Welcome to Wanaka whitewater kayaking
with Best Foot Forward NZ
Best Foot Forward NZ is an owner/operator adventure business, based in the beautiful, lower South Island town of Wanaka. Our activities have recently expanded to offering top-quality whitewater kayak courses for all levels of paddlers, delivered by our world-class instructor Shannon Mast. We are fortunate to have incredible whitewater rivers close by (Hawea, Clutha, Makarora, Haast and Landsborough) which provide a wide variety of paddling opportunities.
Email Shannon at whitewaterkayaking@bestfootforward.nz to book your whitewater course this summer.
About Shannon
Named as the Whitewater NZ paddler of the year in 2022, Shannon is a New Zealand Outdoor Instructor Association (NZOIA) Kayak 2-qualified kayaking legend. A wilderness first responder, Shannon has taught white water kayaking since 2007, including in the far-flung locations of Jackson Hole and Uganda. In New Zealand, Shannon teaches whitewater kayaking at a tertiary level. He has spent extensive time exploring with his kayak and it has taken him on expeditions throughout Southern and Eastern Africa, Madagascar, Indonesian Papua, Papua New Guinea, USA, Canada and of course, New Zealand. His passion for kayaking can be infectious, and he loves nothing more than helping others prosper in his favourite environment.
See Shannon in action:
Whitewater kayak course information
Introduction course
To be run over two consecutive weekends- First weekend
- 2 x rolling sessions in the Wanaka pool or the lake
- Flat water kayaking on the lake
- Moving water session on the Clutha River
- River trip on the Hawea River
- Second weekend
- Overnight on the Haast River (in the event of poor weather it is likely to be the Hawea River, or other sections of the Haast, or Makarora River instead)
- Paddlers can progress their rolling technique into a combat roll
- Experience multi-day river kayaking and camping, with campfire cooking
- Practice rescues
- Receive continued coaching on stroke technique and timing
Cost
For the four-day course is $1200 per person.Intermediate course
To be run over two consecutive weekends this intermediate course is designed to build skills and test paddlers over the first two days, to assess which awesome river to take them to for a more challenging second weekend.
Who is this course for?
Competent combat rolling kayakers who have class 2 or 3 paddling experience and are looking to develop their paddling technique.
First weekend
- 1 x rolling session in the Wanaka pool or the lake
- Flat water kayaking on the lake
- Moving water session on the Hawea River
- River trip on the Hawea River with other river options depending on skill level
Second weekend
- Two days of river trips with more advanced river running using practiced skills and consolidating them in a more dynamic river environment
What can I expect to get out of this course?
Learning outcomes are focused around technical skills, including vertical stroke development, take home practice drills, rolling progression and developing additional types of rolling such as backdeck and hand rolling. This intermediate course will cater to individual paddler’s existing skills and their needs to develop paddling skills on more challenging whitewater, creeks and big water.
Cost
Four-day course is $1200 per person.
Tekapo creeking course (single weekend)
Learn to maximise your boof, tidy up your strokes and how to approach complex features. This weekend course is for those looking to level up their creeking game without the consequences. Ideally clients bring their own boats.
Cost
Two-day course is $800 per person
Landsborough River kayaking multi-day trip
Heli-accessed, remote West Coast kayaking doesn’t get much better than the Landsborough River! Kayaker skill level needs to be assessed before paddling the Landsborough River which has up to Grade 4 rapids. Experienced paddlers have the opportunity to enjoy challenging multi-day kayaking on a classic West Coast River and develop their creeking skills along the way. There are opportunities for family/friends to come along in a raft, with a qualified raft guide, on this trip. Minimum trip numbers apply.
Apply by email to: whitewaterkayaking@bestfootforward.nz for pricing and more information
Rescue course
Learn how to look after yourself and your mates while you are on the river and walk away with a certificate!
Custom course
Got something you would like to do that we are not advertising? Get in touch and we can try and make it happen!
Email Shannon at whitewaterkayaking@bestfootforward.nz
2025/2026 course dates
- November 22-23: Pre-season rescue course (rescue 2)
- November 29-30: Week 1 beginner
- December 6-7: Week 1 intermediate
- December 13-14: Week 2 beginner
- December 20-21: Week 2 intermediate
- January 10-13: 4-day beginner
- January 17-18: Week 1 beginner
- January 24-25: Week 1 intermediate
- January 31-February 1: Landsborough River training
- February 6,7 and 8: Landsborough River – Intermediate/advanced
- February 21,22: Intermediate week 2
- February 28, March 1: Beginner week 2
FAQ's
What kayak and gear should I bring?
- A river runner kayak (and spray deck) such as: Dagger RPM, RPM Max, Rewind, Letmann Machete or Pyranha Ripper
- Whitewater paddle
- PFD
- Helmet
- River shoes (old sneakers or wetsuit booties will work)
- Wetsuit or drysuit/top and pants
- Thermals
Can I rent gear?
Kayaks and gear are available for rental. Prices are:
- Kayak $100 per day with a paddle
- PFD $10 per day
- Helmet $10 per day
- Spray decks $10 per day
Courses will run with a minimum of 2 people and a maximum of 8. Our ratio is 1.4 and we will add a second qualified instructor when there are 5 or more clients.