Rafting the Manganui a Te Ao

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 7, 14 July 1987, Page 1

Rafting the Manganui a Te Ao

A Mangaweka rafting company started running rafting tours in the Waimarino last week. The group are taking tours to the Manganui-a-te-Ao River, in the Ruatiti Valley. Tom Kemper, manager of Rangitikei River Adventures said Ohakune really needs alternatives to skiing in winter. He said they chose the Manganui-a-te-Ao because it is the nearest river to Ohakune, but more importantly because it is possibly the most picturesque river in the world. An applicalion is at present under consideration by the Government to place a national conservation order on the river. Until now, rafting operators were offering trips to the Tongariro River or the Rangitikei River to Ohakune visitors as the closest. The three hour round trips depart from the Turoa Information Office, who are taking bookings for the tours. The rafting starts above the Ruatiti Domain and ends at the domain. The rafters describe the trip as an hour of exciting rafting suitable for all ages from ten years and upwards. The Ruatiti section of the river is graded at 2.5. At about 800 feet below

the Central Plateau the Ruatiti Valley has a different climate to Ohakune, making a rafting trip when the skifields are closed a good alternative. Rafter Aubry Dodd said "we've rafted it a number of times exploring the river, we know it pretty well." Rangitikei River Adventures have been in operation for six years, rafting mostly the Rangitikei and Tongariro Rivers. They have taken about 10,000 people rafting in that time. Tom Kemper is one of the most experienced boatmen in New Zealand.

Apart from the six years' rafting on the Rangitikei he has commercially rafted the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers near Queenstown, and the Snake River near Jackson Hole in Wyoming. He has been rafting commercially for about 15 years. Many people will be familiar with Rangitikei River Adventures having seen their "billboard" at Mangaweka. It is a DC3 aeroplane raised up about 20 feet above the main road level, making it appear to be coming in to land across State Highway One.