Employment: Contract Guiding for Nayland College
Date: February 25-27 2014
Location: Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand
Days: 3
No. of People: 10 students, 2 instructors.
Sea Conditions: Strong headwind/choppy conditions through to calm seas with afternoon sea breeze.
Extra Comments: Such a great trip - working with school students is so completely different to guiding with tourists. I loved the different atmosphere and the curious minds of teenagers.
Location: Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand
Days: 3
No. of People: 10 students, 2 instructors.
Sea Conditions: Strong headwind/choppy conditions through to calm seas with afternoon sea breeze.
Extra Comments: Such a great trip - working with school students is so completely different to guiding with tourists. I loved the different atmosphere and the curious minds of teenagers.
Employment: Casual Guiding - Kahu Kayaks
_
Date: February 2014 - April 2014
Location: Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand
Days:
No. of People: 1:8 Guide - Client Ratio (doubles only)
Sea Conditions: Variable
Weather Conditions: Variable, predominant weather pattern northerly winds with afternoon sea breeze
Extra Comments:
Casual guiding for Kahu while I finish my Masters.
Date: February 2014 - April 2014
Location: Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand
Days:
No. of People: 1:8 Guide - Client Ratio (doubles only)
Sea Conditions: Variable
Weather Conditions: Variable, predominant weather pattern northerly winds with afternoon sea breeze
Extra Comments:
Casual guiding for Kahu while I finish my Masters.
Personal Trip - Tata to Marahau
Little Anapai Beach
Date: 29.5.13 - 31.5.13
Location: Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand
Days: 3
No. of people: 2
Sea conditions: Calm.
Weather conditions: Really. Really. Cold.
Extra comments: Have always wanted to see the upper section of the park, well worth it. It was so cold we saw not a single other kayaker out there.
Location: Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand
Days: 3
No. of people: 2
Sea conditions: Calm.
Weather conditions: Really. Really. Cold.
Extra comments: Have always wanted to see the upper section of the park, well worth it. It was so cold we saw not a single other kayaker out there.
Personal Trip - Cable Bay: Pepin Island
Cormorant taking flight
Date: 15.5.13 & 19.5.13
Location: Cable Bay, New Zealand
Days: 1
No. of people: 1/2
Sea conditions: Mostly calm, some swell.
Weather conditions: Fine, sunny.
Extra comments: Would rate this as one of the top 6 paddling trips in New Zealand. Beautiful caves, squeezes, tunnels and scenery. Loved it so much, went back a second time!
Location: Cable Bay, New Zealand
Days: 1
No. of people: 1/2
Sea conditions: Mostly calm, some swell.
Weather conditions: Fine, sunny.
Extra comments: Would rate this as one of the top 6 paddling trips in New Zealand. Beautiful caves, squeezes, tunnels and scenery. Loved it so much, went back a second time!
Personal Trip - d'Urville Island.
Campsite night 2 & 3
Date: 27.4.13 - 2.5.13
Location: Marlborough Sounds - New Zealand
Days: 6
No. of people: 6
Sea conditions: Variable, calm to rough swell, tidal races, boils.
Weather conditions: Variable, fine to 30 knot wind gusts.
Extra comments: Definitely feel accomplished having paddled around d'Urville. The weather was unpredictable the entire way and it was not until we were actually on the west side having navigated Hell's gate in turbulent conditions that we were sure we were actually going to get around at all. Had some big days on the water both long and intense, a forced rest day due to inclement weather and magic days with serene water and memorable times. Epic camp spots, lots of seafood to be eaten (thank you fishing team!) and amazing dolphin encounter. Do it again? Definitely.
Location: Marlborough Sounds - New Zealand
Days: 6
No. of people: 6
Sea conditions: Variable, calm to rough swell, tidal races, boils.
Weather conditions: Variable, fine to 30 knot wind gusts.
