River Crossing Course Gain the skills and confidence to safely navigate New Zealand’s rivers in just one day. / Public Courses / Bushcraft & Navigation Courses / River Crossing Course Overview Completing a one-day river crossing course with OENZ is a great way to upskill and ensure your safety before heading on your next big adventure. Rivers are one of the greatest hazards in New Zealand’s backcountry and claim lives every year! They are dynamic and pose a serious risk to the untrained. “There are, on average, about four river crossing deaths each year. Of these accidents, many occur in flooded rivers or side streams.” (Bushcraft Manual, Fourth edition. Mountain Safety Council, 2006) Please note: Our one-day river crossing course is delivered as part of our 3 & 7-day bushcraft block courses. You can meet the group on the morning of the course in Arthur’s Pass or meet them the evening before at our lodge in Arthur’s Pass. Please contact our office for more details. Course Details Course Location The course is delivered near Arthur’s Pass on the Waimakariri River. You can meet the evening before the course in Arthur’s Pass and stay in our lodge (this is additional to the course fees), or meet at Mount White Bridge (approx 1.5 hours drive from Christchurch) on the day. If the Waimakariri River is in a high flow, we will use the Hawden River or Bealy River, as they are smaller tributaries. Please contact us for a private booking for people interested in a river crossing course closer to Christchurch. Accommodation Accommodation in Arthur’s Pass Village the evening before the course is available on request but is not included in the course cost. As this is a one-day course, accommodation is optional and may not be necessary for people from Canterbury or the West Coast. Food Food is not provided on this course. We recommend packing plenty of snacks and a lunch that does not require cooking. Transport **Transport is not included in this course. We may have a vehicle travelling up to Arthur’s Pass on the morning of the river crossing course. If we do, you’re more than welcome to catch a ride with us. But please get in touch with the office before booking to find out if transport to and from this course is available. Meeting Locations: Arthur’s Pass Cafe & Store 8:30 am (see on Google Maps) Mt White Bridge 9:00 am (see on Google Maps) OENZ Vans Gear & Equipment All you will need for this course is boots, a tramping pack and regular outdoor clothing. We will supply all the necessary equipment for you if you don’t have your own. We will also provide packs that can be used and get wet, so you don’t have to get your own gear saturated. Gear List Tramping Boot Guide Is this the right course for me? OENZ Bushcraft Courses Flow Chart Download Flow Chart Course Outline The course equips you with hands‑on skills in hazard assessment, decision‑making, river crossing techniques, and rescue methods so you can confidently and safely navigate New Zealand’s dynamic rivers. River Crossing Training Risk Assessment: Assessment and identification of hazards Hazard management River characteristics & features Decision making River Crossing: River crossing principles Identifying safe entry and exit points River crossing methods Backing out Using poles for support Rescues: Recovery swim Pack float Throw bag techniques How to manage an injured, wet person until external help arrives Course Outline Meet Some of Our Instructors Alan Haslip Sarah English Lachie Crawford Jake Harris Frequently Asked Questions I can’t swim; rivers make me nervous; will this be a problem? No, this is not a problem at all! Our instructors are there to support you through the day and to ensure you have a great time. Just let our instructor know before the course to ensure we pitch the course at an appropriate and enjoyable level for everyone. How many people will be on my course? We believe that small groups are better for this type of training. So we have a maximum client-to-instructor ratio of just eight clients to one instructor. Can I keep my pack dry for travelling? To keep life easy on the river crossing day, we supply a group pack that can be used for pack floats. While we always recommend training with your own gear, you won’t want to carry a soaking wet pack if you’re flying back at the end of the day. Do I need to bring spare hiking boots for my river crossing course? No, boot dryers are available from the end of day two throughout the extended bushcraft course. We know how tricky it can be to keep boots dry when we’re out training, so at the end of each day, we pop our boots on the boot dryers, so they’re ready to go for the next day. Can I hire boots for my bushcraft course? OENZ does not have boots available to hire or borrow. Boot hire is available from several outdoor stores in Auckland and Dunedin. If you are hiring or borrowing boots, please get waterproof leather boots. What is the minimum age? 16 years old or 14-15 years old if accompanied by an adult. River crossing course photos Customer Reviews “I feel we had good time to go through everything and feel much more confident in crossing rivers” Clare Ross, New Zealand “An excellent river course, exactly what I was looking for.” John Andrews, New Zealand “My wife and I have done two courses and it has been really helpful. We’ve done the two-day navigation course and the River Crossing Course. Thank you in advance for saving our lives crossing dangerous rivers!” Mel & Jason, New Zealand “There was a good mix of practical and theory. The theory was very applicable.” Kristine, New Zealand “Fantastic educational day. I gained lots of confidence in crossing rivers, knowing when not to, and learning what to do if something goes wrong (i.e. pack floating).” Janina, New Zealand Still Have Questions? Get in touch with our team — we’re happy to help you prepare for your outdoor adventure. Contact Us
