Three Magic Days in the Headwaters
Three Magic Days in the Headwaters The headwaters of the Rangitikei River on the central North Island of New Zealand can be a magic place. From the 16th to the 18th of December I got to experience it once again. Headwater trips always inspire me, and leave me wondering how I can soon repeat the [...]
What is an Industry?
What is an Industry? There is little doubt that in our industry - wait, hold on, a little aside here, don't you think the word "industry" is inappropriate when used to describe professions or callings that work with nature? Industries to my mind are mining, manufacturing, telecommunications, transport, areas of an economy that don't really [...]
How Do We Grow the Ingredients For Those Fresh Salads?
How Do We Grow the Ingredients For Those Fresh Salads? Yesterday was an overcast but mostly warm sort of day with only a couple of light showers. A perfect day to spend a few, very pleasant hours, working in the Lodge vegetable gardens. Most of the attention was centred around the pick and pluck salad [...]
Getting Into The Back Country
Getting Into The Back Country Our local rural community, Pukeokahu, is an active community, especially when it comes to holding fund raising events. These events raise funds for the local primary school, role of 10, and also for the local community hall. The events held include a one day walk, a two horse trek, and [...]
Choosing the Right River Valley Adventure
Choosing the Right River Valley Adventure There is a widely held popular idea that white water rafting is only for "Adventurers". These adventurers are generally profiled as being young and fit risk takers. While it is true that many of our rafting clients do fit this type of profile, many other people that experience the [...]
The Story of Comms
Muscle and speed. Back in the 1980s when I started guiding, emergency communications or comms consisted of muscle and speed. That meant someone either running overland, or paddling as fast down the river as possible to raise an alarm. How times have changed! However for us it is still not as easy as dragging out [...]
On The Road to Somewhere
The road we have chosen to take at River Valley is not the normal road that most Adventure tourism companies would take. We really got on to our road, and started gathering some momentum, when we became involved in conservation projects a number of years ago. These projects are ongoing and include predator control and [...]
A Water Conservation Order on the Ngaruroro River?
A Water Conservation Order on the Ngaruroro River? During Labour Weekend just gone - October 22nd and 23rd 2016 - myself, Janey and Eddie were lucky enough to help organise and run a special overnight trip on the Ngaruroro River in Hawkes Bay. The occasion for this trip was a celebration of the first hurdles [...]