Extra comments: Definitely feel accomplished having paddled around d'Urville. The weather was unpredictable the entire way and it was not until we were actually on the west side having navigated Hell's gate in turbulent conditions that we were sure we were actually going to get around at all. Had some big days on the water both long and intense, a forced rest day due to inclement weather and magic days with serene water and memorable times. Epic camp spots, lots of seafood to be eaten (thank you fishing team!) and amazing dolphin encounter. Do it again? Definitely.
Personal Trip - Abel Tasman
Setting off for the day...
Date: 1.4.13
Location: Abel Tasman National Park
Days: 1
No. of people: 4
Sea conditions: Calm
Weather conditions: Fine
Extra comments: We have been so busy working this is the first time we have gotten out all season for a personal trip. Paddling in the park for fun is a whole other experience than taking clients out. Cruised around Fisherman's and Adele Island, found some penguin burrows, checked out the seal pups - good times.
Location: Abel Tasman National Park
Days: 1
No. of people: 4
Sea conditions: Calm
Weather conditions: Fine
Extra comments: We have been so busy working this is the first time we have gotten out all season for a personal trip. Paddling in the park for fun is a whole other experience than taking clients out. Cruised around Fisherman's and Adele Island, found some penguin burrows, checked out the seal pups - good times.
Employment - Kahu Kayaks
New Zealand Fur Seal
Date: November 2012 - April 2013
Location: Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand
Days: 180
No. of People: 1:8 Guide - Client Ratio (doubles only)
Sea Conditions: Variable, surf launchings/landings common
Weather Conditions: Variable, predominant weather pattern northerly winds with afternoon sea breeze
Extra Comments:
Second season in the Abel Tasman, good to be back in NZ!
Location: Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand
Days: 180
No. of People: 1:8 Guide - Client Ratio (doubles only)
Sea Conditions: Variable, surf launchings/landings common
Weather Conditions: Variable, predominant weather pattern northerly winds with afternoon sea breeze
Extra Comments:
Second season in the Abel Tasman, good to be back in NZ!
Employment - Strathcona Park Lodge
Nootka Sound
Date: 6th - 10th September, 2012
Location: Nootka Sound, Vancouver Island BC, Canada
Days: 5
Hours: 40
No. of People: 10 students, 1:5 instructor - student ratio
Sea Conditions: Calm to choppy
Weather Conditions: Variable, sun/wind
Accommodation: Tarps
Incidents: 1 student feeling ill and threw up as we left the beach due to dehydration and the heat. Rested for a few hours on the shore, rehydrated in the shade and was fine.
Key Learnings: Fifteen year olds don't drink enough water!
Extra Comments:
Four day sea kayak trip in Nootka Sound with Grade 10 students. Epic trip for wildlife with mackerel, sea lions, humpback whales and two wolves all at the same time. Great students, beautiful scenery, good times.
Location: Nootka Sound, Vancouver Island BC, Canada
Days: 5
Hours: 40
No. of People: 10 students, 1:5 instructor - student ratio
Sea Conditions: Calm to choppy
Weather Conditions: Variable, sun/wind
Accommodation: Tarps
Incidents: 1 student feeling ill and threw up as we left the beach due to dehydration and the heat. Rested for a few hours on the shore, rehydrated in the shade and was fine.
Key Learnings: Fifteen year olds don't drink enough water!
Extra Comments:
Four day sea kayak trip in Nootka Sound with Grade 10 students. Epic trip for wildlife with mackerel, sea lions, humpback whales and two wolves all at the same time. Great students, beautiful scenery, good times.
Employment - Paddle West Kayaking
Bald Eagle, Tofino
Date: Summer 2012: May - August
Location: Tofino & Ucluelet, Vancouver Island BC, Canada
Days: 90
No. of People: 1:6 guide - client ratio (doubles and singles)
Sea Conditions: Variable - Calm to choppy, strong tidal currents typical of Tofino
Weather Conditions: Variable
Incidents: Only myself, sprained my ankle on the first day of work! Capsize on final tour of final day but no problems - rescue was swift and successful.
