Kayaking - Surrounded by nature
Dusky dolphins underneath the surface of the water
Model: Allan Cronin
The ocean is where I feel the most at home. Whether that is being on the ocean or in the ocean itself. Last year I got a double sea kayak for my partner (and myself) and we were hoping to be able to use it every now and then to get out on the water in a different way. It is tricky finding the perfect fit for you and your needs. After lots of research of different kayaks I decided to settle with an open kayak. As I love being in the water I wanted to make sure that it was possible to easily get out of the kayak for a swim and pop back up again. The open sea kayak seemed to be the best option for this. We got a sturdy sea kayak that handles these conditions perfectly and I have gotten out and into the kayak countless times after swimming off the coastline. But yes, being winter I have definitely started to feel the cold!
New Zealand fur seal washing its face
Snowcapped Kaikoura seaward mountain range
We have ended up using it a whole lot more than we imagined we would and have had some amazing days on the water from it. There is something special about being on the water without having the sound of a puttering engine. You can hear all the wildlife around you at all times. The breath of a fur seal as it resurfaces after a dive, the chattering of Cape petrels as they gather around each other on the surface or the sound of a Giant petrel growling and protecting its food against other seabirds.
Using only your own body to take you places without any artificial fuel other than what is needed to fuel yourself is extremely empowering. Knowing that you yourself got to where you ended up, sitting in the middle of the ocean surrounded by nature or in the middle of a lake.
When we first started kayaking we would only stay on the water for an hour or two and would not paddle further than a couple of kilometres. Now we will easily stay out from sunrise to sunset and paddle 10-20 kilometres each day we end up on the water.
Sitting on top of the kayak on a calm and sunny summer’s day
Model: Allan Cronin
New Zealand has some amazing places where you can paddle around in a kayak and explore the coastline and the lakes. I am looking forward to exploring more of this stunning land and the unique nature and wildlife found here. I will be sharing more from our journey around the country and are planning a few trips over the next coming months!
