Motueka or bust - a family ambition

ADVENTURERS: Max and Melanie Grant braved Rangitata's morning tides as they make their way north to Motueka, where they will complete their circumnavigation of the South Island.

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It's been a choppy ride but the journey is nearly over for father and daughter kayaking duo Max and Melanie Grant, who are attempting to circumnavigate the South Island.

They left the Rangitata River mouth yesterday morning in their five-metre-long sea kayaks, headed for Motueka and the completion of their gruelling 3600 kilometre trip.

The pair share a love of the outdoors and combine adventure with work through Mr Grant's business Q-Kayaks. They have been circumnavigating the South Island anti-clockwise in sections since March 2008 and hope to complete the trip in three weeks.

Ms Grant will be the first New Zealand woman to complete a circumnavigation of the South Island.

Child Cancer will also benefit from the pair's adventure as they aim to raise $5000 for the charity.

The journey has been rough at times and they had to pull out at St Andrews in November last year after rough seas forced them ashore. But it was a different story on Monday when they set out from St Andrews and paddled up the coast to Rangitata, where they camped overnight.

Mr Grant said the idea of circumnavigating the South Island came about when they were paddling with a group of kayakers in Fiordland. "We started talking about it and the guys pulled out so we carried on through to Bluff."

The journey continued as they made their way from Invercargill to Dunedin, before being forced to interrupt the attempt at St Andrews, on their way to Banks Peninsula. Their kayaks, which have sealed compartments, are well equipped with features such as locator beacons, spare paddles, a weather radio, an emergency shelter, rations, a first aid kit, helmets, flares, tide charts and tables and dry suits.

- © Fairfax NZ News