with our gear and guns and went hunting for the day. In an attempt to get two birds stoned at once we scouted the Castle creek and stalked the rivers terraces at the same time.
The day was spent observing a river with little gradient and low water or in the case of the Castle River a steep creek with no water.
We still had a grand time and the boat made it back up the lake in a large swell to the boat ramp!