Cha Chou Nouvelle-Zélande

Cha Chou à Christchurch Estuary
Christchurch - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le : 3 jours

Date de la session : 19/08/2018

Matériel utilisé : Pacific Paddle Co Airlines & Pacific Paddle Co Adjustable PPC Recreational Paddle

Just paddling... :-)

6.19 km

00:50:00

7,46 km/h

Gorgeous day today, no wind at all when I left about an hour before high tide, and only slight chops on the way back. Lots of herons by the jetty when I headed out and a couple of shags in the water but otherwise no one else on the water today, everyone must still be up on the slopes :p Tried to do a bit more fitness than usual by paddling at a constant pace and work on speed but the day was so nice I kept stopping to take photos so gave up on that part halfway through and just cruised on the way back =D

Cha Chou à Christchurch Estuary
Christchurch - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le 04 août 2018 03:36:46

Date de la session : 04/08/2018

Matériel utilisé : Pacific Paddle Co Airlines & Pacific Paddle Co Adjustable PPC Recreational Paddle

Just paddling... :-)

2.72 km

00:40:00

4,12 km/h

Woohoo back in the water! Getting some muscles out of their hibernation ;) Not the nicest morning at the start, bit choppy & windy when I headed out but once I reached the bridge end the sun made an appearance and the wind died down on my way back which made the return a lot more pleasant (and warm!). Lots of swans around this morning but no one else on the water. So good to get back out! =) Looking forward to longer and hotter days coming back =)

Cha Chou à Cass Bay
Christchurch - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le 19 juillet 2018 08:45:52

Date de la session : 19/07/2018

Matériel utilisé : Pacific Paddle Co Airlines & Pacific Paddle Co Adjustable PPC Recreational Paddle

Allround

2.56 km

01:00:00

2,56 km/h

**not an actual paddle** Gutted to have left the board home that day, but nice to see the usual paddling spot from above on such a sweet winter day (temp got to about 18˚C that day, insane!). Can not believe that no one was out on the water on such a beautiful, windless day and with the tide in as well! Fingers crossed for good weather this weekend to get back on the water!

Cha Chou à Christchurch Estuary
Christchurch - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le 08 mars 2018 03:38:03

Date de la session : 08/03/2018

Matériel utilisé : Pacific Paddle Co Airlines & Pacific Paddle Co Adjustable PPC Recreational Paddle

Just paddling... :-)

2.65 km

00:40:00

4,02 km/h

Such a beautiful morning when I headed out! Flat as, tide in, no wind, it was just perfect! Left from the jetty and up river into the Avon. Somehow past the bridge I ended up on the wrong side and in a cul-de-sac. So many birds though: gulls, shags, loads of black swans and a whole group of royal spoonbills (gutted my little camera doesn't zoom as they were truly majestic when they all flew off in front of my board!). Met a kayaker on the way back. Of course the wind had to pick up N/E went I was coming down so battled a wee bit to get back in to shore. Looks like summer is still hanging around for a while in NZ =)

Cha Chou à Akaroa Harbour & Bays
Akaroa - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le 04 mars 2018 00:17:13

Date de la session : 04/03/2018

Matériel utilisé : Pacific Paddle Co Airlines & Pacific Paddle Co Adjustable PPC Recreational Paddle

Family

0.22 km

00:30:00

0,45 km/h

Introducing 3months old puppy Torx to paddle boarding =) A lot easier with another SUP pooch around ;) Both had lots of fun! And the water is still quite warm so that always helps. Great day out on the water!