Key Learnings: When guiding in tidal currents, make instructions clear, simple and straightforward. Evaluate the group. Better to detour ten minutes than get into trouble in the current.
Extra Comments:
I have swapped my bare feet for gumboots, board shorts for thermals and hat for a full raincoat and beanie. Welcome to kayak guiding in the temperate rainforest climate!!! Ucluelet and Tofino are beautiful places, bears are plentiful, whales do come about and the intertidal harbour life is pretty special. Love the fact I get to do guided walks as well through the old growth rainforest and night paddles to check out the bioluminescence are AMAZING! Tofino's uniqueness is the strength of the tides as they change. Rapids, whirlpools and boily water are all part of the package. Ucluelet is more open coast with the potential for swell, chop and wind.
Location: Tofino & Ucluelet, Vancouver Island BC, Canada
Days: 90
No. of People: 1:6 guide - client ratio (doubles and singles)
Sea Conditions: Variable - Calm to choppy, strong tidal currents typical of Tofino
Weather Conditions: Variable
Incidents: Only myself, sprained my ankle on the first day of work! Capsize on final tour of final day but no problems - rescue was swift and successful.
Key Learnings: When guiding in tidal currents, make instructions clear, simple and straightforward. Evaluate the group. Better to detour ten minutes than get into trouble in the current.
Extra Comments:
I have swapped my bare feet for gumboots, board shorts for thermals and hat for a full raincoat and beanie. Welcome to kayak guiding in the temperate rainforest climate!!! Ucluelet and Tofino are beautiful places, bears are plentiful, whales do come about and the intertidal harbour life is pretty special. Love the fact I get to do guided walks as well through the old growth rainforest and night paddles to check out the bioluminescence are AMAZING! Tofino's uniqueness is the strength of the tides as they change. Rapids, whirlpools and boily water are all part of the package. Ucluelet is more open coast with the potential for swell, chop and wind.
Personal Trip - Circumnavigation of Meares Island
Meares Island, Tofino
Date: 22nd - 23rd August, 2012
Location: Tofino, Vancouver Island BC, Canada
Days: 2
Hours: 24
No. of People: 1
Sea Conditions: Calm to rough swell
Weather Conditions: Sunshine to high winds
Accommodation: Tent
Incidents: Had a misadventure for the first few hours when I got lost paddling up a rogue channel...wound up paddling quite a few extra k's but it all worked out in the end.
Key Learnings: Trust my instincts
Extra Comments:
Was looking for a solo overnight trip - tranquil, reflective, fun. Started out being a little stressed when I paddled up the wrong channel. What the map was showing was not what I was seeing. My compass bearings weren't making sense so I decided to backtrack to my last known point but figured first I would check out the blue spot in the distance. Rob's first words to me were 'Are you meant to be paddling up Fortune Channel?' I asked him how he knew... 'Everyone does the same thing, thinks the entrace is an inlet then comes up here. I get to turn everyone around.' I was 2 hours away from the turnoff so I camped out on a floating dock by his floathome. My quiet night turned out to not be so quiet as he insisted I watch a movie with him...and listen to him play death metal on his electric guitar. So much for peace!
Because i messed up the night before the tide was against me the whole way up the channel, when i turned the corner the wind was against me too. My whole timing was off for the 2nd day as at the second corner the tide had turned and was against me again...and a 25 knot headwind to boot. Got wet. Got tired. Got tired of being wet.
Turned the last corner and flew home with the wind and waves behind me. I really really like the Squall as it is the first boat I have been able to paddle for an extended period without hurting but because it has a flat bottom it is useless in high winds. It thought it was a spinning top for a while and just spun around everytime i took my paddle out of the water. Grrr! Spent a lot of time tacking in the wind just to gain ground. Good trip, not quite what i was seeking but fun nevertheless to do a solo overnight mission.
