Kaituna Cascades - Grade 5 Wairoa River near Tauranga
Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
Take on the mighty Wairoa River in an adrenaline pumping rafting expedition you'll never forget! The Grade 5 Wairoa River near Tauranga is renowned for having some of the best white water action in New Zealand.
Kaituna Cascades run the whole section of the river including the bottom three rapids and the lower waterfall!
Hold on for dear life as you tackle 'Mothers Nightmare' which has a technical grade 4+ rock garden ending in a sweet 2 meter waterfall.
Experience the thrill of 'The Rollercoaster' - a long bouncing staircase of awesome whitewater that will get a giggle out of the hardest of souls!
Feel the rush of 'The Waterfall' which has an awesome 3 meter drop into a churning pool of white water and then kick back and enjoy the next 4km's of fun grade 3/4 rapids and waterfalls all the way through the Wairoa Rivers boulder-strewn rock canyon - ending with a sweet 5 meter cliff jump for those that want to send it.
Get amongst the action !
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
Must be 13+ years old up to 65 years of age
MUST be under 120kgs
No expectant mothers
Must be able to swim
What To Expect
• Duration: 1.5 - 2 hours on Class 5 White Water • Availability: 26 days Sundays per year available over summer • Times: One trip per day at 9.30am • Transport: Self drive is recommended or Free transport from Rotorua can be provided. We will pick you up from your accommodation at 8:30am in Rotorua, and you will return by 2pm. • What to bring: Sense of adventure, swimwear & a towel. • What we provide: Custom built rafts, wetsuits, helmets, lifejackets, paddles, fleece tops, wetsuit booties and splash jackets. • Location: The river is located just outside Tauranga at - 1376 State Highway 29, 20 minutes drive from Tauranga or 1 hour drive from Rotorua. • Conditions: 13 - 65 years of age • Also please note – This is an exciting GRADE 5 RAFTING EXPERIENCE and is NOT SUITED FOR OLDER OR BIGGER PEOPLE, or people that aren’t comfortable in the water. We have a weight limit of 120 kgs.
Options
9:30am Wairoa Rafting Trip
Some of New Zealand's finest whitewater rapids like the 'Rollercoaster' 'Mothers Nightmare' and the 'Waterfall' provide big drops as the river cascades through a boulder-strewn rock canyon.
What‘s Included
Wetsuits, Booties, Fleece Tops & Splash Jackets
Photos
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
463 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Must read before you go
Companion00362384384,Jun 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.005⭐️ rafting experience! Malcom was an absolute legend—part rafting guide, part comedian! 😂 He kept us laughing while making sure we didn’t end up swimming home. Big thanks to Dan as well for all the support and good vibes. Awesome crew, awesome adventure. Highly recommend! 🚣🌊
A Must-Do Experience in New Zealand!
lauracG1512OT,Jun 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An unforgettable experience full of adrenaline and fun! The team was incredibly professional, organised and reassuring, making us feel safe and confident throughout the entire adventure. We were able to fully enjoy the experience knowing we were in great hands. Highly recommended! 🌊🚣♀️✨
A must do!!
michellehG8128QH,May 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Everything you would want it to be. Awesome fun. Really friendly staff. A must do.
Come to raft the waterfall, stay for the witty banter
Roam47419762945,Apr 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing time and our guide Jasper was great and added some hilarious commentary. One of the best rivers and waterfalls to raft.
WOW!!
SimmsCove2,Apr 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00WOW! From reluctant and anxious to wishing to go again..what a rush!! As a 73 year old with relatively good fitness I was amazed by the experience and the professionalism of Malcolm and rest of the team!!! Rapids swim a bit wild!! Stunning natural beauty, crystal clear water...wonderful NZ 😍 Many thanks 😊 🙏
Awesome rafting trip
suerpalmer,Apr 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Such an amazing trip. Out guide Malcom was gr8. Knowledgeable and entertaining, he made this epic adventure so much fun. All the crew were gr8 and we lovely the waterfalls. Even managed to stay in the raft....just!
The best Experience
allisonmW5927BE,Apr 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The rafting was absolutely amazing!!! Was the our favorite adventure in the North Island. Would highly recommend to anyone traveling to New Zealand
Thrilling, Safe, and Seriously Fun — An Unforgettable Rafting Experience with Cole!
Kristin S,Apr 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely incredible experience! Cole took my wife and me out with a small group for white water rafting, and it couldn’t have been better. He was the perfect mix of hilarious and highly skilled — we felt completely safe the entire time, even going over a massive waterfall (and yes, we stayed upright!). What really stood out was how well he prepared us. He gave clear, confident instructions on what to do if we flipped (not a guarantee, of course), which made me feel a lot more comfortable. I’m pretty risk-averse, and this was exactly the right level of adventure for me — exciting without feeling reckless. The gear was also top-notch — the wetsuits and fleece layers kept us warm and comfortable the whole time. If you’re looking to dial it up a bit, there’s definitely room for that too — my wife actually ended up swimming a rapid, which added to the fun and adventure! All around, an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend!
A lifetime experience
gittyy2026,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was such an amazing experience. If I could I would do it over and over again, the guide was amazing and we felt safe and comfortable the whole time, exciting! Highly recommend...an experience of a lifetime...
Great adrenaline fuelled experience!
L201UJalext,Mar 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing experience with some big waterfalls! Our boat lead Dan did a great job at instructing and making the experience great!
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Operated by Kaituna Cascades