Kayaking on Lake Mapourika

We had a guided kayak tour with Franz Josef Wilderness tour on Monday, December 18, 2023, on Lake Mapourika. The glacier lake is very close to Franz/Josef  Glaciers, but due to its orientation and surrounding landscape, the lake would reflect the further away Fox glacier on a good day.

 One interesting thing was that we actually had a sit-in kayak, with skirt to cover the cabin to prevent water spilled in, instead of typical sit-on-top kayak for tourists at most places, It was the first time I had the kayak skirt on since early days kayaking with Cutter Aquatics.

The guided tour included 2 tandem kayaks for the tourists, us plus two solo travelers. Two guides each paddled a solo kayak. The launching place is at the corner of the big lake, with a cove on left hand side. We got into the water first and paddled around the cove. There were a family of ducks and ducklings, and a snow heron. 

Then we paddled across the lake in open water to the other side of the lake  - where ancient rainforest resides, as well as long fined eels. The trees were easy to see but eels were not.

We paddled along the lake shores for a while,  and had some fun paddling through a small "gate" formed by a bent tree. 

The next main activity was to paddle into a "hidden" stream. The area around the stream is the designated conservation area for the rarest kiwi - a flightless bird and New Zealand national bird. The guide told us the area was overpopulated with Kiwi, but we did not see a single one of them.

The stream is narrow and winding, but the water was incredibly still, mirror like. It is a good place for kayaking, bird watching and tranquility.

The view was beautiful, the lake was peaceful in the morning but wind started to blow near noon time. The paddling was easy. 

It was a informative and pleasant tour.

With a kayak skirt on

a snow heron in flight

the morning cloud started to break apart

ancient trees on lake shore

a pair of dragon flies were mating on our kayak

paddle through a tunnel formed by a bent tree

A hidden stream on the other side of the lake from launching spot

the team at the turn around point which is a bit wider

raised paddles