River Rafting in New Zealand

Adrenalin pumping, the strictures of the raft captain and the pre-start safety drills uppermost in your mind, the rapids looming ahead . . . suddenly you're plunging among the rocks, buffeting, bucking, scrambling to stay on board a demented rubber boat.

It's white-water rafting and it's a heart-beat-stopping way to discover the adventurer within your soul.

It's also an adventure pursuit for which NZ has an international reputation. The rivers here not only offer a wide choice of water - from sedate to unrunnable - but they flow through stunning scenery for mile after mile, day after day.

Rafting rivers are graded from 1 to 6. Grade 6 is "unrunnable". 'Nuff said.

Grade 1 is "Easy". Grade 2 is "Medium" - rapids of moderate difficulty, passages clear. Grade 3, "Difficult", is where it starts to get interesting. At Grade 4, "Very Difficult", the adrenalin really flows.

You know you're alive when you're running Grade 5 - though you may also wonder for how much longer. "Extremely difficult" is the official description. Long and violent rapids following each other almost without interruption. Big drops. Violent currents.

Basics

The operation of a river-rafting business is not for amateurs. You should deal only with a member of the NZ Professional Rafting Assn.

Best time is October to January. By late January, water levels are getting lower. Low water is usually February and March.

People of any age over 13 can and do ride the Grade 5 waters, but for Grade 3 or over you need, really, to be reasonably fit and agile. When that raft captain says "Move" . . . boy, do you have to move!

Clothing. The raft company will supply you with a wetsuit, lifejacket and crash helmet.

North Island Rivers

Wairoa:

Easiest to get to, most frequently rafted. Grade 5. Typical trip takes about 1 1/2 hours on the river, three hours from start to depart. Cost is $45 per head. The river is controlled by a hydro dam - damn the dams! - and rafting is possible only on 26 days of the year. You need therefore to plan in advance.

It's the easiest North Island river to experience in the sort of time constraints that limit most travel itineraries.

The take-off point for most trips is only 2 1/2 hrs from Auckland, 1 1/2 hrs from Rotorua. Thus it's possible to fit it neatly into the typical schedule.

They say the scenery along the river is great - but who ever gets a chance to look. This is one of the wildest and most exciting rapids rides around.

Motu:

The first river protected under legislation aimed at preserving wild and scenic rivers. And how eminently it deserves it. Most of the rafters come here as much for the NZ-in-its-virgin-state scenery as for the Grade 3-4 rapids.

Trips range from two to four days. Each night you camp in the bush at river's-edge beneath a canopy of stars. In the pitch-blackness, undimmed by city lights, you'll rediscover the glory of the Milky Way, of constellations you'd forgotten.

This is not the brawling, tempestuous type of run - though it has its share of helter- skelter rushes. Rather it's the wild, unspoiled beauty and solitude of one of NZ's last unmolested rivers. Grade 3+.

Mohaka:

On the Mohaka, take your choice of runs from 2 to 6 days. For the time-pressed traveller, the two-day version packs the biggest bang into the shortest time.

On the first day you'll bounce along through rapids which steadily build up in size. On the tranquil interludes there'll be time to soak in the scenery. The second day, however, wreaks a total change. You plunge into the Te Hoe Gorge, and spend the next four hours on some of the wildest water in the country. This is Grade 5 stuff, and when it's over you'll know it. You'll also know more about yourself.

Rangitaiki:

Not to be confused with Rangitikei, for two less alike worth-rafting waters you'll not often find. This river is 64km from Rotorua, in the great Kaingaroa State Forest. There's a certain divergence of opinion on whether it's a Grade 3 or 4, but either way it's a fun river for people who want to dip their toes in, so to speak.

Tongariro:

Not perhaps a river for the hardened adrenalin-addict, but good fun nonetheless, especially as an introduction to rafting. There are more rapids per km in this river than most. Plenty of bounce.