Location: Tofino, Vancouver Island BC, Canada
Days: 2
Hours: 24
No. of People: 1
Sea Conditions: Calm to rough swell
Weather Conditions: Sunshine to high winds
Accommodation: Tent
Incidents: Had a misadventure for the first few hours when I got lost paddling up a rogue channel...wound up paddling quite a few extra k's but it all worked out in the end.
Key Learnings: Trust my instincts
Extra Comments:
Was looking for a solo overnight trip - tranquil, reflective, fun. Started out being a little stressed when I paddled up the wrong channel. What the map was showing was not what I was seeing. My compass bearings weren't making sense so I decided to backtrack to my last known point but figured first I would check out the blue spot in the distance. Rob's first words to me were 'Are you meant to be paddling up Fortune Channel?' I asked him how he knew... 'Everyone does the same thing, thinks the entrace is an inlet then comes up here. I get to turn everyone around.' I was 2 hours away from the turnoff so I camped out on a floating dock by his floathome. My quiet night turned out to not be so quiet as he insisted I watch a movie with him...and listen to him play death metal on his electric guitar. So much for peace!
Because i messed up the night before the tide was against me the whole way up the channel, when i turned the corner the wind was against me too. My whole timing was off for the 2nd day as at the second corner the tide had turned and was against me again...and a 25 knot headwind to boot. Got wet. Got tired. Got tired of being wet.
Turned the last corner and flew home with the wind and waves behind me. I really really like the Squall as it is the first boat I have been able to paddle for an extended period without hurting but because it has a flat bottom it is useless in high winds. It thought it was a spinning top for a while and just spun around everytime i took my paddle out of the water. Grrr! Spent a lot of time tacking in the wind just to gain ground. Good trip, not quite what i was seeking but fun nevertheless to do a solo overnight mission.
Personal Trip - Amphritite Lighthouse
Date: 17.8.12
Location: Ucluelet, Vancouver Island BC, Canada
Days: 1
Hours: 3
No. of People: 2
Sea Conditions: Rough
Weather Conditions: Rain/wind
Extra Comments:
Trip out to the Amphritite Lighthouse to check out the coastline. Lots of west coast waves smashing on the rocks, a few sea lions and seals.
Location: Ucluelet, Vancouver Island BC, Canada
Days: 1
Hours: 3
No. of People: 2
Sea Conditions: Rough
Weather Conditions: Rain/wind
Extra Comments:
Trip out to the Amphritite Lighthouse to check out the coastline. Lots of west coast waves smashing on the rocks, a few sea lions and seals.
Personal/Employment Trips - Night paddles
Dates: 13th, 19th & 20th of August, 2012
Location: Tofino, Vancouver Island BC, Canada
Days: 1 each
Hours: 2 each trip
No. of People: Variable 2 - 6
Sea Conditions: Calm
Weather Conditions: Night paddling - foggy
Extra Comments:
Client paddles and personal paddles to check out the meteorite shower and bioluminessence - amazing! Beautiful, being out there in the fog at midnight and seeing the bioluminessence go crazy. It is like rearranging the stars in the water.
Location: Tofino, Vancouver Island BC, Canada
Days: 1 each
Hours: 2 each trip
No. of People: Variable 2 - 6
Sea Conditions: Calm
Weather Conditions: Night paddling - foggy
Extra Comments:
Client paddles and personal paddles to check out the meteorite shower and bioluminessence - amazing! Beautiful, being out there in the fog at midnight and seeing the bioluminessence go crazy. It is like rearranging the stars in the water.
Personal Trip - Broken Group
Date: 15.8.12
Location: Broken Group, Vancouver Island BC, Canada
Days: 1
Hours: 4
No. of People: 10
Sea Conditions: Calm
Weather Conditions: Sunny
Extra Comments:
Day tour to the Broken Group with Majestic Kayaking. It was SO nice to be a 'client' for the day and not worry about group management or time frames or anything at all other than paddling around beautiful islands in beautiful weather. Got to see my first whale breach EVER. Epic. Great day out.
