About Paul Caffyn
Born 1946. Paul Caffyn is a New Zealand author and canoeist.
Paul Caffyn is a sea kayaker based in Runanga on the West Coast of New Zealand. He has completed a number of supported, unsupported, solo and group expeditions by sea kayak in various locations around the world. He has been described as follows by John Dowd:
Caffyn was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2012 New Year Honours, for services to sea kayaking and water safety.
Expeditions
1978 Circumnavigation of the South Island, New Zealand The expedition around the South Island started as an expedition along the Fiordland coast with fellow paddler Max Reynolds. Caffyn continued solo and with ground support to complete the circumnavigation in 76 days.{ source: Obscured by waves}
1978/79 Circumnavigation of the North Island, New Zealand Caffyn sea kayaked solo around the North Island, with ground party support. The circumnavigation took 86 days, after which Caffyn undertook a crossing of Cook Strait by sea kayak.{source: Cresting the Restless Wave}
1979 Circumnavigation of Stewart Island, New Zealand The expedition around Stewart Island was done with Max Reynolds, August and September 1979. This expedition departed from Bluff, New Zealand starting with a crossing of Foveaux Strait. { source: Dark Side of the Wave}
1980 Circumnavigation of Great Britain Caffyn and Nigel Dennis circumnavigated Great Britain by sea kayak in 85 days.
1981/82 Circumnavigation of Australia 1985 solo circumnavigation of the four main islands of Japan 1991 completed the first solo sea kayak trip along the entire coastline of Alaska 1997 Circumnavigation of New Caledonia Two attempts to cross the Tasman Sea by sea kayak 2001/2002 Circumnavigation of Phuket
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Important facts
People in Paul Caffyn's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Paul Caffyn's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Paul Caffyn?
New Zealand sea kayaker
When was Paul Caffyn born?
Paul Caffyn was born in 1946.
What is Paul Caffyn's occupation?
Paul Caffyn is an author and canoeist.
What nationality is Paul Caffyn?
Paul Caffyn is New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Paul Caffyn. https://biography.guide/paul-caffyn/
MLA: "Paul Caffyn." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/paul-caffyn/.
Chicago: "Paul Caffyn." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/paul-caffyn/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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