A set of new white water rapids created by flooding in central Otago has converted the Clutha River into a water sports playground for some keen kayakers.
The town of Roxburgh was left decimated by huge rainfall on Sunday, with its water supply still being repaired and the tonnes of rock and debris that filled flooded culverts being cleared.
Properties and roads were also damaged in the deluge.
- Flooded Roxburgh spared from overnight downpour
- Surging Roxburgh creek uproots huge tree amid flash flooding
- Roxburgh flooding cuts power, phone networks
However some have made the most of the downpour, with sibling kayakers Tiaan and Jonty McKinnel getting out on the water and claiming they've never seen "anything this good on the Clutha".
Mr McKinnel says before Sunday's storm, they had to travel some distance to find good rapids, as the Clutha River never really served them up.
"Beforehand it was pretty much just a flat section with two eddies [whirlpools] on each side," he said.
"There was no rapid at all here - not even a sign of a rapid."
Roxburgh, which was touted to get more rain overnight, managed to avoid it.
Newshub.
