| About 2 hours drive from Christchurch you
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| | these things as you gently make your way
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| will find the Rangitata River. It's
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| | down a long calm patch of the river.
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| located near Geraldine, a beautiful area
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| | After everyone in your raft is confident
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| of the South Island with some stunning
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| | with the skills, it's time to hit your
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| landscapes and natural features on view.
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| | first rapids! This is definitely the most
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| The river is also perfectly suited for
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| | exciting part and what makes people come
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| white water rafting with a number of
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| | back for more. It's a real adrenaline
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| exhilarating rapids to go with the flat
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| | rush as your raft is thrown through the
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| sections that are great for practising
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| | rapids, you can feel the power of the
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| your skills or getting a well-earned
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| | water as you bump up and down and side to
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| breather.
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| | side with each dip and change of
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| Most operators that take rafting trips on
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| | direction. The instructors do a great job
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| the Rangitata River take you to and from
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| | of keeping you on the right path although
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| Christchurch in a shuttle. Like most
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| | you'll have to help them out when they
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| white water rafting trips, it can be
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| | need it, some rapid paddling is required
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| intense at times and without needing to
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| | to get through some of the tough spots.
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| be a professional athlete, it helps if
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| | As you head further down the river,
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| you are reasonably fit. The more you put
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| | you'll get to enjoy a lot more exciting
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| in, the more you will get out of this
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| | rapids that really get the heart going.
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| experience, so if flying down gushing
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| | Sometimes they can be so intense that
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| rapids is your kind of thing, then you're
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| | people fall out or rafts flip over, this
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| going to have a great time.
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| | isn't uncommon and the instructors will
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| The day starts off with a shuttle picking
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| | alert you if you need to pick up someone
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| you up from Christchurch early in the
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| | that went overboard. The risk factor is
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| morning. From here it's a simple but
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| | all part of the excitement but at no
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| pleasant drive through the countryside on
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| | stage does it fell dangerous. The
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| your way to the Rangitata River. Once
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| | strength (or grading) of the river
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| reaching the river, you drive further up
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| | changes throughout the year but will
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| it to a lodge where you will start your
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| | always give you some very challenging
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| day of activities.
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| | sections of white water.
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| The first thing that needs organising is
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| | The main part of the trip lasts for a
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| your equipment. This consists of things
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| | couple of hours before the river flattens
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| like a wetsuit, helmet, life jacket etc.
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| | out and you get the chance to have a bit
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| They may not be the most comfortable or
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| | of fun with the other rafts, i.e.
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| fashionable but the water can be cold so
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| | splashing them with your oars or throwing
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| you'll definitely appreciate it. After
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| | their instructor in the water. You may
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| being kitted out, you'll be split into
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| | also get the chance to jump off some very
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| groups that will make up those on your
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| | high rocks or float down sections of the
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| raft. It's great if you've got a bunch of
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| | river out of the raft (this is when
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| friends to go with but if not, you'll
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| | you'll be glad you're in a wetsuit).
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| probably meet some new ones by the end of
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| | After loading the rafts onto the
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| the day anyway.
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| | trailers, you'll head back up to the
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| Driving further up the river you'll
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| | lodge for a well-earned barbeque. By this
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| arrive at the point where you'll be
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| | stage you should be exhausted, just
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| starting your journey. It's here that
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| | managing to stay in the raft all day can
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| you'll get your first taste of rafting.
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| | be hard work! After some laughs and a few
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| Each raft has one instructor who sits at
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| | final words it's time to head home. You
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| the back of the raft, helps you avoid
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| | get the opportunity to buy photos taken
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| rocks, cracks jokes, ensures safety and
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| | of your rafts, which is a nice touch,
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| in general makes sure you have a great
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| | albeit a slightly expensive one.
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| time. Your instructor will brief you all
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| | Going down the rapids is a truly awesome
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| on the basics, which include things like
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| | experience and one that you'll be raving
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| paddling, lunging to one side and pulling
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| | to your friends about for weeks. White
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| people back into the raft if they fall
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| | water rafting comes highly recommended
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| out (which can and probably will happen).
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| | for anyone visiting Christchurch and
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| You get plenty of chance to practise all
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| | looking for something exciting to try.
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