Whitewater Rafting Adventures in New Zealand

NZ rivers present exhilarating opportunities for extreme travel adventures. Don a wetsuit, lifejacket and helmet and experience the thrill of whitewater action.

Whitewater rafting in the Central Plateau rivers of New Zealand’s North Island is geared to all levels of experience. Options are available from specific individual adventures, to group and team excursions. Whitewater rafting not only provides a once-in-a-lifetime water adventure but is also a wonderful opportunity to experience spectacular New Zealand scenery that is generally inaccessible by road.

Rangiteiki River Run and Wairoa Experience: Loads of Adventure

Halfway between Rotorua and Taupo, the Grade 4 Rangiteiki River Run is an all-day experience offering 14 kilometres of rapids and loads of variety on the water. Transport is available from Rotorua or rafters can meet the company at the Kaituna River base or Murupara camping ground where parking is safe and free of charge. Lunch is provided.

Experience the rafting adventure of a lifetime on the Wairoa River. This is a full-on Grade 5 rafting experience, open only 26 days of the year. The water released from the Ruahihi Power Station results in an exhilarating two-hour rafting trip through waterfalls and rapids surging between the walls of a rock and tree-lined gorge. The Wairoa River is between Tauranga and Matamata at the base of the Kaimai Ranges. Transport is available from Rotorua on request and lunch is provided.