Ashley River (Gorge)

The Ashley Gorge is a run that Canterbury every body waits for in winter, when the rain from a Southerly front provides enough flow its just a short hour drive from Christchurch. The Ashley Gorge is a Great stepping stone from the Hurunui as it is a great class lll - lll+ river depending on flows. The Ashley Gorge section is a technical river with a awesome number of rapids, the river starts of with a great section to practice your eddy turns and warm up on, then it turns into a great stretch of rapids. The River is a very cold paddle so it is important to have good warm paddling gear and a well prepared team. The Gorge is a committing run in the sense that if you choose to walk out it would be along way.
The Ashley has great rapids, one including the Ashley drop, a great place to stop and practice your boofing and technical skills.

Jamie practicing his boof.

The get in for the Ashley is Located down a side road on the way to the Ashley Gorge Motor Camp called Lees Vally, follow this winding gravel road to you reach a bridge and a stop over area, here you will find the get in point.
The get out is located at the Ashley Motor Camp reserve, there are toilets and Facilities available.

Don't let the cold water and location scare you off, its an awesome river with a great intro to technical water. The Ashley can be paddled at flows anywhere from 10 cumecs.