Last week’s blog was all about frozen glaciers. This week I want to talk about another form of ice, open water. Sea kayaking is a very popular New Zealand activity, especially on the South Island, however, before you plan a sea kayak adventure for your New Zealand vacation it is important that you know a little bit about this outdoor water sport.
While the name of this sport is “sea kayak,” sea kayaks are not limited to the ocean. In reality, a sea kayak is basically a touring kayak that is designed to carry the paddler as well as their gear. While not as maneuverable as the whitewater kayaks are, sea kayaks provide you with an enclosed cargo area that is capable of holding food, supplies, camping gear and other items for your adventure. This makes them a great vessel to use for island hopping and camping excursions.
There are several different types of sea kayaks that you can choose from. The recreational sea kayak has a shorter body and a large cockpit that is perfect for camping. The Sit-On-Top Kayak has an enclosed cockpit. In addition to solid body models, there are also inflatable sea kayaks that are popular with tour outfits and dolphin adventures. The final type of sea kayak is the surf ski. This model of sea kayak is designed for kayak racing on the ocean.
There are a lot of fabulous outdoor adventures that you can have in New Zealand. However, before selecting on for your first or second New Zealand vacation, make sure you know a little bit about the equipment you will be using so ensure your NZ holiday adventure is a safe one.
