What is Packrafting?

Basically packrafting is a combination of hiking and paddling mountains and rivers. Packrafts are named because they are a small and lightwieght “pack raft” packed inside your “pack” when you go hiking. When inflated they become fully functional river rafts from a structural perspective. From a functional point of view, Packrafting combines many components of whitewater kayaking.

Having a Packraft allow us to undertake North Island river journeys that are otherwise seemingly difficult, especially when combining two modes of transport. Now we explore remote North Island rivers or streams too shallow for traditional kayaks and group rafts.

Our packrafting aim is to explore North Island waterways in a way which preserves the natural mountainous values which have brought us there. Our small packrafting NZ based groups never exceed four people on the river, and we operate under the principles of Leave No Trace so that our wild places remain just as we found them. If you’re interested in our NZ packrafting course, please get in touch to find out more.

Social Nature movement, with the best packrafting NZ has to offer.

Is Packrafting a new activity?

Relatively speaking, yes. However, small, portable rubber rafts have been used in expeditions since the mid-1800s. From tire tubes, to animal skins and other innovative ways to climb mountains and navigate rivers. With the modern age adventure racing, the ever popular tramping scene in New Zealand often looking down onto beautiful rivers where one knows it would be great to finish hiking by paddling out, there’s been a spike of interest in durable and light one to two-person crafts that can be carried in your backpack. If you want to diversify your hiking or paddling pursuits, sign up for a trip or get equipped with the knowledge and skills you’ll need to plan your own excursions. Here’s where to start…

Packrafting in the North Island of New Zealand with SNM

We specialise in packrafting tours in New Zealand. Our North Island packrafting day trips will see you paddling various grade 1-2 rivers. Longer multiday North Island packrafting trips will take you deeper and further, covering more miles of rugged wilderness, crossing alpine lakes and camping on sandy beaches and isolated islands. Or you can sign up for a safety and skills course.

Our New Zealand made packrafts are tough quality!

We use quality New Zealand made Packrafts from Koaro. With big tubes of air on all sides and a low centre of gravity, they are as stable as a table. We’ve taken them through class 3 rapids and they perform perfectly.

Another benefit of the Packrafts airy design is that they can be paddled in very shallow water as they have a wide displacement hull. Handy for Zealand’s braided rivers which frequently fork, distributing water, making shallow channels. Compared to a plastic kayak, our packrafts can head much further upstream, deep into the mountains.

We give our packrafts a hard life, to ensure they are safew and reliable, but also evidence to their kiwi made quality. On the off chance that something does happen, we’ll be carrying a repair kit to ensure your adventure goes on as long as you can.

Our packrafts fit in your pack!

Each packraft rolls down to the size of a sleeping bag, and weighs a mere 2 – 3kg. This makes it easy to carry the rest of your tramping gear at the same time. And our 4-piece paddles are built for walking too. They break down into sections and strap securely inside your backpack so nothing is on the outside to snag on trees.

Inflating packrafts is easy.

With a little lightweight innovative inflation bag, anyone can inflate our packrafts in less than five minutes. You don’t need to carry a heavy battery powered pump or a large one-job bike-style pump, packraft bag inflators are all you need. Or, use your lungs, so their is always a back-up option.