Waikato Herald
  • Waikato Herald home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Locations

  • Hamilton
  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Matamata & Piako
  • Cambridge
  • Te Awamutu
  • Tokoroa & South Waikato
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Weather

  • Thames
  • Hamilton
  • Tokoroa
  • Taumarunui
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Waikato News

Unnoticed group pull off Waikato River exploration from Mount Ruapehu to Port Waikato

By Valu Maka, Wintec journalism student
Waikato Herald·
17 Aug, 2020 10:07 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Dan Kelly (left) and Sophie Blazey power paddling by the Maraetai Dam. Photo / Supplied

Dan Kelly (left) and Sophie Blazey power paddling by the Maraetai Dam. Photo / Supplied

A book launch that was due to happen this week marks what is believed to be the first journey along the length of the Waikato River from its Ruapehu source.

The significance of the journey went almost unnoticed by the media and the group responsible, in classic Kiwi fashion, quietly went back to their day jobs.

But although inquiries with the Department of Conservation and local hunters indicate the full trip may never have been done before, the expedition group is cautious about claiming to be the first as they are mindful of pre-colonial histories.

Over a span of a month the group travelled about 450km following the source of the Tongariro River down the slopes of Mt Ruapehu to the shores of Lake Taupō at Tūrangi, before kayaking across the water and down the Waikato River to Port Waikato.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Growing up in Pukekohe, Trent Hicks regularly drove past the Waikato River and had day-dreamed of one day exploring it.

In an extreme version of the current domestic tourism campaign, Hicks decided it was time to get to know his own backyard after returning from his OE.

So, with Mat Piaggi, Shannon Weaver, Sophie Blazey, Benns Hanns, Nick Blazey and Dan Kelly he embarked on a "homecoming" journey.

Outdoorsman and Kaimanawa Range hunter, Kingsley Field has never heard of anyone completing the entire journey from the alpine area of National Park to Port Waikato.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I've done a fair bit of walking around those areas and I know it would be a big accomplishment and rough walk," Field said.

 Dan Kelly (left) and Nick Blazey kayaking Western Bay, Taupo. Photo / Supplied
Dan Kelly (left) and Nick Blazey kayaking Western Bay, Taupo. Photo / Supplied

Expedition member Dan Kelly said the motivation was to see the change from mountain to sea. From the Summer Plateau the group tramped past the famous Lord of the Rings attraction, the Meads Wall, and followed the track to the historic Waihohonu Hut in
Tongariro National Park.

There they joined the Tongariro River, creating their own track through the bush.

"The bush was thick and a bit tricky. So we were just following the river hopping along on the rocks, but then slowly the river was getting deeper and deeper."

Discover more

Sport Waikato awards changing for 2020

24 Aug 09:51 PM

Kelly recalls camping overnight on the edge of Rangipo Prison Farm as night fell.

"It was pretty funny because we were stuck, there was nowhere else to camp so we camped there and skirted its edges in the morning."

In Tūrangi the crew picked up Canadian canoes before paddling about 33km across Lake Taupō.

"We didn't have any GPS or anything fancy like that to measure it but in Taupō we went from Kuratau to Whanganui Bay, to Kawakawa Bay to the Taupō township," Kelly said.

They portaged around the Huka Falls and rapids, as well as the river's eight hydroelectric dams.

The group spent most of their trip camping on public grounds, back paddocks near the river's edge and, in some cases, locals would let them stay on their property.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I wish more people would take the time to connect with our country and not just the postcard version, but to learn about the histories and stories," Kelly said.

More insights can be found in their book Where the river runs - from Summit to Sea' which will be launched in Auckland at a date to be decided after the level 3 lockdown.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Waikato News

Waikato HeraldUpdated

State of Emergency declared for Tasman region, severe weather warnings across NZ

10 Jul 05:51 AM
Waikato Herald

'Highly venomous': Deadly sea snake washes up on Coromandel beach

10 Jul 05:38 AM
Waikato Herald

Man accused of fatal shooting, stealing car at gunpoint appears in court

10 Jul 02:50 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Waikato News

State of Emergency declared for Tasman region, severe weather warnings across NZ
Waikato HeraldUpdated

State of Emergency declared for Tasman region, severe weather warnings across NZ

10 Jul 05:51 AM

Heavy rain and strong winds are expected in Auckland and Northland.

'Highly venomous': Deadly sea snake washes up on Coromandel beach
Waikato Herald

'Highly venomous': Deadly sea snake washes up on Coromandel beach

10 Jul 05:38 AM
Man accused of fatal shooting, stealing car at gunpoint appears in court
Waikato Herald

Man accused of fatal shooting, stealing car at gunpoint appears in court

10 Jul 02:50 AM
Heavy rain warning likely for BoP – MetService
Waikato Herald

Heavy rain warning likely for BoP – MetService

10 Jul 12:40 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Waikato Herald e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Waikato Herald
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP