Alps to Pacific Log-Raft Expedition, 1982
From the snow-lined mountains of the Southern Alps, 440km to the Pacific Ocean, this was the course I planned for a log raft, negotiating two rivers and two lakes – New Zealand’s longest raft journey. ~ Lewis: Verduyn-Cassels.
During the gold-rush years of the 1860s and 1870s, log rafts negotiated the Makarora and Wilkin Rivers, down to Lake Wanaka. At the lakeside they were assembled into larger rafts, which were each rigged with a mast, a large square sail and sweeps for steering.
These were sailed 60km to the outlet of Lake Wanaka, where they were rebuilt into smaller rafts and guided down the Upper Clutha to Lowburn. The logs were hauled overland to Cromwell and pit-sawn, ready for the lucrative goldfields market.
Initially, the raftsmen attempted to navigate the Cromwell Gorge. The first raft to safely do so reached Clyde on October 6, 1862. Few rafts survived the rapids at Cromwell, however. Some actually somersaulted over the notorious “Gap”, and so the gorge was abandoned. Even the Clutha route down to Lowburn held many dangers. Such places as the “Devil’s Nook” claimed many rafts.
Yet, I was determined to follow not only the original rafting route, but the entire Clutha River, from the source to the sea, on a log raft. Understandably, no one had done it before.
