The Maungaotaki contains two sections which I have paddled. The upper section (the photo's are of the upper section) is short and steep, and very dangerous, containing steep, narrow waterfalls, rock sieves, tree sieves and large holes. This not done often, and always with throwbags ready on the major rapids. The bottom section is grade 3 with some nice scenery and one portage.

The first main rapid is small, but nasty waterfall. Before this the river is narrow and slow with low willows above the river. One padeler has had a swim in a small hole, because of the willows. The waterfall contains a rock pointing upstream in the main current. In the following photo you can easily see the mushroom caused by the rock. The line is to stick hard left and boof the edge of the fall, however this is slightly tricky because there is a small eddy just to the left of the padeler in the picture, which will stop the kayak, and turn you around.

Clayton Crabtree with a good line on the waterfall.

Below the water fall are some some small easy drops, that lead into the large weir below. The drops are harmless, but they can be sticky and push you off course for the correct line on the weir.

Clayton Crabtree and Kirsten Crawford below the waterfall.

The weir looks fairly harmless in this photo, but it is very steep, and very stick on the right hand side. The waterfall in the picture below starts 4 to 5 metres from the weir, on the river left. On river right is an ugly rock/tree sieve which has been known to swallow throw bags.

Clayton Crabtree on the weir.

This fall is high and fast, on a 45º angle with 1 metre vertical drop and a sticky hole at the bottom. A lot of fun. From here the river flattens out for a while, until the cascades in the following picture.

Kirsten Crawford paddleing down the Angle Falls.

The following cascade is about 20 metres long with 6 small drops. Its fast and fun.

Dincan Taggart getting swamped inthe cascades.