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Kaituna Cascades - Original White Water Rafting Experience in New Zealand
5.0
933 Ratings
Okere Falls
Experience the original white water rafting adventure on the Kaituna River in New Zealand with Kaituna Cascades. Explore breathtaking waterfalls and thrilling rapids with expert guides for a memorable, safe, and fun-filled trip. Book now!
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- 18 Okere Falls Road - Join us for the most unique and beautiful whitewater rafting experience in New Zealand! The famous Kaituna River is a rafter’s dream – a 50-minute action-packed ride down 11 epic rapids and 3 wild waterfalls, including the world’s highest rafted waterfall at 7 meters. All of this takes place in a deep, usually warm water jungle canyon! All this with our legendary guides & you’ve got yourself the perfect day out! Our sweet Rafting Base in Okere Falls is in an awesome sunny location, surrounded by a scenic reserve and backs onto the shores of the Kaituna. We are the closest and most accessible company to the river, meaning you get a more relaxed environment to enjoy yourself. The native scenic reserve has a beautiful walking trail where you can view many rapids of the Kaituna River & there is even an amazing café around the corner. This makes for a great half-day trip out to this stunning region of Rotorua. Also please note – This is an exciting GRADE 5 RAFTING EXPERIENCE and is NOT SUITED FOR OLDER OR BIGGER PEOPLE, or people that aren’t comfortable in the water. We have a weight limit of 120 kgs.
What's Included
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- Custom built rafts, wetsuits, helmets, lifejackets, paddles, fleece tops, wetsuit booties, and splash jackets
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- Local, professional & highly trained guides
What's Not Included
- Digital photos (Available to purchase)
- Glasses Strap $5
- Rent a Towel $5
- Go Pro Harness Hire $5
- Other Souvenirs (T-shirt etc)
Additional Information
Kaituna Cascades pioneered the exploration and initiation of rafting tours on the Kaituna River, and the business remains locally held and run by a pair of current raft guides, ensuring you’re in capable hands!! There’s no other location worldwide where you can raft on a stunning river that plunges into a vertically walled gorge full of raftable waterfalls and numerous eccentric rapids. The river’s warmth and depth (most of the time) often become the highlight of visitors’ New Zealand experiences. We carefully select our guides from professionals with an intense background in Kayaking and Rafting, thereby promising the safest and most exciting journey on the river! It’s also arguably the best value-for-money rafting in NZ. We strive for FUN, so join us for this once-in-a-lifetime, EPIC adventure.
Thanks & look forward to meeting you on the river - Pete & Blue
- Availability is all year round - Warm water in the summer and cooler in the winter (more gear provided)
- MUST be under 120 kgs
- Not recommended for non swimmers
- NO expectant mothers
Location
18 Okere Falls Road
Okere Falls Road
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(933 Ratings)
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Cosmopolitan708101
Aug 20, 2024
Great experience - We had a great experience, and we always felt safe with some exciting ups and downs in the water.
Amazing professional crew.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Adventurer321598
Aug 20, 2024
Highlight of my trip to NZ! - Yesterday I went on my first grade 5 white water rafting experience with Kaituna Cascades, and I loved it so much that I booked again to go today!
Honestly the most fun I have had and I just had to do it again before I flew home (I am tempted to book again for tomorrow and go 3 for 3 haha).
My guide, Ethan, was fantastic yesterday and so I chose to go with him again today and he did not disappoint. He was friendly, fun and knowledgeable and we all had a great time laughing and joking about falling out (and then we did haha). Because of the thorough safety introduction and the quality gear that was provided, I felt perfectly at ease throughout.
Blue in the kayak was incredible, weaving in and out of the rapids and going down the falls before us so he could assist if required.
The guides, the photographer and the office staff were all so lovely, helped each other and us out, and had the best personalities.
The photos were incredible, so well priced and you get a heap of them!
I don’t think I have smiled or laughed that much before and if I had it my way, I’d do it again every single day.
Thanks so much Kaituna Cascades. I will definitely be back in NZ again and when I am, I will 1000% book with you again
I’m already looking at planning my next white water rafting trip with Kaituna Cascades, and I’ve only been back from my last one for a short few hours
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Timcw1647ue
Aug 9, 2024
Fantastic experience with the Kaituna Team - I have been waiting years to try white water rafting and the team at Kaituna made the wait worthwhile! It was the highlight of my NZ holiday
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Julianap534
Aug 1, 2024
Cool experience - The experience is so cool! we did it in winter and it wasn't that cold... Friendly staff as well. Beautiful river and experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
N1290ljlilym
Jul 31, 2024
DO IT - Most INCREDIBLE experience. A morning of adrenaline and uncontrollable laughter. Thanks Malcom for being our guide :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dreamer593939
Jul 29, 2024
Kaituna Cascades - Absolutely magical experience at Kaituna Cascades rafting! The canyon is unbelievable.
Instructors clearly brilliant.
Staggering end to a great trip to NZ!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
I1893uvjosieh
Jul 26, 2024
An awesome adventure - An incredible experience! Amazing forest and canyon views as well as really fun rapids and waterfalls! All the guides were great and really friendly, would highly recommend :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Navigate42785198148
Jul 22, 2024
Great white water rafting experience in the winter - Amazing experience!!! Was worried about the cold, but they provide all the gear you’ll need. We had great guides who made sure we all had a fun time while staying safe. Would recommend to anyone interested, even in the Winter. Definitely a highlight of our trip to Rotorua!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Meander04604453904
Jul 21, 2024
Americans rushing down the rapids in NZ! - Unbelievable! We have rafted many times in the States, but nothing has been as fun or as much of an adrenaline rush as this! Professional, extremely well run and well worth the cost. Mostly commend "Malcolm" for keeping my wife calm, reassured and guided through the storm!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Adventure10823865895
Jul 21, 2024
Must do!!! - The team at Kaituna were amazing. The entire experience start to finish was amazing. The views, the photos, the river all were breathtaking.
Will do again. Must visit!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
