Paddle and play!
Here is a range of events where we can paddle and play together. Most activities are open to all; we encourage you to come along and see what we are about.
If you like what you see, join the club!
Events in June 2023
| MonMonday | TueTuesday | WedWednesday | ThuThursday | FriFriday | SatSaturday | SunSunday |
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29/05/2023
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30/05/2023
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31/05/2023(1 event)
5:30 pm: Wednesday Paddle5:30 pm: Wednesday Paddle – This paddle leaves from Ōkahu Bay boat ramp in front of the club’s storage shed at 5:30pm (on the water) every Wednesday. Everyone is welcome. We recommend that anyone joining the evening paddle has some experience or has attended a basic skills course. |
01/06/2023
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02/06/2023
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03/06/2023(1 event)
9:00 am: Saturday coffee cruise9:00 am: Saturday coffee cruise – The Saturday morning Coffee Cruise meets at the Ōkahu Bay boat ramp at 9am for a 9.30am start. The average time for the outing is around 2.5 to 3.5 hours. It’s a gentle paddle, a catch up and usually involves coffee at Kohimarama. It’s easy, informal and everyone is welcome. |
04/06/2023(1 event)
8:00 am: Okahu Bay SKISL8:00 am: Okahu Bay SKISL – On the water (OTW) for 8am, then until 10am or so Aims |
05/06/2023
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06/06/2023
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07/06/2023(1 event)
5:30 pm: Wednesday Paddle5:30 pm: Wednesday Paddle – This paddle leaves from Ōkahu Bay boat ramp in front of the club’s storage shed at 5:30pm (on the water) every Wednesday. Everyone is welcome. We recommend that anyone joining the evening paddle has some experience or has attended a basic skills course. |
08/06/2023
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09/06/2023
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10/06/2023(1 event)
9:00 am: Saturday coffee cruise9:00 am: Saturday coffee cruise – The Saturday morning Coffee Cruise meets at the Ōkahu Bay boat ramp at 9am for a 9.30am start. The average time for the outing is around 2.5 to 3.5 hours. It’s a gentle paddle, a catch up and usually involves coffee at Kohimarama. It’s easy, informal and everyone is welcome. |
11/06/2023
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12/06/2023
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13/06/2023
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14/06/2023(1 event)
5:30 pm: Wednesday Paddle5:30 pm: Wednesday Paddle – This paddle leaves from Ōkahu Bay boat ramp in front of the club’s storage shed at 5:30pm (on the water) every Wednesday. Everyone is welcome. We recommend that anyone joining the evening paddle has some experience or has attended a basic skills course. |
15/06/2023
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16/06/2023
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17/06/2023(1 event)
9:00 am: Saturday coffee cruise9:00 am: Saturday coffee cruise – The Saturday morning Coffee Cruise meets at the Ōkahu Bay boat ramp at 9am for a 9.30am start. The average time for the outing is around 2.5 to 3.5 hours. It’s a gentle paddle, a catch up and usually involves coffee at Kohimarama. It’s easy, informal and everyone is welcome. |
18/06/2023(1 event)
8:00 am: Okahu Bay SKISL8:00 am: Okahu Bay SKISL – On the water (OTW) for 8am, then until 10am or so Aims |
19/06/2023
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20/06/2023
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21/06/2023(1 event)
5:30 pm: Wednesday Paddle5:30 pm: Wednesday Paddle – This paddle leaves from Ōkahu Bay boat ramp in front of the club’s storage shed at 5:30pm (on the water) every Wednesday. Everyone is welcome. We recommend that anyone joining the evening paddle has some experience or has attended a basic skills course. |
22/06/2023
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23/06/2023
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24/06/2023(1 event)
9:00 am: Saturday coffee cruise9:00 am: Saturday coffee cruise – The Saturday morning Coffee Cruise meets at the Ōkahu Bay boat ramp at 9am for a 9.30am start. The average time for the outing is around 2.5 to 3.5 hours. It’s a gentle paddle, a catch up and usually involves coffee at Kohimarama. It’s easy, informal and everyone is welcome. |
25/06/2023
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26/06/2023
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27/06/2023
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28/06/2023(1 event)
5:30 pm: Wednesday Paddle5:30 pm: Wednesday Paddle – This paddle leaves from Ōkahu Bay boat ramp in front of the club’s storage shed at 5:30pm (on the water) every Wednesday. Everyone is welcome. We recommend that anyone joining the evening paddle has some experience or has attended a basic skills course. |
29/06/2023
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30/06/2023(1 event)
5:00 pm: Vine House5:00 pm: Vine House – Contact Matt Crozier or Trevor Arthur for availability and information. |
01/07/2023(2 events)
5:00 pm: Vine House5:00 pm: Vine House – Contact Matt Crozier or Trevor Arthur for availability and information. 9:00 am: Saturday coffee cruise9:00 am: Saturday coffee cruise – The Saturday morning Coffee Cruise meets at the Ōkahu Bay boat ramp at 9am for a 9.30am start. The average time for the outing is around 2.5 to 3.5 hours. It’s a gentle paddle, a catch up and usually involves coffee at Kohimarama. It’s easy, informal and everyone is welcome. |
02/07/2023(1 event)
5:00 pm: Vine House5:00 pm: Vine House – Contact Matt Crozier or Trevor Arthur for availability and information. |
Weekly trips
This paddle leaves from Ōkahu Bay boat ramp in front of the club’s storage shed at 5:30pm (on the water) every Wednesday. Everyone is welcome. We recommend that anyone joining the evening paddle has some experience or has attended a basic skills course.
The route, destination and duration (usually 1 – 2 hours and around 15km) are decided on the night, depending on the preferences of the group and the conditions. During the winter months, these trips return after dark, therefore you must carry either a large lens torch, or an all-round white light mounted on the outside of your kayak.
