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Wayne's Audacious Kayak Adventure - WAKA

Name: Wayne's Audacious Kayak Adventure - WAKA
Address: 493 Matakawau Road, Awhitu, 2684, NZ
Telephone: +64272433237

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Wayne's Audacious Kayak Adventure - WAKA

WAKA is 69 year old Wayne Jones’ kayak adventure from North Cape to Bluff, summer 2026. Raising funds for Surf Lifesaving New Zealand Manatopu Incorporated.

To donate, please credit 12-3192-0043390-01. Use reference "WAKA". Account name as above.

08/03/2026

Dear Followers,

I can confirm what Tim has reported earlier, that I have pulled the pin on the paddle. Beneath is a post I put on WhatsApp for family and friends and I repeat it here because I think it says all that needs to be said.
I sincerely thank you for your interest over the past couple of months and I apologise for not being able to take you all the way to Bluff.
Tim has hinted the trip could well be completed next summer and I can confirm that is something I'm trying to dismiss from my mind 😂.

Here goes;

"Dear family and friends,

Brace yourself: it is with a heavy heart that I have to announce I'm throwing in the towel. I'm physically and mentally spent and can't carry on. I'd hoped a week of R and R in Nelson would've made me bright eyed and bushy tailed again, but it isn't to be. My body is telling me enough is enough.

It's been an epic trip and one that I have absolutely no regrets commencing but, sadly, it's one I wont be finishing. I see now that this soon-to -be 70 year old was a little naive in thinking these bones would get him to Bluff. If there is a lesson to be learnt from all this it is: "it's time to act my age".

My sincere thanks to everyone who has assisted me along the way. You are too numerous to mention but you all know who you are. There is, however, one exception that needs to be mentioned and that is Tim Smyth from Auckland. His unwavering support and assistance has been phenomenal, verging on fanatical 😂, and I am truly grateful to him, and his wife Lee.

Sorry everyone, but this is the end of the line. Its been fun having you along for the ride.

06/03/2026

BIG NEWS: The journey has ended (for 2026 at least) at Wairau River mouth. Wayne has decided to give the paddling a rest and give his body a proper chance to recover for a while. Realistically with his daily routine of paddling 6-7 hours followed by beachside camping, the early onset of autumn weather has made this the only viable option. Warmth, the ability to dry one's clothes etc being essential to re-gathering strength each day. We haven't burdened facebook followers with much information about blisters, salt rash, repetitive strain injuries and the like as these are factors in any endurance endeavour. But fatigue plays a big part in safety considerations, so I, as Wayne's main support crew am very comfortable with the decision to leave it there for now. He's kayaked 30kms of the South Island's 930km eastern coastline and it could well be that he makes a return next summer to complete the 900-odd kilometres left to do on the South Island leg. No decisions have been made on that.

Here are some key statistics on Wayne's achievements to date

Days paddled 35
kms covered 1325
Average daily 37.9kms
Times dumped 15 (guess)
funds raised so far for Surflifesaving... somewhere around $1200 (numbers to follow once we've had an update from SLNZ)

Of course statistics don't really tell the story. The beauty of the landscapes around New Zealand's coastline was always a given, but what has stood out is the wonderful kiwis that we've met along the way (mostly people Wayne had never met before) and their willingness to help out in any way they could. Refusing to take payment or reimbursement for accommodation, running him round to find new paddles, introducing him to others who could also help, providing a hot shower, opening the doors of their homes for accommodation and workshops for repairs on rudders and whatever else ... the list goes on. There was a hint of what was to come at the start of day 1 when we met a lovely family out fishing on the wharf where he launched, and a young girl caught her very first ever fish - a nice snapper - which she gave to Wayne. It was devoured the next night. It carried on like that throughout the whole journey.

Thats all we can say for now - except - HUGE thanks to everyone who has assisted, donated, cheered, followed... far too many to mention, AND - if anyone is inclined to make a final salute to Wayne's achievements with a donation to the wonderful team that are Surf lifesaving New Zealand Manatopu Incorporated, Wayne (and SLNZ) would be very grateful. The account number is 12-3192-0043390-01 and use WAKA as the reference.

