Packrafting the Gillespie Pass Circuit
- Mike Morelli
- Dec 28, 2025
- 4 min read
Date: Dec 27 - 29, 2025
Location: Makarora, Mount Aspiring National Park, Otago, New Zealand
Total Trip Distance: 34 mi / 54.7 km
Total Elevation Gain: 6,428 ft / 1,959 m
Trip Duration: 3 days
Team: Solo
Field Notes: Care must be taken when crossing the Makarora River on foot. I walked up the Young and camped near the hut, although fantastic options exist if you can make it to Young Basin. The paddling starts once you get over the pass and hit Siberia Stream. Cruisy Grade I rapids turn into sustained Grade II, up to Grade III-, about 1km upstream from Sibera Hut. This can easily be portaged. Takeout 1.5km after Siberia Hut when the stream turns into a nasty gorge. Great camping to be had at Kerin Forks, and the final paddle out the Wilkin is stunning. An amazing write-up can be found here from PackraftingTrips.NZ
The Christmas holiday period arrived in New Zealand, and I had been scheming some longer solo adventures to get off the grid.
The weather hasn’t really cooperated this season for big trips. November turned out to be amazing — most of my missions happened then — but outside of that, I’ve been focused predominantly on rock and trad climbing.
Gratefully, a few days of stable weather finally lined up, and I was keen to head up the Makarora. My packraft was getting dusty, and I wanted to put it to use. My original plan was to combine the trip with a climb of Mount Awful. However, warm weather and heavy rain leading up to the trip put me off that idea.
I left my bike at the trailhead to the Wilkin River, drove further up the road, and started my journey up the Young. The forecast called for showers clearing followed by two fine days. Well… the showers hadn’t cleared, and I started the trip out in rain.
At the first river crossing across the Makarora, a fisherman approached.
“You’re not going to cross that… are you?”
“I’ve got a packraft.”
Then a second fisherman approached.
“You’re not thinking of crossing that… are you?”
“I’ve got a packraft.”
Still not registering, I pulled out the packraft and inflated it. Suddenly everything made sense. I had a packraft.
The rest of the first day was peaceful. I hiked alone through beautiful beech forest, across open valleys, over a couple of bridges, and eventually ended up near Young Hut. I saw no one.
I camped in a lovely grassy clearing about ten minutes from the hut, next to the gurgling Young River. The night was calm and cold, and I slept well.
On the second day, I woke to improving weather, packed up, and began the climb toward Young Basin. Upon arriving, I immediately wished I had camped there — a truly stunning place to pitch a tent.
I continued climbing to Gillespie Pass, passing trampers huffing and puffing their way upward. There was a lot of confusion seeing a guy with a paddle strapped to his pack.
At the top of the pass, the views of Mount Awful opened up. What a mountain.
The descent off the pass toward Siberia Stream was a bit of a grunt — steeper and more technical than expected — and I was grateful when I finally reached the crystal-clear water and began inflating my raft.
This is where the fun began.
Siberia Stream starts as a cruisy grade I paddle until about 1 km upstream of Siberia Hut, where a boulder garden and sustained rapids run for the entire section. I scouted it, felt comfortable, and went for it.
It was the most fun part of the trip — super playful whitewater with options to pull into eddies and scout before committing. Being solo, I constantly reminded myself of the consequences of falling out and stayed laser-focused.
Downstream from Siberia Hut, the stream turns into a nasty gorge, and I took out to begin the final hike to Kerin Forks.
I basked in the afternoon sun, went for a swim, and enjoyed a rare moment of zero sandflies. That would not last.
At Kerin Forks, the sandflies were unreal. The view was too. Not a soul in sight. I lay in my tarp tent while the sandflies swarmed the inner net, desperate for blood. I enjoyed the stillness of the night, listening to the river and the wind rustling my shelter.
I woke at sunrise to a gorgeous morning. The sky was clear, and the sun lit up the Wilkin Valley like a message from above.
The only task left was to float out the Wilkin — and indeed I did.
There’s something so magical about using a packraft. A small inflatable boat that fits inside your backpack, and with some air, it completely expands your relationship with the mountains in a unique way.
Instead of taking five hours to walk out, it took only two to float out.
This trip was everything I hoped for: fun tramping, awesome paddling, beautiful campsites, and a peaceful way to close out a phenomenal year. We are very blessed to live in New Zealand and explore these powerful mountains.
Happy days…
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