New Zealand Photo Images Rangitikei River Rafting Ron Castle

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New Zealand Photo Images
Rangitikei River Headwaters Wilderness Rafting Adventure: Part 2
by Photographer Ron Castle

We came to New Zealand on Boxing Day (December 26) 2005 to join up with friends and client John Booth of www.incept.co.nz to participate in the annual Rangitikei River Headwaters Rafting Adventure. Click here if you missed Part 1 of this photo story to see the first page images. The Rangitikei River on New Zealand's North Island begins in the mountains of the Kaimanawa Forest Park east and south of Lake Taupo in the Kaimanawa Mountain Range. We helicoptered in to the Rangitikei River from the first bridge that crosses the river on the Napier Highway from Taihape which departs Highway 1 about 10 km north of Taihape, south of Waiouru. If you see a New Zealand photo image you like, want to use it online or want a print, please contact me for permission and credit details, thanks. If you are a professional photographer and want good search engine rankings, read this.

Check out my:

Cumberland River trout fishing photographs from September 2005
New Orleans photographs that have never been published.
Dean River photographs from British Columbia August-September 2003
Pictures of New Zealand from December 2005 and January 2006
- Photos New Zealand Rivers Mountains Rangitikei Adventure Part One December 2005 January 2006
- New Zealand Photo Images Rangitikei River Adventure Part Two January 2006
- Ruahine Windstorm Makes a REAL Rangitikei Adventure Part Three January 2006
- New Zealand White Water Rafting Photos Rangitikei River Part Four January 2006
Photographs from Tennessee and around the world

John Booth, managing director of www.incept.co.nz decided to travel the Rangitikei River this year on a Raft Pro pontoon cataraft. Raft Pro is a Boise, Idaho USA based company. Incept manufactures Raft Pro's tubes in New Zealand. It is believed that this is the first time the upper reaches of the Rangitikei have been navigated by a cataraft. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle
John's cataraft loaded and ready for action. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle
John and the Raft Pro cataraft on the Rangitikei River. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle
Geoff and Ruth loading their raft and checking the cargo net. Attention to detail regarding loading and binding is important. We flipped two rafts on the trip. Actually, it was the same raft that flipped twice. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle Ruth, Geoff and Roger are preparing their raft for travel. Larry and Pam are loading their raft in the background. Ron and Dave's Water Striders are loaded with 80 liter dry bags and fishing gear. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle
Roger and crew lead the way on the Rangitikei River this morning. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle
The scenery along the river and the deep canyons formed in the Kaimanawa Range are spectacular. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle
Pam, Larry and John running the whitewater. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle
Roger (aka flag face), Geoff and Ruth enjoying the fast water. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle
Pam, Bill and Larry ready to run the rapid. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle
Geoff, Roger and Ruth are following. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle
Larry, Pam and Bill heading into shore for a lunch break. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle
Ron in his rafting attire including a Canadian Tilley hat under his helmet. The NZ sun this time of year at mid day will give you a nice burn after 10 minutes of exposure. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle
Bill and Pam are ready for lunch. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle
Geoff and Ruth were in charge of the food for the trip and we ate very well. Note the fresh lettuce for sandwiches. No freeze dried meals for this crew. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle
A leisurely lunch break on the Rangitikei River. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle
Pam and Ruth do some exploration of a nearby tributary and camp site. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle One of New Zealand's 150 plus varieties of ferns. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle Bill gets a quick nap in the shade. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle After lunch we are back on the river enjoying the ever changing views of the Kaimanawa Range. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle A rock garden in the river creates some challenging technical water and we cannot see the end of the rapid so we get out to scout. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle Scouting the Rangitikei rapids. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle Larry and Dave discuss the safest course. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle We decided to walk the boats down the first part of the chute river left due to an obstructing boulder with a big current upsurge and then hop in and ride the rest of the rapid. This is Ron making the run in his Water Strider. New Zealand Photo Images by Dave Inks We successfully navigate this one with a partial portage. New Zealand Photo Images by Ron Castle
See more pictures of New Zealand and the Rangitikei River adventure here in Part 3.
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Ron Castle Webs • 401 Lynchburg Road • Winchester, Tennessee 37398-1621 USA
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