Southern Exposure: A Solo Sea Kayaking Journey Around New Zealand's South Island

by Chris Duff

In this epic tale of sea-kayaking adventure, award-winning author Chris Duff places readers in the cockpit of his 18-foot kayak and lets them experience the full power and beauty of the South Pacific Ocean and the wild energy of the Tasman Sea as it thunders onto New Zealand's uninhabited west coast. Not just an account of human physical endurance and determination to attempt what had only been accomplished once before, this exquisitely written narrative reveals the philosophical and psychological life of a man who has chosen the sea as the master to sit before and to learn from. The intense and often terrifying sea journey is balanced by serendipitous meetings along the way with friendly New Zealanders and with the diverse wildlife of this tiny and remote island country. Southern Exposure is a force of writing that will captivate the armchair adventurer as well as the seasoned ocean traveler.

Genres: Travel, Adventure, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2003

Reviews

[Rick]

This is the second book Chris Duff has written of his long distance sea kayaking journeys. I enjoy his narrative of the travels, conditions, nature and wonderful people he meets. This trip around the southern island of New Zealand is far more harrowing than his circumnavigation of Ireland in his previous book , On Celtic Tides. A great travel adventure story.

[Carmen]

Wow! Found this doing a search for books about New Zealand. Chris sailed in a single kayak all around the south Island of New Zealand. Now I can barely kayak. But I was captivated by his story. His language choices brought the story to life! How he felt. What he saw. The people whom he met. Fantastic story.

[Megan Hellman]

Loved this book! Would make a great movie :)

[Tammy]

Chris Duff writes of his circumnavigation of New Zealand’s South Island in a 17.5 ft. kayak. As a recreational kayaker myself, his feat seems astounding. It was a long journey, and you feel it in this book. There’s only so much to be said about mile after long mile of shoreline.

The most gripping story by far comes over halfway through the journey as he narrates the terror of being flipped, manhandled, and nearly destroyed by monstrous surf caused by unexpectedly strong winds. The ocean is to be respected – always.
For those who have dabbled in long paddling journeys or who dream of such adventures, this book will be of interest. I’m less confident it would grip the attention of others.

[Valerie]

It begins a bit slow but eventually I was sad to come to the end because I wanted to continue reading. It is definitely on my favourites list.