Guided Waimakariri River Trips
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Come see why our reputation is so good!
Overview
Topsport Kayaking runs guided trips through the Waimakariri Gorge from October through to February each year.
The aim of our guided trip is to introduce you to the Coast to Coast section of the Waimakariri River and help you identify safe effective lines on race day. This paddle is not a time trial; it is a guided educational trip. Our professional team will help you gain the confidence and skills you need to race in the Coast to Coast successfully. All our instructors are qualified and highly experienced. We have been working on this section of river teaching and training athletes for more than 27 years.
Download everything you need to know here!
Trip Info
- Paddle on the Coast to Coast Course
- Small group size - maximum group size of 4
- Qualified Experienced Instructors
- Transport to and from Christchurch
- Hire boats and gear available
- Registered and approved Adventure Activity Operator
- Coast to Coast Approved
Trip Requirements
You are required to be fit enough to handle 5 to 6 hours of paddling in your kayak. Please ensure you are spending adequate time in your boat training so that you can get the most out of your day on the river. It is a requirement for the trip that you have completed your Grade Two Certificate and are paddling a boat to match your ability.
Weather and River Conditions
Weather and river conditions in the days leading up to and including the day of your trip are very influential. We have strict safety procedures and guidelines regarding weather forecasts and river levels. If the conditions on the day of your scheduled trip are outside these parameters we will be postponing the trip. We use the latest available information from a combination of weather and river data websites along with our experience to make their decision.
*** Note - for our trip on Wednesday the 5th we do not have boats available for hire. You must have paddled the Gorge before. If you have not paddled the Gorge before please book our two day trip.
https://topsport.co.nz/products/februrary-athlete-preparation
Kayak Hire
Hiring a boat is perfect if you are flying in from another part of New Zealand or internationally.
NOTE - We do not have any kayaks available to hire on Wednesday the 5th of February 2025.
Click here to hire a kayak.
Travelling Athlete Info
If you are travelling from outside of Christchurch to spend some time with us on the river or over the mountain here is some information to help plan you trip.
Testimonials
Here's what some of our paddlers are saying:
"I’d already done my Grade 2 Course elsewhere in the North Island for the Coast to Coast but doing a trip down the Waimak guided by Ryan and Sam made a huge difference to my skill level and confidence. I wouldn’t do the race without having been on the river without these guys"
Brent Spicer paddling his Ruahine Intrigue November 2020
"Thank you so much for the Waimakariri river trip and my new Ruahine Shadow. Another great experience with Topsport. A special thanks to Len for the kayak fitting and sharing so many professional tips. It has made such a difference to have the kayak and paddle adjusted by such an expert"
Kay Chapman paddling her Ruahine Shadow in January 2022
Requirements
These requirements are in place for your safety and to ensure we can fit you in one of our boats (if required)
- You must be able to swim
- Weigh less than 110kg
- Be shorter than 6'4.
Please contact us to discuss options if you don’t the fit these requirements.
Topsport Kayaking Cancellation Policy
Terms and Conditions
Topsport Kayaking’s cancellation policy allows clients to reschedule or cancel their booked course or guided trip provided enough notice is given. This policy ensures our small local business can continue to operate if someone cancels their space at short notice.
COVID 19 – Our standard cancelation policy applies.
Cancelling a booking
If for any reason (this includes illness, COVID, travel delays and injuries) you need to cancel your kayak course, gorge trip or mountain run, you will receive a refund minus our cancelation fee. This is provided you contact us at least 21 full days before your booking. We are a very small business and cannot afford to operate our business without the policy. If you cancel outside this period full payment is still required.
We have a lot of cancelations due to sickness and injury. Whilst we are always sorry to hear of an injury or illness, both are a common reality in multisport. Our business is unable to cover the cost of a missed course or trip when an injury or illness has prevented someone from cancelling within our cancelation period. This is a common occurrence for us, therefore full payment is still required. You can transfer your space to another person if you know someone and can organise this.
We deduct an administration fee for any courses or trips that are cancelled.
Our Cancelation fees for courses or trips cancelled 21 days prior to starting are as follows:
- Grade II Certificate Course - $295
- Guided River Trip - $95
- Guided Run Trip - $95
- Guided Run/River Combo - $195
- Waimakariri Skills Course - $295
Cancelling Part of your Grade II Course
If for some reason you are unable to attend a day or days of your kayak course we will try to rebook in with another group, if successful there is an additional cost of $250 per day. There is a no refund for the days missed.
Rescheduling a booking
If you need to reschedule your course or trip, Topsport requires a minimum of 21 FULL DAYS notice. Any booking rescheduled outside this time period will require a new booking and new payment.
All rescheduled trips are subject to an administration fee which is as follows:
- Grade II Certificate Course - $49
- Guided River Trip - $49
- Guided Run Trip - $49
- Refresh with Ryan - $49
- Guided Run/River Combo - $49
- Waimakariri Skills Course -49
- Two Day River Course - -$49
Sometimes Topsport Kayaking postpones your trip
Topsport Kayaking can only operate in favourable conditions. Our trips and courses are 100% weather and river flow dependant. For this reason YOU MUST be flexible with your availability. If you cannot commit to flexibility please do not make a booking with us.
When we have to postpone a trip it is not something we want to do. When a trip is postponed it is for your own personal safety and the safety of our Topsport staff. Your trip may be postponed due to high river levels, high wind or cold alpine conditions.
If we need to postpone your trip we will contact you as soon as possible. This may be in the days leading up to your trip or in the morning of the trip. If this happens you will be provided with a code to rebook your trip on our website at no charge on another date that suits.
Please Note – As we get closer to race day in February the rebooking options may be limited due to the time we have left before the race. If you are unable to make a rescheduled trip a refund will not be given.
When travelling from out of town PLEASE make sure you book flexi flights and accommodation as none of our trips are ever guaranteed to run. We can only operate our trips when weather and river conditions are safe to do so.
In exceptional circumstances we may need to cancel your trip after travelling to the start location or even part-way through your trip as conditions change. Typically we decide prior to leaving town but sometimes we make the extra effort to make an important trip take place e.g race week and overseas clients. If this happens there is a minimum cost of $100 pp. Our standards are to cancel are trip using the latest weather and flow resources BEFORE we leave town but occasionally the forecast is incorrect and we do not know until arriving at the start location.
Cancelling your Coast to Coast Kayak Hire Booking
Topsport Kayaking will gladly cancel your Coast to Coast kayak hire booking prior to the 30th of November. A cancellation charge to the value of 20% of the original hire fee will be deducted. You will be credited back the balance through your original form of payment. If you cancel your hire outside of this time period the full amount is still payable.
