Craig travels the remote Clarence River, home to New Zealand’s largest farm, Molesworth Station.
The Clarence is one of our few remaining wild and unspoilt rivers, winding its way through an arid, Tibetan-like landscape nothing like the rest of New Zealand.
Craig journeys the length of the Clarence on foot, bike and raft, from its source in the mountains above Lake Tennyson, past the country’s largest farm, Molesworth Station, through striking rocky gorges as the river cuts through the rugged Kaikoura ranges, and on to the coast at the Pacific Ocean.
Travelling the length of the Clarence has been a long-held dream for Craig, since he first gazed down on this shimmering river from the summit of Mt Princess during his student days. He returns to Mt Princess with tour guide and author Andy Dennis, then visits Lake Tennyson to take photographs and hunt for rare plants.
Craig and Andy ride mountain bikes through the massive Molesworth station. Craig learns about Molesworth’s chequered farming history and how these days it is run as both a working farm and conservation area.
Craig and Andy join environmentalist Eugenie Sage and plant expert Shannel Courtney for a five-day raft trip. As they paddle through narrow gorges and exhilarating rapids, Craig discovers the landscapes, geology and plant life that make the Clarence unique.