Contact: Treasurer
The Saturday morning Coffee Cruise meets at the Ōkahu Bay boat ramp at 9am for a 9.30am start. The average time for the outing is around 2.5 to 3.5 hours. It’s a gentle paddle, a catch up and usually involves coffee at Kohimarama. It’s easy, informal and everyone is welcome.
Contact
Members: Details are posted on the club’s Facebook page in the week prior.
Non-members: send an email to President
This more extensive paddle launches from various locations around greater Auckland, depending on weather and sea conditions. We are generally on the water at 7.30am (8am in Winter) and aim to return between 10.30am and 11.30am. The launch site and plan are published on Friday on Whatsapp.
The paddle is typically between 15 to 20km with a tea/coffee break at the halfway point and again when we return to the launch site. It’s a great opportunity to explore the Auckland coastline, learn/develop basic ocean kayaking skills, and enjoy a cuppa and chit chat with other club members.
Generally, the routes are selected to provide a paddle on relatively calm waters on the understanding that sea conditions can and do change. So we expect paddlers to be comfortable with a longer paddle, in a range of sea conditions, and that they come prepared. (read: What Kit Do I Need) And don’t forget your thermos and snacks of choice. Sharing food is a bit of a tradition.
On the 3rd Saturday of the month, if weather permits, we may extend the paddle to a day-long excursion with a slightly later start time at 9am, and back around 4.30pm. Occasionally, the group organises an overnight paddle. This is also an opportunity to compare paddlers cooking skills! Recent trips have been to Kaipara Harbour, the Bay of Islands, and the Rangitīkei River.
Contact: (Whatsapp) https://tinyurl.com/ysan2ev2
New members of this paddle group will be contacted by the trip leader to discuss experience and expectations.
The Sunday morning paddle sets off from the Okahu Bay boat ramp at 9am. The average time for the paddle is around 2 to 3 hours, and the distance is around 10km. This is a ‘keep fit, feel good’ kind of paddle.
The trip leader will plan a paddle that reflects the abilities of the group. If needed, he will run you through the basics of setting up, and getting in and out of the kayak.
This paddle is an excellent introduction to kayaking and the club, or just a nice way to have a gentle outing with other club members.
Contact: Terry Price; Text to 0274 739 081
Monthly trips
These skills building sessions are held once a month at 9am at Ōkahu Bay. Dates are set to coincide with high tide. Check out upcoming dates in our calendar. The sessions are not run as a class, but as a member-led session guided by more experienced paddlers. The session follows a model established in several areas around the country. It’s called ‘Sea kayakers inspired to stretch their limits’ (SKISL).
Some of the things we practise and discuss include:
- rescues and re-entries (assisted and individual)
- working as a team to keep each other safe
- paddling strokes and boat manoeuvring
- rolling and associated skills
- Greenland paddling skills
- surfing (when we join our SKISL buddies at Orewa)
- dealing with moving water and harbour tides (Tāmaki Drive bridge)
- navigation, potential scenarios from trips, paddling conditions, wind, waves, current, boat traffic, boat selection and fit-out.
If you are keen to get together to practise skills, learn new ones, and generally get confident on and off the
water by improving your skill base, then come along.
SKISL related links BASK version https://www.sporty.co.nz/bayseakayak/Training-Days/SKISL-2nd-Sunday-each-month
Orewa version https://www.facebook.com/groups/780626002105061
Contact: Training
Club members can stay at this wonderful venue at Lagoon Bay in the Mahurangi Regional Park on the last weekend of each month. Vine House is owned by Auckland Council and is available for the public to hire year around. However, the club has a special arrangement with the council to use the house exclusively one weekend a month in exchange for doing regular maintenance working bees.
The house sleeps 10 and is well appointed. Access is only by water, with the best departure from Sullivan’s Bay. The paddle over is well suited to all kayakers and you can choose how much or little you paddle once there. Bookings on the club weekends are on a first come, first served basis.
You must confirm your booking the week prior.
Contact: Vinehouse & Treasurer
Our club provides kayak escorts for Auckland Central Masters’ summer swim series. Having plenty of kayaks on the water is essential for a safe harbour swimming event.
The swims include:
- Herne Bay to Watchman Island
- Glendowie Yacht Club to St Heliers
- Masefield Beach to Chelsea Sugar Factory
- Rangitoto to St Heliers.
Swim escorts are a great opportunity to enjoy a relaxed paddle and a social occasion while doing a community service. It also helps the club raise funds because the organisers pay a small amount per kayaker that we have out on the water. The swim escort is often followed by a beach barbeque.
Timing and details will be posted on the events calendar.
We organise trips dependent on the weather, interest, and availability of trip leaders. Keep an eye on our events calendar. Members can also stay in touch through our Facebook page for trips organised at short notice. And please contact the Training Officer if you would like other instruction courses to be organised by the club. Club members are always ready to offer informal instruction.
There are also many commercial operators that provide kayak training courses in the Auckland region. We encourage all paddlers to attend formal training.
The Winter Series – land-based events
The Winter Series is a collection of club events held on the third Wednesday of the month during winter (usually May – September). It includes slide shows by members of great trips they have done (kayaking or other adventures); guest speakers on kayak-related topics and mid-winter socials. All members and their friends and family, and prospective members, are welcome.
It’s a great way of getting to know other members, share some knowledge or a good yarn, and find paddle-buddies for the future.
Check out the calendar and our Facebook page for topics and times.
Get in touch
For specific enquiries, contact the relevant committee member/s on the list below.
Written correspondence
P.O. Box 9271 Newmarket, Auckland.