Cha Chou à Cass Bay
Christchurch - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le 28 janvier 2018 04:39:52

Date de la session : 28/01/2018

Matériel utilisé : Pacific Paddle Co Airlines & Pacific Paddle Co Adjustable PPC Recreational Paddle

Family

0.97 km

00:45:00

1,29 km/h

Doggy paddle = happy paddle! =) Went early to avoid the scorching heat that we are currently experiencing in NZ (on the plus side the sea water is the warmest it's ever been at around 21˚C!). Nice to see quite a few others out on SUPs/kayaks, probably the busiest I've ever seen Cass Bay. No wind, flat as, gorgeous day (was overcast at first but the sun quickly peeked out =). Didn't go too far as I had my favorite passenger with me but we had a lovely time practising balance, playing aqua-fetch and just paddling around =)

Cha Chou à Akaroa Harbour & Bays
Akaroa - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le 22 janvier 2018 05:54:26

Date de la session : 22/01/2018

Touring

4.03 km

01:30:00

2,69 km/h

Not on a SUP for a change, but what an awesome day for it. Hottest weekend of the year so far, 30˚C+ and even though it was super windy, on the water it was still stinking hot! =D Paddled from Children's Bay to Red Point and had a good look on the rocks. Saw lots of little fish in the water at Children's Bay that morning but not so much in the heat of the arvo. No stingray or dolphins either :'( But the water was the clearest I've ever seen in the crater and I really wish that I had my snorkelling gear with me (and that the camera didn't die 5min into the paddle :'(!!! So gutted!!!). Bit of a challenge in that strong wind but good fun surfing the waves in the harbour though I reckon the SUPers we passed on the way out didn't have such a fun time :p Was actually glad to be sitting in and not standing on a SUP for once =D Nice to see more paddlers coming out that way and the rental guy being so busy on such a lovely weekend =)

Cha Chou a donné son avis sur Lake Opuha
Fairlie - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le 10 janvier 2018 03:30:29

A great little lake just out of Fairlie that is a lot more quiet than the big and more popular Southern Lakes. Bonus, if you have a self-contained campervan/caravan (see the NZ Freedom Camping regulations) you're allowed to camp there for 3 nights (however not around Xmas time) which is pretty awesome. Great easy access, you can launch from multiple spots/ramps around the lake. However, firstly because it gets the alpine winds which can be very treacherous and also because there is a dam up stream I would be cautious when heading out (people die every year on the southern lakes in NZ when they get caught in the winds sadly :'( ) and probably wouldn't recommend it to complete beginners unless accompanied with more experienced paddlers. BYO gear only as there are no rentals around. There is also a nice DOC (Department of Conservation) campsite nearby at Pioneer Park which doesn't require you to be self-contained and cost $8/person/night. If you're passing through on your way to or from the Lakes further south I would definitely recommend this spot as a great picnic/paddle stop =)

Accès :

Parking :

Mise à l'eau :

Sécurité :

Débutants :

Familles :

Cha Chou à Lake Opuha
Fairlie - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le 10 janvier 2018 03:22:08

Date de la session : 09/01/2018

Matériel utilisé : Pacific Paddle Co Airlines & Pacific Paddle Co Adjustable PPC Recreational Paddle

Touring

01:00:00

*** Not an actual paddle *** SOOOO windy when we got there so didn't get the board out! It died off a bit but those alpine winds come in monstrous gusts and I didn't want to have to walk back =D However, this little lake just out of Fairlie is a brilliant spot, and even though there were still a few boats out, it is far less crowded than most of the neighbouring and more popular lakes. I will definitely go back to check it out! =)

Cha Chou à Southern Lakes
Twizel - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le 09 janvier 2018 05:58:37

Date de la session : 09/01/2018

Matériel utilisé : Pacific Paddle Co Airlines & Pacific Paddle Co Adjustable PPC Recreational Paddle

Just paddling... :-)

