Adventure in the Motu

A Gisborne Canoe and Tramping Club party of five recently made a six-day trip through the beautiful virgin bushland of the Motu River.

Tramping the 12 miles from Toatoa to the site of the proposed Mangatane hydro dam, the party negotiated the restless waters of the mighty river in a rubber dinghy, passing through superb natural scenery of steep gorges and rugged bushland.

On several occasions, treacherous rapids had to be by-passed or roped down. The group saw much evidence of wild life, and shot a pig from their dinghy which they later skinned and cooked for a meal.

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Setting out in the dinghy on another leg of their journey are, in front: Brian Smeeth and Gary Gooch; at rear: Tony Dominey and Geoff Smith.

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Tony Scott with the head and skin of the pig he shot

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Back to civilisation, their journey over, the boys pose for a picture. From left: Tony Dominey, Tony Scott, Geoff Smith, Gary Gooch, and Brian Smeeth.