Darryn Hawes

Senior Trip Leader & safety kayaker

Where do you call home?

West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.

What do you love most about multi-day trips?

Being out in the wilderness and having time to enjoy the river and the people. As well as cooking up a good feed.

When did you start working for Water By Nature?

2009 in Morocco.

Your best river meal you like to prepare?

Sticky glazed Chicken Teriyaki with asian slaw.

Favourite Rapid?

Number 5, Stairway to Heaven on the Zambezi.

Most important piece of equipment you take on every adventure?

My river knife

Biggest achievement to date?

My boy, Caleb.

Best River story?

That time I  ‘dry flipped’ a cataraft in Oblivion on the Zambezi.

Favourite rafting trips?

Cotahuasi, Peru, Zambezi and Watut in Papua New Guinea.

Anywhere still on the rafting ‘bucket list’?

Futaleufu in Chile and the Tamur in Nepal.

What will you do when you grow up?

I want to go kayaking.

Tell us something that people may not know about you?

I can juggle pumpkins.