The Hawea Wave

Manmade and Free By Nathan Fa’avae

On Boxing Day 2012 I moved to Queenstown with my
family, just for a year, change of scenery so to speak. As we
passed through Wanaka we bumped into a few friends who
asked us if we had heard about ‘the wave’. We hadn’t until
that point and we were soon asked many times over the New
Year period more questions about this fast growing legendary
wave. Intrigued.
Before I got to the Hawea Wave in the first week of January I’d learned
that two artificial play waves had been built as river enhancement,
somewhere near Hawea Flat. The word on the water was ‘it’s golden’.
My first impressions of the wave were as powerful as the hundred
cumecs flowing through. The whole site at Camphill Bridge was
tastefully developed and the waves screamed surf park.
I’d estimate I’ve paddled at the Hawea Wave (aka Camphill Surf Park)
for about 50-hours, which is a mere drop in the lake compared to what
some of the local boaters have clocked up. I’m in no way an expert play
boater or have any significant knowledge of the waves, I just happen to
be someone who has gained a whole lot of enjoyment from the facility,
which is free to use.
The park has two drop features. The top wave (hole) is smaller and
allows for easy side surfing, spins and other tricks. In general, it’s
bouncy and soft, although at some flows has a few sticky bits that
longer kayaks can have trouble breaking free from. In the shorter play
boats, it’s all pretty much fun and games from my experience.
The bottom wave (hole) is bigger and steeper which means more
power. I have found that everything on the bottom wave is faster and
bigger giving quite a bouncy ride. The elite boaters tend to go nuts in
the bottom wave. I’ve enjoyed some sensational boating on this wave,
but it can get tiring and a tad scary, so walking back up to the smaller
wave is a nice relief. Both features are designed to be retentive, so they
can hold you in a bit longer than you’d probably like at times, but they
really are safe (still need to be treated with respect all the same).

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PAGE 22 Issue 70 Spring 2013 www.kayaknz.co.nz

I started asking around as to how this fantastic feature came to be
Trapper
because I reckon we need more of these in New Zealand. Most of the
roads led to Roy Bailey, who himself is a highly accomplished and richly All models of
Novacraft Canoes
experienced white water kayaker. I managed to chat with Roy about the
history of the project.

It all began about 10 -11 years ago and was wrapped up in Contact Now available by special order
Energy’s resource management and water rights negotiations. Mixed
in was a mitigation package and a few [hundred] documents and Choose the model and length, with the hull shape to suit your needs. Choose the construction
material - SP3 plastic, Arimid, Spectra, Blue Steel, Royalex Royalex Lite or Fiberglass.
discussions later, the water started to flow. Before the site was even View all possible combinations and specifications on www.novacraft.com.
selected, an artificial whitewater feature was considered. Research Below a selection of the models available though Novacraft’s Canadian factory.
suggested a river enhancement project would be better so a number of
sites in Central Otago were surveyed, before the current location
was chosen.
Trapper, 12ft, 18kgs, Royalex Lite
Muskoka 15ft10”, 21Kg, Blue Steel
Roy describes it as a ‘Big Process’, juggling many different groups,
consultations and entities to make it all happen, but thankfully he and
his team did see it through for our river pleasure. Teddy, 12ft, 13kgs, Aramid Lite
Tripper, 16ft, 27Kg, Royalex Lite

A USA company with expertise in such engineering was employed and

in 2012 the building began. Given that the green light was turned on Supernova, 14ft,10”, 22kgs, Spectra
in 2005 it was a solid seven years of commitment and hard work to Cronje, 17ft, 27Kg, Royalex Lite
reach the day when Contact Energy reduced the Hawea River flow to
3-cumecs for 3-months so construction could happen.
Rob Special, 15ft, 26Kg, Royalex Lite
Prospector, 15, 16, 17, and 18ft
Since the wave opened in 2013 it can only be said that it is hugely
successful. The flow varies almost daily as Contact Energy control lake
levels and electricity generation but when it’s on, it’s on! Pal, 16ft, 26Kg, Royalex Lite
Outfitter, 15, 16 & 17, SP3 Plastic only
I have paddled there happily between 30 and 200-cumecs. I heard
Talk to your nearsest kayak retailer about your options
some people have been on it at 300 and it was still working great. For more specifications: www.novacraft.com
Personally for me, anywhere in the 100’s and I’m a happy paddler. Allow 3 months for delivery
It’s extremely rare to be the only one there. Over summer hundreds Distributed by Great Stuff Ltd. www.greatstuffltd.co.nz or email greatstuffltd@xtra.co.nz - NOVACRAFTAD-Jan13

www.kayaknz.co.nz Issue 70 Spring 2013 PAGE 23

of people enjoy the waves: kayaks, surf boards, boogie boards and
sledges, a whole raft of water craft, even rafts. I have noticed on a hot
summer afternoon around 3:30pm, the school kids swarm there, it is so
vibrant and energetic. The Hawea and Clutha cycle way goes directly
past the site so it’s very common to have tourists and cyclists stopped
up on the river bank enjoying the show. It’s a huge community asset
and we can be sure the region is going to produce some exceptionally
talented paddlers in years to come.
PAGE 24 Issue 70 Spring 2013
The NZ Freestyle Champs were held there in February and there are
other plans in progress for more events. Pete Simpson, the NZ Pyranha
importer is based at Hawea Flat and only to happy to meet folks at the
wave and trial a boat, I bought one this summer and are considering
another for
next summer!
I did a lot of whitewater paddling in my 20’s, couldn’t find or make time
www.kayaknz.co.nz
in my 30’s but the Hawea Wave has got me back
into the boat and really great times on the river,
in my 40’s.

Roy couldn’t say how much the wave actually

cost to build. The Otago Daily Times reported it
at over $500,000 and I have a friend in the US
who also designs surf parks who said to do a
grand job 1-million is a nicer budget to work with.
That may sound like a lot but I know for sure
anyone who has been on the wave for a few
minutes will say it’s worth every dollar. Certainly
for what it offers it’s a valuable investment into
NZ and our way of life. I’m really glad the wave
is not near a major population, the traffic (kayak)
congestion would be immense.

On behalf of the paddlers who have got wet in

the wave, thanks to all those who made
it happen.

www.kayaknz.co.nz Issue 70 Spring 2013 PAGE 25