1.69 km

01:00:00

1,69 km/h

Pretty good couple of sessions at Lake Middleton. The cool thing being the campsite is right by the lake so you can go paddling anytime =) Did the round the lake tour a couple of times, which only takes around 20min. First day I helped a man who lost his glasses in the water search for them (we didn't find them but someone else did =D) and another time a boy broke his bike on the other side of the lake so went to investigate (and was prepared to give him and the bike a ride back =D he was happy to push the bike in the end!). So much action for such a small lake! Quite busy at first but the average weather and end of the holiday meant that the lake got a lot quieter which was awesome. Traded some paddle lessons for 2 little girls in exchange for a water-ski session with a family that comes up here every summer. Girls loved it!!! Future contributors to SUP Trotters for sure =) Still a few motor boats/jetskis out though. Lots of birds around - the northern end of the lake is closed to boats for the southern crested grebe that nest on the swimming rope there =) - and heaps of baby ducks. The latest being big fans of my board =) Didn't get the chance to paddle Lake Ohau as it was very windy the whole time sadly.

Cha Chou a donné son avis sur Catlins River
Pounawea - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le 09 janvier 2018 05:48:07

A neat little spot in a pretty amazing area really. Very tidal dependant especially up river at the Catlins Lake and down at the estuary. Plenty of access points either along the river or park down by the campsite at Pounawea. Great spot for bird watching too. At high tide the Lake would be good for paddling. Winds can be really strong and I would be wary of the currents especially when the tide is getting out so might not be ideal for beginners. BYO gear only as there is no rental place around (that I am aware of). The Catlins is an amazing region at the southern tip of the South Island and while it is a popular surf destination (Purakaunui, Tautuku, Curio Bay) it is also great for SUPaddlers as well with plenty of river spots. The Tahakopa estuary at Papatowai would be amazing at high tide. Possible paddles on the Tahakopa & McLennan rivers out of Papatowai as well though it is not necessarily easy to park/launch around. The marine life is insane with seals, sea lions, Hector's dolphins calling the place home and occasionally orcas/whales passing through the waters so keep your eyes peeled in the surf! It is quite a remote area so BYO gear is strongly recommended (I'm not even sure you can hire SUP boards down there).

Accès :

Parking :

Mise à l'eau :

Sécurité :

Débutants :

Familles :

Cha Chou à Catlins River
Pounawea - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le 09 janvier 2018 05:38:01

Date de la session : 09/01/2018

Matériel utilisé : Pacific Paddle Co Airlines & Pacific Paddle Co Adjustable PPC Recreational Paddle

River

1.02 km

00:20:00

3,09 km/h

Finally found a spot to paddle after a couple of days scouting the area =) It was pretty windy especially around the bend and the tide wasn't in yet so couldn't go into the estuary. Nice wee spot though and with the Catlins Lake further up it definitely calls for more exploration =) Lots of wildlife around the estuary, mostly birds but with herons, oystercatchers, stilts and even royal spoonbills it is a pretty amazing place to go for a walk/bird watching!

Cha Chou à Cass Bay
Christchurch - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le 29 décembre 2017 03:03:12

Date de la session : 29/12/2017

Matériel utilisé : Pacific Paddle Co Airlines & Pacific Paddle Co Adjustable PPC Recreational Paddle

Just paddling... :-)

2.78 km

00:45:00

3,71 km/h

Finishing 2017 with a sweet morning paddle =) Windy AF on my way out -took me almost 30min to make it to Naval Point!- with some decent chops, and much more settled on the way back. Sat down on the board for a bit and let the wind push me back for a couple hundred meters to rest my arms =D Quite busy though with plenty of kayakers and a few other paddlers out enjoying the sunshine =) Was planning on heading towards Governors Bay on the western end of the harbour but the wind direction meant I would have had to battle the chops on the way back so went to Lyttelton instead. Saw a couple of guys were training for Waka Ama (the traditional maori canoes) and they were going wayyyyy faster than me =D Would have definitely been a great day to have a sail on the board!
Hope you all enjoy the last few hours of 2017, keep paddling and see you all next year =)

Cha Chou à Charteris Bay
Diamond Harbour - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le 28 décembre 2017 03:31:10

Date de la session : 28/12/2017

Matériel utilisé : Pacific Paddle Co Airlines & Pacific Paddle Co Adjustable PPC Recreational Paddle