So its "ADIOS" (for now at least), but please don't delete this page from your "followed" list if you have any interest in what chapter two (if there is one) might look like.

Hopefully, a Captain's Log will follow

04/03/2026

Captain's log Wednesday 4.3.26:

Kakapo Bay to Wairau River mouth. 22 ks.
Chilly start to the day but it warmed up as the day progressed. Seas calmish but with big swells coming in from the east. Nothing to worry about though because they weren't capping.
However, you know you're in for a fun beach landing when you're a kilometer out to see and you can hear the waves pounding on the beach. But I timed it well and with some serious bracing I bounced into the beach unmolested.
Marfells beach camping ground tomorrow.

03/03/2026

After a decent lay-off, due to weather initially and then giving time for kayak repairs and rest and recovery for the body, Jonesy is back on the water today from the tip of the South Island - Port Underwood in the Marlborough Sounds. He is now over half way to Bluff an estimated 935 ks away with well over 1200kms paddled since launch at Te Hapua on the 2nd of January.

He is still keen to "rattle the tin" for Surf Lifasaving New Zealand (havent they had a tough summer!) - donate to 12 3192 0043390 01 using WAKA in the reference field if you would like to support.

Captains log, Tuesday 3.3.26:

Launched midday from Port Underwood after being dropped off by Jan and Andrew. Calm but cold. Donned dry suit. After 1 hour poked my nose into Cloudy Bay and got hammered by southerly and 2 metre whitecapping waves. Beat a hasty retreat to nearest sheltered bay (Kakapo Bay). Relieved to be back on terra firma. Now camped on lawn of lovely lady named Nadele, who owns the bay. She says i can help myself to all the fruit in the surrounding orchard. Tomorrow's improved forecast promises to be a much better day.

27/02/2026

Saturday 28th February report:
Wayne is ready to get back on the kayak but some big winds are coming to the Eastern Marlborough Coast where he'll be resuming his journey.
Looking at the forecasts, by Tuesday (3rd) things should have calmed down enough for him to get back on the water. We'll see how it plays out over the next few days and give more updates...

21/02/2026

Our man Wayne Kenneth Jones breezed through Awhitu yesterday picking up his ute to take South this morning to help with the continuation of the adventure.

A good thing happened at Riversdale Beach just before he left there on Thursday - a chap walking along the beach reported to the Store that he'd found a paddle washed up on the beach and was mighty relieved when the paddler (Wayne) collected it soon after.

Captain's log Saturday 21.2.26: 9.00pm

Im now at the Turangi campground en route to WGN, arriving Sunday 22.2 26. Im in my ute that I've picked up from Awhitu.

I'll be crossing Cook Strait with the ute and the kayak 8.30am Monday 23.2.26 and then I'm driving to Nelson.

Paddling remains on hold for at least 6 days while I attend to numerous admin tasks in Nelson, including a visit to my Dr in relation to a painful right wrist.

I hope to start paddling again from Port Underwood (Marlborough Sounds) around Sarurday 28.2.26. Wish me luck!

18/02/2026

Wednesday 18th Feb. Today's post is a good news / bad news story.
Jonesy's paddle today was 39kms from Mataikona to Riversdale Beach and he landed at Riversdale about 2.30pm. The bad news part of the story was that the surf was rolling in big and he got rolled again, this time losing his paddle and the lid off the compartment where his cellphone was stored so he's lost that too.
Back to good news: Some lovely Riversdale folk named Pip and Jeff Burnett are putting him up tonight, and tomorrow Dennis Berdiner is picking him up and taking him to Wellington. By our calculations he's well past halfway on the adventure (passed that point when he got to Blackhead Beach - table below). That's more good news, so now he'll take some time out to re-equip, come North and pick up his truck and return south, then no doubt the adventure will continue.
Next update will be from Wayne with his plans when he's back online

17/02/2026

After 3 days laying low at Porangahau and Herbertville letting the storms pass it was time to get back on the water. Captain's log follows

Captain's log, Tuesday 17.2.26:

