HIKING WITH A PADDLEBOARD IN THE KAHURANGI NATIONAL PARK

Updated: Sep 22

The thought of paddling my SUP up high surrounded by epic mountain views was one that had kept popping into my mind. I love the mountains, I love the water, I love Type 2 fun... this felt like the definition of a good challenge to me.

With so many hikes here in the three national parks here in Nelson Tasman (and beyond), I couldn't stop thinking about a solo tramp and camp carrying my paddling gear and paddleboard on my back to reach some remote places to paddle.

I pondered for a while on the best route for my first trip. For paddleboard backpacking, getting the right supportive backpack set up is so important, as carrying a paddle board on top of overnight camping gear equals over 20kg of weight to carry on your back - which was over 3 times my body weight!

I packed my bag and SUP three different ways and then decided to carry it with the Red Paddle Co bag this time to fit everything in, but I learnt a lot about how to do this better. Watch this space for another blog about how to pack for a hike with your SUP.

As a first SUP hiking expedition, I headed up to Lake Sylvester in the Kahurangi National Park in Nelson Tasman. Lake Sylvester sits in the spectacular Cobb Valley, near Golden Bay. The Cobb valley is a unique place due to the geological features and ancient rocks from the valley being filled with the largest glacier in the area.

I chose this because it has a well marked trail that is easy underfoot, it is only a 6.5km hike to the lake, you can camp on the lake shore, and there is a nearby DOC hut if you prefer to lighten your load and sleep in the hut. From here you can head out on foot up to paddle on Iron Lake too and summit Iron Hill too in an easy overnighter trip.

hiking up WITH A PADDLEBOARD paddling LAKE SYLVESTER

Paddleboarding at Lake Sylvester, Kahurangi National Park

I parked up in the Cobb Valley car park before heading up the 6.5km steep grunty track (500m climb) up through the forest and then out onto the tops to Lake Sylvester, passing Sylvester hut a kilometre before the lake. I massively underestimated how much slower I would be carrying around 22kg on my bag, and the walk felt pretty hard on the steep up - I needed lots of breaks. I had passed two DOC rangers working on the track on my way up, who were highly amused and surprised by the SUP. They offered to take it up for me in their 4WD for me, but that would obviously be cheating!

I was pretty happy to see the lake and here I set up camp on the pebbly shore before jumping on the water with my SUP for what turned into a very misty paddle as the cloud rolled in. I actually decided to paddle in the fog, as it was such a small lake that I could circumnavigate it easily, and it was pretty unique paddling not being able to see a thing except the ripples on the water. On such a tiny lake, it still felt disorientating but I had my markers to get back to the tent!

When the mist clears, the lake is framed by impressive rock formations around it, and epic views out over the Kahurangi. It is a stunning camping spot but one with little protection from the wind so you can head to the hut if the wind builds up here. The night was filled with sounds of curious weka who were very intrigued by my paddleboard, so I kept waking to poke my head out and check it was all still there. My unrealistic and unfounded fears of weka pecking my board until it popped never came true unsurprisingly, so I watched the sun rise from my paddleboard on the lake and had a very cold but refreshing skinny dip (yeehaw!).

From Lake Sylvester, the path is unmarked up to Iron Lake, but it is an incredible spot worth hiking the 1km up to with your board. I had a real 'wow - pinch me' moment when I arrived at Iron Lake as this smal.l lake is a natural infinity pool to paddle on - giving you endless views of Mt Lockett and Lake Lockett and beyond. I was so giddy with excitement to get on the water here, and next time, I am definitely camping here as there are a few sheltered camping spots here too.

Iron Lake sits at the foot of Iron Hill (1695m) which is a cairned route up to the summit of Iron Hill - offering views of ridgeline after ridgeline further than the eye can see - it is really something special. I stood up here and could see my possessions sprawled across the Kahurangi - my board at Iron Lake, my camping gear at Lake Sylvester, so reluctantly I headed back down and picked up my collections on my way back out the way I came.

Paddleboarding at Iron Lake, Kahurangi National Park

route

PADDLING INFO for LAKE SylVESTER

RATING

Hard Hiking, Easy Paddling

ROUTE & conditions

The walking track takes you through beech forest and its quite a steep relentless grunt up before the path starts to level out reaching the tops. It is well marked and an easy to follow track up from the car park. You pass Sylvester hut on your left and Lake Sylvester sits another 15 minutes further to walk.
There are no markers beyond Lake Sylvester but there are a number of other glacial lakes to be explored. If you want something jaw droppingly spectacular, I recommend the short 1km hike up to Iron Lake for a bucket list paddle on an infinity pool. There are cairns marking the route.
As you are sitting at 1300m at Lake Sylvester, you are at the hands of the winds and the weather can change quickly. The lakes are small to paddle on, but pick a good weather window for this trip, and use the hut for shelter if you need to.
If you choose to summit Iron Hill, you can collect your paddleboard back at Iron Lake, and your camping gear back at Lake Sylvester and head back out the way you came (10km total distance from summit to the car park).

WHERE TO PARK & LAUNCH

The walking track starts from a grassy, small car park on a off road track off Cobb Dam Road, past the Cobb Dam. This is called the 'Sylvester Hut Track Car Park, Cobb Dam Road, Tasman 7073'
Head from Upper Takaka to the Cobb Reservoir and take great care on the 15km long, narrow, unsealed road that can get muddy and slippy and can be icy and snowy in winter. 4WD is recommended, especially in winter.

WHERE TO EAT & DRINK

You have got to bring your own for this one! There is water available at Sylvester Hut but this should be boiled or treated before drinking. The nearest fuel and food stop is the town of Takaka.

WHERE TO SLEEP

Camp on the lake shore at Lake Sylvester or by Iron Lake. Or, grab yourself a bunk in Sylvester Hut, with 12 bunks. No booking is required, the beds are available on a first come, first served basis at $25 per adult, but you need a hut ticket or a DOC backcountry hut pass to stay here.

LOCAL INFO

NZ Maritime Law states a requirement to wear a buoyancy aid when paddleboarding (body or airbelt) and have two forms of communication (e.g. phone and whistle).
Find out more about this hiking route and other hikes in the Cobb Valley in the Nelson Trails blog.
Use the Outdoor Intentions form to alert someone that you are out in the outdoors and always take a personal locator beacon, or hire one from MD Outdoors in Nelson.
There is no phone service beyond the power station.