Day three and our last day of the Whanganui canoe trip was reputed to be the most difficult day of canoeing yet because of three different sets of rapids to get through before reaching our landing point called Pipiriki. Before we left, we studied the map and tried to heed the suggestions for not tipping over which mainly included staying low, paddling hard and hanging on. In the event that we did tip, we were supposed to swim with the canoe and under no circumstances try and stand up as your foot can get caught and you can break an ankle. I really didn't want to tip over not because I was concerned with getting wet or swimming but because with the river so high, most of the sandy banks were gone leaving sheer rock walls and cliffs - not an easy place to try and swim to and get back in the canoe.

Turns out we didn't have to be worried about our last day - it was the easiest day of them all. This was because the level of the river was so high that it rose way above all of the rocks that created the rapids. We sailed right on through all of the trouble spots without even noticing. Our biggest challenge of the day was trying not to miss the landing where we were supposed to get out. The river was moving so fast that it was all we could do to paddle over to the side at a specific point. We were happy that we made it and it was a big relief not to have tipped over in such high waters.

On our way back, since it was a clear day, we had incredible views of the North Island's volcanoes. Our guide pointed them out and explained the route of the Tongariro Crossing, New Zealand's most famous day hike and the adventure that we hoped to tackle the next day. Although the canoe trip was fun, it was great to be back on dry land and we looked forward to using our feet and not our paddles to get around tomorrow.

 

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