G'day,
You'd be better off to come in February than May, I'm in Queenstown at the moment, and the shotover is dry. it's -2 degrees out side, snow on the hills, not ideal time of year for boating, allthough in saying that sum of the better north island runs have more water in winter. Even push it a bit further back till Nov-January. Spring run off makes for good boating, although late december early Jan is the tourist season. NZ White water guide by Greham Charles is an excellent place to start 125 runs with flow info, put in, take outs, grades and a hint as to what to expect on the river. You'd find sum1 to boat with any day of summer on the kaituna up north, must do run. Murchison camping ground down south has more playboating and paddlers than you can handle. THe rafty's are usually kayak friendly. I work on the shotover and for a box of beer we;ll usually strap you boat on the top of the stack and give you a ride into the middle of no-where for a shotty run, the saftey kayaker;ll even give you the head's up to whats around the corner. Don't quote me on it but i think the rangatata and rangitiki boys'd be the same. You;ll be right sum1'll look after ya