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
(361 Ratings)
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Anneh631
Dec 13, 2024
Don't miss it! - Awesome experience! The team were first class in their attention to safety and encouragement. Lots of fun and laughter. Can highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emilyco2674gr
Dec 12, 2024
Best water rafting. - I highly recommend. Great views and loads of fun. Would do again if I get the chance. Anyone can do it, it wasn’t too much padding, just sitting down and enjoying the ride.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michellemu461iu
Dec 10, 2024
Marvellous experience - It was really funny and the scenery was so beautiful! Our guide was Cam, he was extraordinary!! he did a really good job explaining the safety’s and also talking about a lot of history with some funny jokes in between. Justin was the other guide in our boat, he makes us feel relax and confident in the adventure. Lenny was in the other boat was very nice as well, and the Photos and Videos show exactly what happened! Thank you for that Jen and Pete. Would do it again for sure!! Thank you all ❤️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anne_h
Dec 9, 2024
Thrilling & Exciting! - The gang at the "River Rats" (Cam, Pete, Jen, "Colorado" ) did an amazing job preparing us for our rafting experience. Highly recommend this activity! One of the most beautiful rivers and exhilarating activities I have ever done. We are first timers rafters and beginners who wanted to challenge ourselves to doing something like this. (Age: 50's & 60's) They provide the wet suit and gear at the beginning of the tour so you don't need to worry about that. Cam & Pete went over safety strategies with us again and again - till they felt we understood all of the instructions. You need to know when to paddle forward, stop, how to get down, lean etc. We appreciated the time they took along the way and just the consistency of checking on us to make sure we felt ok about continuing and if we were worried about anything or had questions. Jen took some amazing pictures along the way that we could later download. Expect to get wet! What an amazing experience and memory made. (You should be in good physical condition.)
Review provided by Viator
Aadrykb
Nov 27, 2024
River Rats Awesome Rafting - i went with River Rat’s river rafting and it was an unforgettable experience! The breathtaking scenery, crystal-clear waters and thrilling rapids made every moment exhilarating. Our expert guide Cam ensured our safety while expertly navigating the raft through turbulent waters.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maps10288656908
Nov 18, 2024
Exhilarating!!! - What an absolute thrill. Justin our highly experienced rafter explained the safety components clearly so we all understood what was required of each us rafting.! He clearly explained what was happening all the way down the river and the 7 meter drop waterfall was OMG gobsmacking amazing with torrents of water burying us.! My partner Brian body surfed down the last waterfall and swam to the raft, you have to be a confident strong swimmer to do this, for him it was a bucket item ticked… Had an amazing day… Loved it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Global17992886387
Nov 9, 2024
Terrific! - It was my first time to raft, but it was so much fun. Staffs were super friendly and thanks to them I was able to complete the course even though I have aqua-phobia. (Mine’s not really severe, if you have seriously phobic in water, I highly recommend not joining this activity.) The course was terrific, I would definitely bring other friends on this event :) Highly recommended :D
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dan_l
Nov 6, 2024
The best experience - The guides were all amazing and made this one of the best excursions I have ever done. We had a phenomenal time and without a doubt, hands down I recommend doing this trip, it was worth every penny… do not pass on this trip, you may never get another chance. It was soooo much fun, the water was refreshing. We were able to ride class 5 white water and were able to go down the rapids without the raft which was amazing. I cannot thank the guides who made it all happen. They are friendly and just made the entire experience perfect. 10 out of 10.
Review provided by Viator
Mattcurrie123
Oct 12, 2024
Fantastic adventure. - Great trip with experienced and friendly guides. Best of both worlds being both safe and adventurous. Would do again and also recommend to others.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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
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