Packrafting Mohaka River McVicars to Everetts Grade 2

Packrafting Mohaka River McVicars to Everetts Grade 2

A great introduction to packrafting can be had by camping at Glenfalls on the Napier Taupo Road (SH5) and running the easy Class I /II section. On the subsequent days the Glenfalls to Everetts run steps up the difficulty to Class II. It’s got a consistent flow right through the year and will have water when everywhere else is bony.

The river is easy Class I with occasional Class II rapids through a deeply incised channel. Willows are prevalent and can present hazards for learners. It’s a really cruisy run.

SH5 Bridge

It is 12km down to Glenfalls where there is a nice DOC Campsite. Watch out for the wasps!

From the campsite to Bridget’s Clearing campsite is about 11km (allow 3.5hrs ). There is a great play-spot at the downstream end of the campground and also about a km downstream. After the Waipunga Confluence watch out for willows river left and in the channel river right a little further on. After this there is a big oxbow shaped bend. Halfway around the bend the geology changes to highly sheared greywacke that has formed a unique landform known as the Organ Pipes. This is followed by a large active slip delivering pine trees into the river.

Organ Pipes on the Big Bend

A kilometre on is a great wave train to practice throw roping and whitewater swimming. The biggest rapid (II to II+) is around the next corner before the Bridget’s Clearing campsite. Allow 3.5 hours from Glenfalls or an hour more if playing on the eddy roundabouts.

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