Location: Broken Group, Vancouver Island BC, Canada
Days: 1
Hours: 4
No. of People: 10
Sea Conditions: Calm
Weather Conditions: Sunny
Extra Comments:
Day tour to the Broken Group with Majestic Kayaking. It was SO nice to be a 'client' for the day and not worry about group management or time frames or anything at all other than paddling around beautiful islands in beautiful weather. Got to see my first whale breach EVER. Epic. Great day out.
Personal Trip - Circumnavigation of Vargas Island
Stellar Sea Lion
Date: 8.8.12
Location: Tofino, Vancouver Island BC, Canada
Days: 1
Hours: 6
No. of People: 1
Sea Conditions: Mostly calm
Weather Conditions: Variable rain/fog/sunshine
Extra Comments:
Went on a solo mission to circumnavigate Vargas Island (32k's). Started at 5:30am to catch the ebbing tide - the Father Charles channel was epically beautiful and I had an hour long encounter with a stellar sea lion. I followed him, he followed me and we generally made our way around Vargas until he lost interest in me. Halfway round I stopped on a beach for breakfast and met the Majestic Group on a 6 day tour...they were cooking up bagels and salmon so I arrived just in time for a cooked meal! Two hours from home I spotted a grey whale and sat with it for a few minutes while it fed in the kelp then it moved on to deeper waters and I moved away towards Tofino. Beautiful island, great adventure. Would do it again!
Location: Tofino, Vancouver Island BC, Canada
Days: 1
Hours: 6
No. of People: 1
Sea Conditions: Mostly calm
Weather Conditions: Variable rain/fog/sunshine
Extra Comments:
Went on a solo mission to circumnavigate Vargas Island (32k's). Started at 5:30am to catch the ebbing tide - the Father Charles channel was epically beautiful and I had an hour long encounter with a stellar sea lion. I followed him, he followed me and we generally made our way around Vargas until he lost interest in me. Halfway round I stopped on a beach for breakfast and met the Majestic Group on a 6 day tour...they were cooking up bagels and salmon so I arrived just in time for a cooked meal! Two hours from home I spotted a grey whale and sat with it for a few minutes while it fed in the kelp then it moved on to deeper waters and I moved away towards Tofino. Beautiful island, great adventure. Would do it again!
Personal Trip - Bear watching and intertidal exploring
Giant Pink Sea Star!
Date: 3.8.12 & 18.8.12
Location: Ucluelet, Vancouver Island BC, Canada
Days: 1 each trip
Hours: 4 each trip
No. of People: 1
Sea Conditions: Calm
Weather Conditions: Sunny
Extra Comments:
Went on a bear watching mission and was rewarded with Yogi Bear and Boo Boo up close and personal. Found a giant pink sea star as well.
Location: Ucluelet, Vancouver Island BC, Canada
Days: 1 each trip
Hours: 4 each trip
No. of People: 1
Sea Conditions: Calm
Weather Conditions: Sunny
Extra Comments:
Went on a bear watching mission and was rewarded with Yogi Bear and Boo Boo up close and personal. Found a giant pink sea star as well.
Personal Trip - Inside Passage Alaska: Petersberg to Juneau. 400k's, 14 days.
