Okarito Kayaks

23/11/2025

Mondays ...

100% Pure New Zealand Glacier Country NZ West Coast, New Zealand Donovan's Store - Okarito Okarito Campground

18/11/2025

“Just get on with it,” Neill Simpson tells me across the kitchen table, eyes fixed on mine and well worn hands folded in front of him. “If you wait for people to cross every t and dot every i, you’ll lose your enthusiasm."

Sometimes, you've just got to get on with it.

“Just get on with it,” Neill Simpson tells me across the kitchen table, eyes fixed on mine and well worn hands folded in front of him. “If you wait for people to cross every t and dot every i, you’ll lose your enthusiasm. Occasionally you get a slap on the knuckles, but that's about all.” ...

14/11/2025

Home

West Coast, New Zealand Glacier Country NZ100% Pure New Zealand Donovan's Store - Okarito Okarito Campground

10/11/2025

Where are you heading this summer?

Four out of the last five summers have resulted in La Niña conditions on the West Coast. Last summer was exceptionally dry, and stable after a wet spring, with great conditions for kayaking Ōkārito Lagoon.

Great swimming in the warm, shallow waters of the lagoon; stunning views up across the central Southern Alps from sea to mountain; and the calm, quiet expanse of NZ's largest unmodified coastal wetland with it's multitude of river channels leading km's into the shaded bush to explore.

All a peaceful world away from the busy bustle of the South Island's highways and tourist hotspots.

This coming summer looks like it will continue to follow that pattern.

You coming over?

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/577742/summer-weather-warm-humid-days-with-chance-of-heavy-rain

West Coast, New Zealand Glacier Country NZ 100% Pure New Zealand Donovan's Store - Okarito Okarito Campground

03/11/2025

Yup, we have terrible weather in spring ....

Ōkārito Lagoon views stretching out across the glaciers and peaks of Kā Tiritiri o te Moana/Southern Alps with Aoraki/Mt. Cook on the horizon

West Coast, New Zealand Glacier Country NZ 100% Pure New Zealand

06/04/2025

Back to the the day job tomorrow again…

16/03/2025

Just when we thought work might get a bit quieter to end of summer ....

Stoked to have the support of so many Kiwi's around the country to help us look after the backyard. Good buggers, the lot of you.

08/10/2024

No, honestly, we do work.

24/09/2024

Best beach holiday ever!!!

Want to come and join in?

04/09/2024

It’s just looking after the backyard…

12/08/2024

Kia ora NZ. You busy this summer?

Okarito Kayaks are looking for a couple of hard-working, nature-loving, coffee-appreciating, kayak-polishing, good-humoured all round great people to come join us over this coming summer (and for many more if they like).

There's meaningful, busy work between November and April, a beautiful peaceful village community to live in, stunning beaches and a really neat, small & appreciative team to spend your summer with.

Full time work at Living Wage, along with inexpensive accommodation and lifestyle, means you can save most of what you earn.

If you're keen to join a small, informal team in an award-winning business that gives more back to the environment and community than it takes, or know anyone who might be, get in touch - we'd love to hear from you.

Vital skills include Kōtuku-spotting eyes, to be able to look good launching a kayak in gumboots, demon flat white making skills, knowing which end of a paddle is which and the ability to spin a good yarn (or at least not roll your eyes at Baz's stories).

Keen? Give us a bell on 03 753 4014 or write to us here at [email protected]