Following a three month paddle through Fiordland,

Tara Mulvany set off with Sim Griggs in May 2012 to paddle around the South Island in winter. Massive surf off the Heaphy River mouth led to a five day separation when neither Sim nor Tara knew where the other paddler was or in fact was still alive! Re-united in Golden Bay, Tara and Sim continued around the top of the South Island, but Tara had a wretched day from Motanau down to Sumner, sea sick many times, landing finally at 12:30 am.

The duo parted company in Christchurch with Tara continuing on solo. On 22 October, Tara Mulvany paddled back into Milford Sound, completing a winter circumnavigation of the South Island.

Tara’s account of that South Island winter circumnavigation was published in 2014:

A Winter’s Paddle – A Kayak Journey around the South Island of New Zealand