Leaving the everyday hustle and bustle behind, canoeing is a great way to disconnect from daily life and reconnect with your loved ones. Here we discuss why you should be packing paddles for your next family trip.
There’s no better way to get out on the water and away from it all than a Guided Canoe holiday. Canoeing is an excellent outdoor adventure for the whole family. Leaving the everyday hustle and bustle behind, canoeing is a great way to disconnect from daily life and reconnect with your loved ones. Here we discuss why you should be packing paddles for your next family trip.
For those of you that feel like a fish out of water when on the water, a canoe is a great beginner-level activity and gateway into other water sports. The large design of canoes makes it more difficult than Kayaks to tip over, and with our expert tuition and guidance on our multiday tours, we ensure even the least experienced paddler can pick up the skills, and enjoyment of a Wilderness Canoeing Experience.
Never paddled a day in your life? No problem! With our guidance and instruction, it only takes about 30 minutes to learn the basics of how to paddle a canoe. We like to break the roles into two, as the rear paddler will dictate the direction; the front paddler will be responsible for most of the power and momentum. With a little bit of practice and a lot of teamwork, any family is more than capable of learning how to paddle canoes along our Whanganui River.
When compared to other once in a lifetime adventure holidays, Canoeing the Whanganui River is a relatively inexpensive summer activity making it ideal for families that want a one-of-a-kind experience without breaking the bank. Unless you plan on making canoeing a staple in your summer holidays, there is no need to purchase your own equipment, instead rental shops are never far from any large body of water or river. Guided canoe tours offer hiring options for your second holiday with us at affordable prices, like our Whanganui canoe hires.
Experience New Zealand’s waterways like you never have before. Reaching into nooks and crannies larger boats cannot reach, traveling by canoe will show you spaces and places you may have seen before but never from this angle. After living in London for two years, I will never forget my first Canoe trip through the city on a Canoe, the perspective was a revelation as I saw more things with a differing view and after over 200 trips on the Whanganui River, I still see something new every time. If your family loves nature or you’re trying to instill an appreciation for the natural world, there is no better way to do so than with one of our Guided Canoeing trips as you can connect the path of water from the Mountains to the Sea, the relationship between river, bank, rainforest and all the wildlife that calls this fascinating and unique ecosystem home!
Getting out onto the water is an excellent way for the family to unplug. Tell the teens and tweens to put their phones on flight mode and tuck them into the dry bag, as they are now just expensive cameras. This is usually a hard sell, but the risk of getting them wet makes it an easy decision. Disconnecting from our devices, even for a short time, makes it easier to focus on each other and enjoy time together. The rhythmic motion of the paddling and the teamwork required makes for a potent cocktail of relaxation and bonding for the whole family. We have seen great outcomes for families working, laughing and paddling together out here.
If you’re looking for a fun family trip, the search is over! Canoe holidays are a fantastic way to reconnect with each other and the world around you. Whether you’re a group of beginners, a company of budding adventurers, or experienced paddlers, Canoe Safaris New Zealand have something for you. Get in touch with our team today and book your next adventure.
We went on the four day canoe safari and absolutely loved it! Amazing scenery, and great service. Aidan and Morgan really went the extra mile to make sure everyone was happy and comfortable. Food was just like the comforts of home! We were very well looked after, and felt safe on the...
Nicola Johansen
We were part of a group of 8 friends doing the 3 day trip with Phil and Wai as guides. They were both terrific and very organised. Phil is excellent explaining how to manoeuvre through the rapids and the safety control was first class.
52Diane
This was the best family trip ever! Three course meals, a wealth of knowledge from our awesome guides, and no devices, were just three reasons we would highly recommend this adventure. Phil and Simon were amazing guides and worked from the moment we were collected for our trip to the moment we...
Richard Beechey
SIMPLY SENSATIONAL. Just completed the 3 day trip. Our guides Wilson and Gregor were fantastic. Cool, clear, calm (even when I tipped the wife out of our canoe). Always felt safe, always felt informed. The food was sensational. From the time we were greeted to the time we departed, I was very...
Warren J, Christchurch, NZ
I would like to thank Mike, Stefan and Sophie for a great rafting experience on the Mohaka River. They were all such fun, very experienced and wonderful chefs too. Certainly a fantastic holiday and one to be recommended. So a big thank you for making it happen.
Sinda Hall
We had a magic 4 days on the Whanganui thanks to Kirsty Phil Keira and Jackson. The equipment, food, guiding and training were faultless. Phil's instruction was enough to make us confident on the river without overloading two novices and Keira's and Jackson's enthusiasm and...
Larry B, New Zealand
peaceful, primal, professional, Challenging, adrenalin - I experienced all of these on a three day trip down the Whanganui river with a group of 18 people and two amazing guides - Simon and Aiden. These guys worked tirelessly to ensure we were kept safe and well fed and were happy to share their...
Michele Laurie
We did a family 4 day guided canoe trip, it was absolutely amazing. Very professional, our guides Morgan and Aiden were very knowledgeable and friendly. The food was way above expectation and the memories we have made will be with us forever. Highly recommend.
Leeann Morgan
Did the 3-day guided canoe trip down the Whanganui river with Phil and Simon as our guides. Even though all of us were first-time canoeists and a few of us were non-swimmers, they looked after us very well and were amazing at teaching us the skills we needed to keep ourselves safe. The...
Mark Loh
We did the 5 day, fully guided and catered river journey, with our four children and three other families. This was truly one of the best holidays we have ever had. Phil and Ian, our guides, organised every detail. It was enormous fun canoeing down the river, jumping off rocks and canyoning. We...
Sarah Scott-Brown
