Safety/Risk
SAFETY STANDARDS:
The safety and wellbeing of our staff, clients and the environment in which we operate are fundamental to our business. We are founding and current members of the Sea Kayak Operators Association of New Zealand (SKOANZ) and New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association (NZOIA); complying with their Code of Practice and Operating Procedures. We are a Qualmark Endorsed Visitor Activity, exceeding their minimum standards of operation. We operate with Department of Conservation concessions PAC 14-06-18-01&02 and with Marine Mammal Permit NHS-12-07-24 and with Environment Southland consent # 203307. We are recognised as a leader in the field of commercial sea kayaking.
OUR GUIDES:
We aim to employ guides who like us are very experienced/skilled sea kayakers and often white water paddlers also, with a personal commitment and passion for conservation and kayaking. Irrespective of their own experience, new guides undergo a detailed training programme specific to Fiordland conditions.
OUR EQUIPMENT:
Our equipment for kayaking and camping is purchased, maintained and replaced with an ongoing assessment of its condition - this drives us crazy but we continue to receive comments that we provide significantly more equipment than most and that it is amongst the best in New Zealand - after all there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad equipment.
TRANSPORT:
We are all fully licensed to transport passengers as are our vehicles. FWE are committed to reducing our carbon footprint (and yours), so we combine with other transport operators across Lake Manapouri at times in an attempt to achieve this. We do operate without motorboats when we are kayaking though as all real kiwi kayakers do - we are not into compromising our sea kayaking and environmental ethics.
We are sea kayakers, not boaties - we know what it's like out there from the cockpit of a sea kayak and we employ guides with the same attitude. We have kayaked Fiordland more than anyone we know. We are Fiordland's original sea kayaking company having established sea kayaking in this area. Being paddlers we all enthuse most when we are in a sea kayak sharing with others our skills, experience, knowledge, passion and commitment. Even at 6.30am in the morning!
RISK DISCLOSURE - see also Disclaimer Form:
Sea kayaking and wilderness camping have inherent risks and can be dangerous. In Fiordland they are characterised by: remoteness, rapidly changing and sometimes extreme weather and water conditions, cold water, limited kayak landing sites and camping under forest canopy. Detailed risk management and strict safety procedures are observed; however there still remains an element of risk.
Fiordland Wilderness Experiences cannot absolutely guarantee participants' safety. Fiordland Wilderness Experiences accepts its legal responsibilities but cannot be held responsible for personal injury or for loss, theft or damage of/to your equipment outside legal responsibilities. Participants will be required to sign a liability form to this effect before starting a tour.
Changing conditions can mean that tours have to be modified. No two tours are the same. It is very rare but weather could delay your scheduled return by up to 24 hours, e.g. road closures, weather conditions preventing kayaking.
Clients on guided tours must listen carefully to and follow guides' instructions and adhere to safety requirements. Our reputation depends on your safety - we give it top priority and take it seriously. A comprehensive paddling and safety briefing is given before all tours depart. The guided trips also feature friendly on the water paddling instruction, safety management and natural history interpretation. Our guiding ratio is a maximum of 1:8 with our longer trips often being fewer than that and we work mainly with double kayaks.
We aim to teach you new skills and to help you have a great time out there, no matter what and partly because of what, the Fiordland weather might throw at us. It's an awesome place and we do our best to ensure our approach to safety reflects our respect for it.
Any concerns should be discussed when you enquire about or before you book a tour. We want to take you on a true adventure into Fiordland's wilderness, which can mean kayaking in a range of weather conditions. If you want help on which trip is appropriate for you, please contact us.
