Kayaking Safety
While the kayak tour we run is on an easy stretch of water and designed for children as well as adults to participate, we still take river safety seriously.
Safety Operational Plan
We have a separate kayak specific Waikato River Kayak Safety Operational Plan to make sure we have everything covered. This includes information on minimum guide skills requirements, client to guide ratios, how to help someone who falls out of their kayak and special equipment to be carried.
Our Guides
KRS kayak guides are raft guides as well. This ensures that they have a wealth of river experience needed to safely lead groups on the river and are up to date on the latest river rescue techniques and first aid. Their kayak skills are excellent, with some staff being extreme grade 5 kayakers. To top it off, KRS guides are patient and communicate well, two skills that are a must when teaching people to kayak. Have a look at our guide profiles to learn more.
Equipment
The kayaks we use are wide, flat bottom, open deck kayaks, which are ideal for beginner kayakers. They are very stable and easy to control. All participants must wear a life jacket, which we supply. KRS guides each wear a tow line on their life jacket, which can be clipped onto the front of a clients kayak to help anyone in need.