Dates: 1st - 15th May, 2012
Location: Inside Passage, Alaska USA. Days: 14 No. of People: 2 Sea Conditions: Calm to large swell Weather Conditions: Very cold. Rainy and windy. Accommodation: Tents, huts for 2 nights Incidents: Rudder cable broke midway into a 7km crossing (fixed on the water). Extra Comments: It is a big ask to condense 14 days of paddling into a few short paragraphs. The weather was very cold, 1-9 degrees each day and fairly constant rain and squalls. There were times I caught my breath when we paddled around an iceberg, saw a whale up close and encountered a sea lion that ought to be in the guiness book of records for its sheer size. The other times I caught my breath was when I realised how remote we were, in 14 days only once did we see a single other person. My adrenalin went sky high when we paddled a committing 7km crossing and the wind began gusting out of absolutely nowhere to the point I was having to brace to prevent being blown over. The waves that afternoon were breaking and full of chop. We literally surfed our way to our take out. We had a few close calls with the tides, there is one particular night I can recall sitting bolt upright in the tent watching the water lick at the tent flaps. Behind us was a bluff with water running down the back of it, infront of us an entire ocean. At midnight I toyed with the idea of taking refuge on a giant fallen tree - with the tent on my lap. Thankfully it didn't come to that however it was certainly an eye opener to experience the depth of the tides here! We decided to cut the trip short by 4 days as the weather was so foul. The final day turned out to be hilarious. The GPS showed a shortcut through a channel that would save us about 5 hours. We noted it was tidal and decided to hit it about high tide (9pm) and our ferry was due to leave at 3am. At 7:30pm that evening we hit dirt...well mud really. The water level was at about 3 centimetres. Getting out and towing our boats was a possibility, until we realised there was a sewer nearby. Walking through ice cold sewerage water in 5 degrees and a rainstorm didn't rate highly on my list of things to do in Alaska so we sat well and truly grounded in our boats and ate museli bars while the tide rose around us. Every fifteen minutes or so the water level was high enough for us to start scraping along at 2 k's per hour until we would become grounded again and have to wait for the tide to catch us up. It took The most beautiful campsite in the world nearly 2 hours to get completely through the channel and we got to the ferry terminal just after 10:30pm. Phew! Would you believe it, the next day when we woke up on the ferry the sun came out and it was the nicest day we had had since we had been in Canada! To sumarize...I'm really proud of the distance we did cover (400k's), the scenery was spectacular and the wildlife breathtaking. Nothing was comparable however to that first hot shower the day we got back! |
Employment - Kahu Kayaks
Packing gear for the next trip - Photo Pete Beisler
Date: November 2011 - April 2012
Location: Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand
Days: 180
No. of People: 1:8 Guide - Client Ratio (doubles only)
Sea Conditions: Variable, surf launchings/landings common
Weather Conditions: Variable, predominant weather pattern northerly winds with afternoon sea breeze
Extra Comments:
How do I sum up six months of work in a few lines? An incredible setting to work in, a fantastic company to work for, great Packing gear for the next trip - Photo Pete Beisler customers and amazing memories.
Highlights...learning about the NZ wildlife. I’ve become a bird fan and might I even tentatively say a bit of a vegetation geek. More highlights...having the opportunity to show tourists the beautiful park, watching them have a great time, having a great time with them.
Paddling on flat days, launching clients in armpit deep swell and cheering them on as they paddle out over the break, paddling into a headwind and kayak sailing when it turns tail wind. Making cappuccino’s on the beach. Being a guide. Meeting awesome people. Learning different cultures. Being here.
Location: Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand
Days: 180
No. of People: 1:8 Guide - Client Ratio (doubles only)
Sea Conditions: Variable, surf launchings/landings common
Weather Conditions: Variable, predominant weather pattern northerly winds with afternoon sea breeze
Extra Comments:
How do I sum up six months of work in a few lines? An incredible setting to work in, a fantastic company to work for, great Packing gear for the next trip - Photo Pete Beisler customers and amazing memories.
Highlights...learning about the NZ wildlife. I’ve become a bird fan and might I even tentatively say a bit of a vegetation geek. More highlights...having the opportunity to show tourists the beautiful park, watching them have a great time, having a great time with them.
Paddling on flat days, launching clients in armpit deep swell and cheering them on as they paddle out over the break, paddling into a headwind and kayak sailing when it turns tail wind. Making cappuccino’s on the beach. Being a guide. Meeting awesome people. Learning different cultures. Being here.