Rangitikei:

This vies with the Mohaka for a claim to the top rafting experience of the North Island. A combination of brawling white water and rugged scenery. On a typical expedition, the first part of the journey is through Grade 3 water, just to whet your appetite and tune up the raft control. Then you plunge through "The Narrows" and enter the main gorge, running 13 almost continuous rapids up to Grade 5.

South Island Rivers

In the South Island, rafting has reached a commercial high point. In 1970, Dale and Anne Gardiner started their Dane's Back Country expeditions in Queenstown, thus pioneering commercial rafting.

The big three of the South Island are the Landsborough, Kawarau and Shotover Rivers.

Landsborough:

This is generally regarded as the top rafting experience in NZ. It is, in fact, one of the most adventurous and spectacular river-running experiences in the world.

The Landsborough is completely untouched by man as it flows swiftly from the Southern Alps on its way to the Haast. You float silently past glaciers, 10,000 ft high mountains, through the native beech forests . . . seeing native birds, and perhaps even deer.

This is not two or three-hour quick-fix excitement. The typical expedition is a 3 day/2 night business, starting with a helicopter ride well into the back country.

Shotover:

The historic Shotover River was once rated the world's richest river because of the amount of gold it brought forth.

Today it's better known as the scene of some of NZ's most exciting water-borne adventures, including the famous and much-photographed Shotover Jet. For a more intimate acquaintanceship, however, nothing beats running it in a rubber raft.

The lower gorge, graded 5 on the adrenalin scale, is the most commonly rafted.

A typical trip starts with the dizzying drive in along the old miners' road, the notorious Skippers Rd, which clings precariously to the cliff-sides, and ends by shooting through the 170m Oxenbridge Tunnel.

This is one of the most easily accessed raft trips, and has a lot to recommend it.

Kawarau:

Thing about the Kawarau is the sheer volume of water it contains. Short by comparison with other rivers, it nonetheless comes on hard and fast for excitement as you plough your way through standing waves 2m and more in height. Graded 3+.

Of the other South Island rivers, the most commonly rafted are Rakaia, Buller, Clarence, Waimakariri and Rangitata.

The following is a listing of rafting adventure operators arranged, more-or-less, in geographic order starting in the north. The description of each operation is supplied by the operators themselves.

Black Water Rafting
Waikato Region
Cave 'rafting' tours, where visitors venture underground to see a galaxy of glowworms whilst floating and walking through the spectacular Ruakuri Cave.

Longridge Jet at Longridge Park Limited
Bay of Plenty Region
Kaituna Thunder! 45 Minutes of extreme White Water Rafting Action.

River Rats Rafting
22 Baxter Place , Lynmore , Rotorua
White Water Rafting. A choice of 4 rivers to suit all levels of experience from novice to thrill seeker.

Wet n Wild
Rotorua Region
Mild liquid fun to wild white water action, options range from half day to overnight expeditions.

Tread & River Expeditions
33 Otaramarae Road, Okere Falls, Rotorua
Multi-day Adventure specialists in Whitewater Rafting, Mountain Biking and Kayaking. Enjoy the thrills of adventures for all levels combined with unique accommodation, superb wine and gourmet food.

Wairata Valley Lodge
Eastland Region
Thw Waioeka River offers fun for all ages, either rafting, kayaking, tubing or swimming/snorkeling.
email: rl.redpath@xtra.co.nz

Motu River Expeditions
Bay of Plenty Region
1/2 Day tours rafting on Bay of Plenty rivers to our 1 - 4 day Motu Expeditions.
Email: moturaft@wave.co.nz

Kiwi River Safaris
Taupo Region
KRS provides whitewater rafting trips from Taupo. Rangitiaki River (grade 3-4) and Wairoa River (grade 4-5). Daily departures. Prices from $75 pp.

