A challenge of being a father of two teenage boys lies in maintaining their interest in those aspects of outdoor recreation that are their dad’s thing. It seems to me the trick is getting the balance right between adventure, fun, challenge and involving them in the planning and decision making. 

It was late summer, the cicadas were crooning and finally the stars aligned for a trip down Hutt River gorge. “It’s this weekend or never,” I told the boys. “Let’s tackle the gorge! I promise a really good adventure.” 

Local knowledge helps. I knew from gorge veteran Chris Maclean that the last two weeks of February were ideal. The river levels are lowest, the water temperature is warmest and there is still reasonable daylight – all essential ingredients for a safe trip. 

We examined the map and I explained how gorge travel works. “It’s a mixture of tramping, swimming and rock climbing, and the Hutt is one of the most stunning gorges in the Tararua Range.” 

With a mixture of excitement and resignation, Tom and Lee helped me sort gear. “Are those really the only trainers you have, Tom?” I looked doubtfully at the hole near the toe and the grip well past its best. Footwear choice is a challenge on a gorge trip. Shoes need decent tread for rock scrambling, sufficient covering to prevent too much gravel getting in and ankle protection from boulders, yet must be light and flexible enough to allow for  swimming long stretches.

After emerging from the southern Tararua Range, where it serves as a water catchment for Wellington City, Te Awa Kairangi/Hutt River threads through the popular Kaitoke Regional Park, north of Upper Hutt, and soon enters a significant, snaking gorge that stretches for several kilometres between the park’s two major entrances.

We dropped my bike off at the Te Mārua entrance then drove to Pākuratahi Forks, where we left the vehicle in the main car park. In the past truck tyre tubes had been used to float down river gorges, but this time I followed Chris’s advice and favoured three-quarter-length 6mm-thick wetsuits, day bags and the low bulk personal flotation devices used by sea kayakers. This combination allows flexibility of movement while also ensuring good buoyancy – a crucial safety aspect for the long swims ahead.