Work Experience - Rosco's Sea Kayaks, Milford Sound
Date: 31st August - 6th September, 2011
Location: Milford Sound, New Zealand
Days: 7
No. of People: Guide to client ratio 1:8 (doubles only)
Sea Conditions: Calm to rough
Weather Conditions: Sunny to windy
Extra Comments:
Tui, Chris and I travelled south to do a week of work experience with Rosco’s Sea Kayaking in Milford Sounds. It was one of the best weeks I have had at Tech. The scenery was amazing, the company fantastic and the experience invaluable
Driving towards Lake Hawera was THE most beautiful place I have ever seen in my life. The snow capped mountains bordered the wide expanse of water that stretched beyond my sight. It was as though they beckoned me towards an adventure that made my pulse jump and my breath catch with anticipation. There was however, no rush. The mountains were waiting; timeless, ancient, wise. I think Lake Hawera is responsible for many things. The creation of heaven for instance. I have every certainty the floating mountains of Pandora were inspired by the sheer beauty of this area. Milford itself was amazing, the silence was absolute and completely humbling. I have started to fall in love with New Zealand and am so pleased I made the decision to move here.
Work experience was a highlight in itself. On reflection, there is so much to learn about making kayaking instructions simple, delivering interp to clients, being everywhere at once yet seeming at ease... however, I think as octopus like as being a guide is, it is something I could pick up quite easily. On the final day Paul had us delivering bits of the gear/safety/interp talk with the clients which was well worth the experience. Love Milford, will go back!
Location: Milford Sound, New Zealand
Days: 7
No. of People: Guide to client ratio 1:8 (doubles only)
Sea Conditions: Calm to rough
Weather Conditions: Sunny to windy
Extra Comments:
Tui, Chris and I travelled south to do a week of work experience with Rosco’s Sea Kayaking in Milford Sounds. It was one of the best weeks I have had at Tech. The scenery was amazing, the company fantastic and the experience invaluable
Driving towards Lake Hawera was THE most beautiful place I have ever seen in my life. The snow capped mountains bordered the wide expanse of water that stretched beyond my sight. It was as though they beckoned me towards an adventure that made my pulse jump and my breath catch with anticipation. There was however, no rush. The mountains were waiting; timeless, ancient, wise. I think Lake Hawera is responsible for many things. The creation of heaven for instance. I have every certainty the floating mountains of Pandora were inspired by the sheer beauty of this area. Milford itself was amazing, the silence was absolute and completely humbling. I have started to fall in love with New Zealand and am so pleased I made the decision to move here.
Work experience was a highlight in itself. On reflection, there is so much to learn about making kayaking instructions simple, delivering interp to clients, being everywhere at once yet seeming at ease... however, I think as octopus like as being a guide is, it is something I could pick up quite easily. On the final day Paul had us delivering bits of the gear/safety/interp talk with the clients which was well worth the experience. Love Milford, will go back!
Tech - Abel Tasman/Queen Charlotte Sounds
Apple Tree Bay
Date: 14th - 20th August, 2011
Location: Abel Tasman National Park and Queen Charlotte Sounds, New Zealand
Days: 7
No. of People: 16
Sea Conditions: Calm to choppy
Weather Conditions: Sunny yet cold and windy
Accommodation: Tents
Incidents: Evacuated from Queen Charlotte Sounds due to illness
Extra Comments:
Beautiful sunny weather however it was freezing. Got to -2 degrees most nights. The plus side however was amazing sunrises/sunsets and good group memories.
Highlights: Rolled the double kayak with Grace, had seals playing with us in Abel Tasman and a ukulele jam session on the beach.
Location: Abel Tasman National Park and Queen Charlotte Sounds, New Zealand
Days: 7
No. of People: 16
Sea Conditions: Calm to choppy
Weather Conditions: Sunny yet cold and windy
Accommodation: Tents
Incidents: Evacuated from Queen Charlotte Sounds due to illness
Extra Comments:
Beautiful sunny weather however it was freezing. Got to -2 degrees most nights. The plus side however was amazing sunrises/sunsets and good group memories.
Highlights: Rolled the double kayak with Grace, had seals playing with us in Abel Tasman and a ukulele jam session on the beach.