Kaituna River White Water Rafting: Experience Grade 5 Rapids and Tutea Falls

The Kaituna River is home to grade 5 rapids and the magnificent Tutea Falls, which at 7 meters (23 feet) is the highest waterfall in the world that is commercially rafted. Experience the ultimate adrenaline rush with this white water rafting tour on the Kaituna River.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • River Rats Raft & Kayak - The trip runs through a stunning bush clad gorge and features 14 rapids, including the worlds highest commercially rafted waterfall.\n\nYour day will begin with a pickup from your hotel. From here you will be taken to the airport base where you will obtain your equipment and participate in a safety briefing as well as quick training. After this you’ll proceed to Kaituna River.
What's Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Professional guide
  • All necessary equipment
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
Additional Information
  • Minimum age is 13 years
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • There is a recommended minimum weight of 40 kilograms (88 pounds) for this tour
  • Please bring swimwear, a towel and a sense of adventure!
  • Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the…
Location
River Rats Raft & Kayak
Te Ngae Road
Hangar 14s, Rotorua Airport. Take the driveway on the left as you enter the airport and follow it till you see our signs. Free parking is available out the front of our base.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(351 Ratings)
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Keithbthomas
Sep 30, 2024
Thrilling Adventures and Top-Notch Service! - Caution! The experience with River Rats will leave you grinning for hours after your Kaituna River Rafting adventure. Without a doubt, it was the most exhilarating rafting experience I've had, surpassing all my previous trips to New Zealand, the United States, and South America. Justin went above and beyond to accommodate my last-minute schedule change, squeezing me into an earlier trip. He and his team consistently prioritized our safety and well-being, adapting their teaching methods to match each participant's skill level. The River Rats provided top-notch rafting gear tailored to our team and ensured a proper fit. During our journey downstream, Justin shared captivating historical anecdotes about the riverbanks. His depth of knowledge and expertise put our team at ease as we tackled the world's highest commercial waterfall!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Darryl_w
Sep 12, 2024
Great trip - The crew operating the tour were great , we got practice instructions before heading out to the river, they gave us the all the clothing and life jackets to were , there's lockers for personal clothing and items to keep your things safe and a photographer taking good snap shots for you to purchase at the end of trip ..our river guide was excellent well worth the money and enjoyed the whole experience
Review provided by Viator
Katd07141
Aug 28, 2024
Always a great time. - Such a great time!! Have done before and would do again. We always take any overseas guests we have here and everyone always has a great time. We even went right at the end of Winter and it was epic.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brianwg1770vs
May 18, 2024
Excellent! - Excellent trip out on the Kaituna. Shoutout to Cam & Nev who took us out. Our trip was part of a Stag weekend, and the banter was great and the Stag certainly got a good drenching. The lads were all buzzing afterwards. Will definitely be back again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Julian
Apr 9, 2024
Amazing experience - The guides were knowledgeable, ensuring our safety while also making the trip incredibly fun. The scenery was breathtaking, with lush greenery along the riverbanks. The rapids were thrilling yet manageable, perfect for both beginners and experienced rafters. Overall, it was an unforgettable adventure that I would highly recommend to anyone seeking an adrenaline-packed journey
Review provided by Tripadvisor
R4016ntjoshb
Mar 25, 2024
Great experience - This was a brilliant and exciting tour with some excellent guides. They knew the river inside out and were great fun to have on the boat!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Abigail
Mar 23, 2024
Awesome experience! - Pick up and drop of from accommodation was no hassle. All gear is provided to keep you warm. The guides were knowledgeable, fun and most importantly you felt safe with them. The rapids were super fun with plenty of games thrown in, a chance to swim through rapids and going over 3 waterfalls was awesome! Adrenaline filled, once in a life time experience, would 100% recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Matthew_h
Mar 21, 2024
A great way to wake up and connect with NZ’s nature - Zack was an awesome guide, and rafting through the lush river scenery was a must-do experience! We always felt safe, in control and most of all, had a thrilling time. Would recommend to anyone!
Review provided by Viator
Trevorpd6635jc
Mar 20, 2024
River Rats Kaituna River Rafting. A fun ride. - Had a great time. Guides were great. Safety was always top of mind but still made sure we had fun. Its a fairly short section of river with only a few good rapids so don't expect the same experience as a full day on the Zambizi River but still worth the money. The big waterfall drop is definitely exciting. I would recommend to anyone as a fun addition to your visit to Rotorua.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Morgan
Mar 13, 2024
10/10 recommend! - This is by far our favorite excursion we’ve done on our vacation! We enjoyed the simplicity of the safety rules and guidelines (AKA, just hold onto the boat and the rest doesn’t matter 🤪) They provide wetsuits, wet shoes, and fleece gear as well which was cool. The photo package at the end was for a great price for ~150 pics! It was also hilarious that our entire raft, including our guide, were all American! Our guide, Zach, was phenomenal! He was patient, educated us well, and had super fun banter and humor throughout the entire event. The waterfall is DEFINITELY worth the hype, by the way! Can’t recommend this enough!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $82
up to 9 guests
1 Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).