Touring

14.88 km

02:00:00

7,44 km/h

*** Not an actual paddle ***
Even though it would have been a neat day for it, I didn't actually paddle today but the drive/walks gave me the chance to scout some cool places on the other side of Lyttelton Harbour since I normally get out at Cass Bay on the northern side.
Naval Point where the yacht club is in Lyttelton & Cass Bay are the best launching spots on the northern side (preference for Cass Bay as more scenic, easier to park and not as close to the port traffic!). Governors Bay at the bottom of the bay is quite muddy and shallow so even though there is plenty of places to park it's probably not the best place to launch. Found the neatest wee spot in Charteris Bay where if you park by the boat ramp you can then paddle along to the boat sheds (to the right heading towards the head of the harbour) or also to Quail Island in the middle =)
If you don't want to drive all the way over, there is a ferry linking Lyttelton to Diamond Harbour on the south side, however it is a passenger ferry only so unless you have an inflatable board packed in a bag or there is no one on the boat that might be a tricky option!

Cha Chou à New Brighton
Christchurch - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le 02 décembre 2017 01:29:47

Date de la session : 02/12/2017

Matériel utilisé : Pacific Paddle Co Airlines & Pacific Paddle Co Adjustable PPC Recreational Paddle

Surf

0.39 km

00:30:00

0,79 km/h

My first ever proper SUP surf with my PPC board, which due to a faulty pump was only just over half inflated :@ Made it probably a lot more difficult than it should have been but it was good fun anyways! And with the thermometer close to 30˚C even at 8.30 this morning and not a cloud in the sky there was no better way to kick off summer! =)

Cha Chou a donné son avis sur Southern Lakes
Twizel - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le 23 novembre 2017 07:39:03

Since this spot includes a variety of Lakes I had rated it based on some sort of average score. All lakes are pretty easily accessed from the highway, township or via a gentle and very well maintained gravel road (Ohau/Middleton). From Tekapo you can launch from the town, or easily from around the lake where there are multiple other spots to park. Pukaki is probably the trickiest one as it's bordered by the highway pretty much all around but there is a boat ramp somewhere near a power station (to check I read it somewhere but can't find it anymore), there is also a picnic spot by the highway with a wee beach (see photo) which might be the easier access. Ruataniwha is the most user friendly one as it is a rowing/water-skiing lake used for competitions. I have not yet been there but there is a rental company there -the only one I believe in the area, so unless you have your own gear this might be the only place you can hire a board. From the campsite at Lake Middleton you can launch right from your tent spot (literally) there is a wee beach and boat ramp (grass patch type) and a short walk across the road will take you to a similar access for Lake Ohau. The region is very touristy and gets very busy over the summer months. Be aware of motor-boats (and hesitant tourists staring at the landscape more than focusing on the road :@ ). The small townships of Lake Tekapo and Twizel have basic shops cafes/petrol/mini-mart but if you're coming through from a bigger city it is a good idea to do your groceries shopping there beforehand. As with almost anywhere else in NZ the weather around this part of the country can change very quickly so never trust a sunny morning to last all day. The wind can become very strong very quickly so always check the forecast, gear up accordingly and be true to your abilities. {Sadly accidents do happen even on a lake, and there have been some fatalities including people kayaking on Lake Tekapo. } ----- ------ Since Didymo (a freshwater parasite) is present in the South Island rivers/waterways make sure you follow the Check-Clean-Dry procedure if you paddle from lake to lake or river, more info here => http://www.mpi.govt.nz/travel-and-recreation/outdoor-activities/check-clean-dry/

Accès :

Parking :

Mise à l'eau :

Sécurité :

Débutants :

Familles :

Cha Chou à Southern Lakes
Twizel - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le 23 novembre 2017 07:22:02

Date de la session : 23/11/2017

Matériel utilisé : Pacific Paddle Co Airlines & Pacific Paddle Co Adjustable PPC Recreational Paddle

