Kaituna Cascades - Original White Water Rafting Experience in New Zealand
5.0
915 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 rafters dream
  • a 50 minute action packed ride down 11 epic rapids, 3 wild waterfalls
  • One of which is the highest rafted waterfall in the world at 7 meters. All of this 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 which you can view many rapids of the Kaituna River & there is even an amazing caf around the corner.
This makes for a great half day trip out to this stunning region of Rotorua.

What's Included
    • Custom built rafts, wetsuits, helmets, lifejackets, paddles, fleece tops, wetsuit booties, and splash jackets
    • Local, professional & highly trained guides
What's Not Included
  • Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
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
Big Red & Yellow Rafting base right beside the Kaituna River WE DO NOT DO PICK UPS FROM THE PORT OR FOR THE CRUISE SHIPS IN TAURANGA
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(915 Ratings)
5 stars
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Ethan
Jun 19, 2024
Loved it - Staff very friendly, informative and helpful. Made sure everyone felt safe and was having fun. Would highly recommend. 10/10
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Douglas_d
Jun 13, 2024
A must do if you are visiting the North Island of New Zealand! - This is one of the best things we did on our 6 week vacation to Australia and New Zealand! The 23 foot waterfall drop is incredible and the rest of the class 5 river is also amazing. The staff are very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The pictures from this trip were also amazing, well worth the additional money.
Review provided by Viator
Curiosity40908112930
Jun 11, 2024
Winter Holiday Highlight. - Family of 4. Children aged 13 and 10. Bal, our guide was awesome in explaining the risks and preparing us, we all felt in very good hands. Lots of fun and suspense. Our 10yo daughter was able to watch us go down the larger rapid with Blue, and then hop back in the raft. We all swam down a rapid at the end, another highlight for all. So much fun and never even felt the winter chill. Will be looking for more rafting adventures.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Trail613213
Jun 10, 2024
Incredible rapids and waterfalls - Our guide, Ollie, was awesome! We had so much fun going down the waterfalls and rapids. The trip was enjoyable and I would recommend it to everyone.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jamierc9329ik
Jun 2, 2024
A definite must do - This was awesome. Guide Ollie was phenomenal, I’d ask for him specifically again. I haven’t rafted in years and these guys really did a great job. A must do if you’re in the area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Flippadog
Jun 1, 2024
Give winter rafting a go - Absolutely fantastic 👏 highly recommended for older children and adults . Start of winter so we expected to be shivering cold, but were pleasantly surprised, with the adrenaline and awesome gear they provided it is not too bad at all. Multiple chances to jump in for swims also to wake up. The guide was fantastic also, very thorough and clear with instructions. We all felt very safe knowing what to do just incase. Overall very very happy with our rafting experience 😀
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Charlieth8542ps
May 28, 2024
Kaituna White Water Rafting - Kātahi nā te haerenga mīharo! Our group had the best trip. Exhilarating, blood pumping, exciting trip down the Kaituna with work collegues. Excellent guide too. Totally recommend taking the plunge. I did the trip years ago but today the water level being higher and quicker was totally awesome.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeremygj3407pj
May 23, 2024
Do it!!!!! - Our trip down the Kaituna River did not disappoint. The river is beautiful, the guides are great and I highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roving51874619095
May 23, 2024
Amazing - Ethan, Bal and the whole team were awesome, very professional guys. Everything safe and clear. Wonderful experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lucy
May 19, 2024
Couldn’t have been better - Awesome experience. Brilliantly run, fun and safe. The water was heavenly, equipment was outstanding quality and we were warm and comfy. Highly recommend going head first down the rapids- coolest thing I’ve ever done. Special thanks to Pete (Dante)!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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June 2024
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