Herbertville to Mataikona, 46k's.
Some days you should stay in bed. This was one of them. Fell in launching from the beach. Messy seas. Strong westerlys attempted to push me to Chile. Horrendous landing at Mataikona. My newly learned bracing skills had no effect in the huge surf. Tipped out, got back on board, tipped out again. Sprained wrist in the process. Hopefully, nothing a bit of Tiger Balm won't fix. Stood on the beach shivering uncontrollably wondering what to do next. George, a retired engineer who lives on the beachfront turned up on his quad and took me back to his workshop. He then pointed out a hot shower. Dived in clothes and all and spent an eternity in it. The shivering has now stopped.

Tomorrow's destination: Riversdale Beach.

16/02/2026

Captain's log, Monday 16.2.26;

I'm now halfway through the time allocated for this trip and, according to Smythy's calculations, I'm just over halfway. I can't afford to waste any more time with 'weather events'.

A quiet day spent re-packing the kayak and making sure everything is ship shape.

Have just returned from a walk to the beach and I'm hoping the sea conditions calm down overnight. If they're the same in the morning as they are now, I won't be launching. Fortunately, my hosts assure me I am welcome to stay until it is safe to depart.

Tomorrow's destination, conditions permitting: Mataikona for some wild camping. 41ks. Cell phone/internet reception likely to be spasmodic, possibly non existent, until I near WGN in about 7 or 8 days.

15/02/2026

Captain's log, Sunday 15.2.26;

Spent the day laid up in Steve and Jax comfy wee cabin in Herbertville while the weather raged outside. I'll be doing the same tomorrow by the look of the weather forecast. I'm hugely grateful to Steve and Jax for the use of their cabin. I doubt if my tent would've stayed up in these winds.

Steve and I managed to finish off fixing the rudder, which is a huge relief, and it should now work better than it did before.

My hosts (see photo) invited me over for Fetucinne and apple crumble with custard tonight. Delicious! Asian chicken with brown rice tomorrow. I keep telling them I now have a surplus of dehy meals to get me to WGN and that I'm more than happy to cook them up in the cabin, but they won't have a bar of it.

14/02/2026

Captain's log, Saturday 14.2.26;

I'm now tucked up in a cozy wee cabin in Herbertville (see photo) for the next 2 days fixing my rudder and waiting for some bad weather to pass. I hope to head off again Tuesday next week. Destination Mataikona beach, 42ks.

Tim and Lee have returned to Auckland, and I miss them already. They have both been of immense assistance to me since Napier and I am hugely grateful to them. It's unnerving being on my own for what is potentially going to be a challenging stretch of coastline to WGN. Thank you Tim and Lee, from the bottom of my heart.

And a big thank you again to Sue and Dave of Porangahau for hosting us at The Manor for 2 nights while we sorted the rudder issues. The extent of your hospitality was truly astounding. They also introduced me to Barry Stoddart - the man can fix anything - helped me with the broken rudder.

13/02/2026

We feel like we've had a dream run with this part of the trip. Kind hosts Sue and Dave Busfield took us to the Porangahau Golf Club / Country Club tonight where we enjoyed a great meal and great company, and thanks to the generosity of the locals gathered there raised over $200 for Surflifesaving New Zealand.

Captain's Log Black Friday, 13.2.26;
Blackhead to Porangahau, 25ks.
Easy breakout, roughish seas, 25-30 kph tail winds with frequent gusts over 30 kph. Couldn't use the sail.

After 3 hours, successfully landed at Porangahau beach, using my newly acquired skills gleaned from much advice from my supporters.

Broke the rudder housing while landing but, through a combination of coincidence and Lee's initiative, had a new rudder housing arrive from Palmerston North 4 hours later.

Barry, who we met at the Porangahau Country Club has offered to help me sort out the rudder installation (not straightforward!). Thanks Barry

No paddling now until Tuesday next week due to rudder instalation issues and bad weather. Will be saying in Herbertville for the next 3 nights, at least.

Address

493 Matakawau Road
Awhitu
2684

Telephone

+64272433237

Website

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