Rock 'n' River Whitewater Rafting
203 Puanga Street, R.D. 1, Tokaanu , Southern Lake Taupo
Welcome to a beautiful retreat of wilderness Whitewater Rafting. Close to the Tongariro River, Rock 'n' River Rafting (est. 1991) is based in the historical thermal village of Tokaanu, New Zealand. Nestled on the shores of Southern Lake Taupo, and the northern slopes of the World Heritage Tongariro National Park.Rock 'n' River's beautiful location is off the beaten tourist track, and though we are becoming more well known, we still have that perfect recipe of fun, and love what we do. If you are travelling this land and want to discover volcanic and mountain fed rivers, friendly Maori/Kiwi Hospitality, and you have a sense of adventure, then join us to raft the rivers of the Central North Island.

Rapid Sensations
Taupo Region
Rapid Sensations offers whitewater rafting trips daily on the Tongariro River. In NZ, call 0800 22 RAFT (0800 22 7238)

Kaitikai Adventures
56 Puriri Street, Hawera
Taranaki’s Adventure Icon for the past five years…Dam dropping over a 30 ft spillway on a white water sledge. A three hour exciting water experience, also a magical, enlighting story around the Okahutiti pa and birthplace of Parihaka prophet
Tohu Kakahi.

River Valley Ventures Ltd.
Wanganui Region
River Valley, the home of great grade 5 whitewater and grade 2 scenic rafting.

New Zealand Adventure Specialists Limited
Wellington Region
Whitewater rafting tours; including custom wilderness experiences. Our guides are qualified professionals.

Southern Wilderness
67 George Street, Blenheim
Experience the thrill of white water rafting or the wonder of multi-day rafting expeditions through some of New Zealand's most spectacular river scenery with Southern Wilderness New Zealand.

Rapid River Rafting
Nelson Region
A variety of great rafting trips on New Zealands West Coast.

Action In Marlborough Ltd
Marlborough Region
Day rafting trips on the Buller/Gowan, Buller Gorge and Karamea plus multi-day Clarence River rafting/camping trips.

Backcountry Concepts Ltd
Canterbury Region
Raft Based Fly Fishing

Hidden Valleys (NZ) Ltd.
Canterbury Region
Experience the adventure of a lifetime and the real beauty of New Zealand with a personalised Hidden Valleys tour that takes you off the beaten tourist track to explore rivers, valleys, mountains, and rare wilderness you can otherwise only imagine

Thrillseekers Canyon
Canterbury Region
The spectacular Waiau Gorge provides the perfect backdrop for a gentle glide or action plus.

Ultimate Descents
51 Fairfax St, Murchison
Not only do they contain some of the most exciting, remote and scenic rivers in the country, but also their proximity to the mountains of the Southern Alps means they have water - and plenty of it all year round.
We offer New Zealand‘s largest range of river trips and cater for all levels of adventure.

Buller Adventure Tours
West Coast Region
From our adventure centre in the Buller Gorge, we provide premier quality whitewater rafting trips on various West Coast rivers.

Wild West Adventure Company
8 Whall Street, Greymouth
A Fire-to-Ice White water Heli-rafting adventue among the glaciers & spas of the Southern Alps.

Frogz Have More Fun
Wanaka Region
White water sledging is the ultimate river experience. Originaly from France "hydrospeed" the Kawarau River is ideal for an unforgetable
trip.

Challenge Rafting
Queenstown Region
Challenge Rafting provides a professional and exciting white water rafting adventure with a variety of trips on the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers, in stunning Queenstown.

Extreme Green Rafting
>Queenstown Region
Rafting on the Shotover & Kawarau Rivers. Best safety & service, offered by Queenstowns longest established year round rafting operator.

Queenstown Combos
Queenstown Region
Our combos combine all the thrills and excitement that Queenstown has to offer, from bungy jumping to white water rafting, jetboating and helicopter flights.

Queenstown Rafting
Queenstown Region
Rafting on the Kawarau & Shotover Rivers, Queenstown Rafting is New Zealand's leader in the white water rafting industry.

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