Touring

60.77 km

01:00:00

60,77 km/h

I have never been soooooo gutted NOT to have my board with me (which for logistical reasons was not possible this time) !!! :'( But this 3 day trip down to the Southern Lakes was definitely a location scouting for the upcoming Xmas holidays =) The beautiful MacKenzie & Waitaki Districts in Southern Canterbury are the gateway to the Southern Lakes which are world renown for their ever turquoise waters. Lake Tekapo is a very busy tourist resort but there is a campground right by the lake. Lake Pukaki sits below Mt Cook, the highest mountain in NZ and offers one of the most scenic drives in the country with the highway bordering it almost all around. Lake Ohau is slightly out of the main ways and right at the bottom of Ohau Ski Area and Lake Middleton is the baby of the group right by Ohau and has a Department of Conservation campsite with a little beach right on its shore. The first 3 are moraine-dammed lakes, created when the former glaciers that used to sit there receded. Their color is due to the water still coming from the alpine glaciers. There is also a more recreational lake called Ruataniwha right outside of the town of Twizel. It takes about 1h (likely more on a busy summer day) from Lake Tekapo to Lake Ohau. The area was made famous in Lord of the Rings and it certainly feels like hobbits might pop up on the side of the road as you are driving around =) Great for a 3 day trip from Christchurch, could definitely spend a lot more time down there as the scenery is purely magical (and also world-famous for its pristine clear night skies classified as an International Star Reserve). If you come visit NZ I would definitely recommend the Southern Lakes as a SUP destination =)

Cha Chou à Christchurch Estuary
Christchurch - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le 21 octobre 2017 03:55:13

Date de la session : 21/10/2017

Matériel utilisé : Pacific Paddle Co Airlines & Pacific Paddle Co Adjustable PPC Recreational Paddle

Just paddling... :-)

6.55 km

00:50:00

7,90 km/h

This morning's weather was insane, the photos don't do the magic of the place justice. I have never been out on the estuary in such blind conditions at the start when the clouds coming from the hills where literally engulfing the water. No wind, glass calm water, it was perfect but so foggy I was almost expecting a zombie to grab my paddle and try to take me down! =D I didn't have the tracker on and was so mesmerised by the light and clouds I just went zigzag the whole time so my itinerary is not at all accurate. The sun slowly pointed its nose halfway through and the fog lifted on the way back. Going through where the two rivers meet was the clearest water I have ever seen there (and not much of it as I pushed it with the tide!) and it was so transparent you could count the shellfish on the sea floor! Met two kayakers on the Redcliffs/Mt Pleasant side (south side) and plenty of seagulls and shags. Probably one of the best paddle I've had on this spot for the beauty of the place when I headed out was out of this world!

Cha Chou à Waimari Surf Club
Christchurch - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le 24 septembre 2017 04:27:53

Date de la session : 24/09/2017

Surf

0.2 km

01:00:00

0,20 km/h

First surf of the season, yay! Really nice warm day, sweet little waves, pushy enough not to paddle too hard =) The water is still bloody cold though (10-11˚C max!), really regretted the lack of gloves at the start! Looks like summer is on the way NZ!!! =) Nice to see a few others out this morning, no one on a SUP though!

Cha Chou à Christchurch Estuary
Christchurch - Nouvelle-Zélande
Ajouté le 26 août 2017 03:56:10

Date de la session : 26/08/2017

Matériel utilisé : Pacific Paddle Co Airlines & Pacific Paddle Co Adjustable PPC Recreational Paddle

Just paddling... :-)

3.25 km

00:45:00

4,33 km/h

Pretty busy estuary this morning with a vintage row boat (!), 2 kayaks, a jet ski and another paddler, haven't seen that many people out all winter! The new jetty (replacing the earthquake damaged old one) is finally finished, looking pretty flash with the floating launch pontoon. Wind picked up a bit on on the way back and I'm glad I was wearing a wetsuit or I would have been freezing :O Got a fairly decent work out too =D