ISSUE 4 5 Trans Taupo Race Results - Canoe & Kayak

Aussie Adventure on Stewart IslandA tale of Survival Sea kayaking and tramping by Alissa WoodsSunset at Doughboy BayIn 2001, while I was at University, a DOC ranger visitingAustralia gave a presentation on working in New Zealand.Apart from gaining 12 months valuable work experienceand enjoying the novelty of living in another country, NewZealand offered a couple of outdoor adventurers the chanceto fill every weekend and holiday with the best NZ has tooffer.Inspired by him, Keenan and I moved to New Zealand in September 2007 andhave been big into sea kayaking. Issued with 3 weeks off over Christmas, atrip to Stewart Island seemed a perfect idea. We booked a couple of ferries,purchased two sea kayaks and spent a few weeks preparing meals and fruitfor the dehydrator.On Stewart Island, fearless and determined to tackle the unknown, wepacked as much food and gear as we could into our kayaks and towed themon homemade trolleys over the hill towards Paterson Inlet. ‘Eliza’ and‘Elaho’ reached the water’s edge at Golden Bay and our trip of a lifetime hadreally begun.For three days we paddled up South West Arm into a 30 knot wind, rainand 1.5m swell, sneaking around every little point to shelter from the wind.We stayed in hunters’ huts at Hapuatuna Bay and South West Arm, dryingclothes and thawing frozen fingers and toes. At last a beautiful sunnymorning with pancakes for breakfast and then we got thrashed on the waterwhen the afternoon wind picked up. We stashed our kayaks at RakeahuaHut and strapped on tramping packs.For five days we tramped the interior of the island, crossing to the west coast.Table Hill, one of the high peaks in the Tin Pot Range was our first challenge.Unmarked Alpine tracks, Alpine bogs, dense scrub and driving rain madespirits low and progress slow. We pitched camp on the only patch ofdry ground on the Alpine swampland. In the morning a break in the rainallowed us to power up to the summit for spectacular views of the remoteand rugged environment. The wind was strong and I had to hold tightly ontothe camera, but when a storm hit from the southern ocean, we were blowninto a rapid descent. We ate a quick lunch in the shelter of our tent, put ourwet wet-weather gear on and returned to Rakeahua Hut.That night 7 people shared the 6 bunk hut! In the morning we reluctantlypulled on still wet boots and set off to stunning Doughboy Bay on the westcoast for a 16km walk which included climbing Mt Doughboy. The mudFinally the wind is in our favour!Alissa Woods picturedbecame deeper and by 8 p.m. we were exhausted. It was New Year’s Eve.Greeted by friendly midgies and Oyster Catcher birds we joined four othertrampers around a beach bonfire and camped under a clear sky, sharingstories and enjoying the star show until, “Happy New Year”! At 12.05am wewere fast asleep.We spent a ‘rest’ day at Doughboy fishing and exploring the rocks.Amazingly every cast of the line brought in a fish. Then it was over. Theunbreakable Ugly Stick fishing rod snapped in half. Fish for lunch was abeautiful change from dehydrated Chili con carne.Wearing dry socks, and with energy renewed, walking back to our kayakswas a breeze. Short on food, thrown about by wind and swell, we paddledtowards Oban. I faked a smile when Keenan yelled, “Are you havingfun?”. But my guard was down when he disappeared behind a wave and,reappearing, caught my look of horror. We slugged it out across Paterson34 ISSUE FORTYfive • 2 0 0 8