From a 1,000-mile canoe expedition to unexplored jungle rivers, join us for an evening of adventure, remarkable people and inspiring paddling films at Fergs Kayaks on the Ōkahu Bay waterfront.

Part of the 21st annual Paddling Film Festival World Tour, this screening brings together six films celebrating adventure, resilience and the communities we find on the water. Expect spectacular scenery, powerful human stories and whitewater action, with kayaking, canoeing, rafting, packrafting and standup paddleboarding all represented.

Hosted upstairs at Fergs Kayaks as part of our reopening celebrations, it’s a chance to gather Auckland’s paddling community, catch up with friends and find inspiration for your next adventure. You don’t need to be a paddler to enjoy these stories. Anyone with a love of the outdoors, travel or a good adventure film is welcome.

The evening’s programme:

1,000 Miles to Tuk

Best Canoeing Film

After dreaming of a big canoe trip for more than a decade, Niki Choo and her partner embark on a 1,000-mile journey from the Pacific to the Arctic. An adventure that tests their endurance, their relationship and the limits of what they believe is possible.

How to Self-Rescue on a Paddleboard

Best Instructional Film

A short, practical guide to getting back onto your paddleboard after a fall. A useful reminder that a little knowledge can make a big difference on the water.

Patso

Best Short Film

Filmed on California’s South Fork of the American River, this uplifting short celebrates river community and what becomes possible when we embrace the people around us.

A Little Bit Different

Best Documentary

Afghan refugees and American teenagers come together on a rafting expedition down Idaho’s Main Salmon River. Through shared challenges and time in the wilderness, friendships grow in a moving story about identity, belonging and the things that unite us.

Riverbound: The Storybook Has Just Begun

A story with a special New Zealand connection. Former professional guide and expert kayaker Yak became a paraplegic after a canyoning accident. Can packrafting offer him the freedom to run rivers again? Follow his journey onto the rapids of the Upper Buller Gorge and explore how paddlesport can become accessible to more people.

Gabon Uncharted

Special Jury Mention

The SEND kayaking crew heads deep into the jungles of Gabon to explore an unknown river. With no Wi-Fi and no turning back, ten days of whitewater, jungle and uncomfortable honesty create a wild adventure far beyond their online lives.

There will be an interval between the two halves of the programme, giving you time to stretch your legs and chat about the films.

Bring your paddling friends, your adventure-loving family or someone who needs a little inspiration to get outdoors. Come and celebrate a new chapter for Fergs Kayaks, and leave with fresh ideas for your own next adventure.