New Zealand’s first commercial packrafting tour launched in Queenstown

The first commercial packrafting tour in New Zealand is the latest product to hit the adventure capital, as operator Expedition X launches in Queenstown.

This week (March 25) Expedition X has started offering water and land-based adventures using a packraft – a light inflatable wilderness boat that is carried into remote areas in a backpack, giving clients the freedom to explore previously hard to reach or inaccessible places.

“The idea is that people can walk into some of New Zealand’s most stunning outdoor areas with a guide, then inflate their boat, paddle across a lake, stream, or sound, or travel back downriver to civilisation,” said director and head guide Arno Marten.

Mr Marten said he was thrilled to offer a “new and exciting” activity in an area that had the adventure market well-cornered.

“These boats have opened up huge possibilities to experience water and land-based adventures in a single day,” he said.

“With our small group format, clients have the freedom to explore some absolutely stunning areas in our pristine outdoors while enjoying sights and activities that would traditionally only have been on offer on a multi-day tour.”

Mr Marten described the boats used on the trips, Alpacka Rafts, as one of the first products in modern packrafting, originating in Alaska.

“Packrafts are an ingenious and innovative piece of outdoor gear,” he said. “They’re a light inflatable wilderness boat that is stored in its own pack and can be carried in a hiking backpack.

“A single raft weighs no more than 2.5kg and they’re designed for rocky environments, ideal for the mountainous Otago and New Zealand landscape.”

The Expedition X Intro Tour introduces clients to basic Packrafting and light hiking while enjoying beautiful surroundings.

“Guests will learn to pack and unpack the rafts, master them on the water safely and learn general Packrafting skills, with ample time to enjoy the Kawarau River and Goldfields area,” said Mr Marten.

With the Intro Tour, transport, training, specialised gear and a gourmet lunch is included in the $299 price tag. A meal and wine tasting after the trip is optional.

Mr Marten has lived in Queenstown for more than eight years working as a river guide and an independent adventure sports tour guide.

“In a place like Queenstown where every type of adventure is for sale, we’re excited to offer something fresh and fun, that will be suitable for beginners, and in the future more advanced adventure athletes.”

Mr Marten said longer multi-day and weekend ‘medi-adventures’ and five day-plus extreme adventures were on the cards for Expedition X, and will be introduced for the start of the 2013/14 summer season.

“All our tours are centred around packrafting, walking or hiking, and enjoying the scenery in a safe way. There are many places around Queenstown and further afield that are difficult to explore with traditional boats, so as demand increases, we’ll release new tours to different places and for a longer duration.”

Future tours are likely to include camping, survival experience, rock climbing and abseiling, mountaineering and navigation skills, snorkelling, scuba diving and sea kayaking.

Mr Marten stressed that safety was of “paramount” importance to Expedition X.

Tours are graded according to certain levels of fitness, experience and age. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, all these tours are flexible according to season, weather and group dynamics.

Mr Marten said Expediton X’s extensive health and safety programme and tours derived from his experience as a former river boarding assessor and guide, an adventure athlete, swift water rescue trainer and assessor, dive instructor, paraglide tandem pilot and instructor, and outdoor leader.

For more information or to book tours visit: www.expeditionx.co.nz.


Picture captions: 

1/ Arno Marten, Expedition X guide, with his packraft
2/ Expedition X guests on the first commercial packrafting tour in New Zealand