Kaituna Cascades - Grade 5 Wairoa River near Tauranga
Overview
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5 hours
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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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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.
What‘s Included
Wetsuits, Booties, Fleece Tops & Splash Jackets
Photos
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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.
Reviews
457 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
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!
A MUST do adventure!
Tahna P,Mar 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an AWESOME experience. The whole team is absolutely amazing, felt completely safe at all times. They don’t make you feel pressured at all. An unforgettable adventure for sure. Hoping Pete will get Malcolm our incredible guide a beer. As well as Cole, Jasper, Ollie, Eden, and Jared. Cheers!
Really great !!!
Discover08494174189,Mar 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Shout out to PABLO for the amazing job to give us (NON-SWIMMER) to experience such a thing like this . Had a really great ride !! Once again thank you Pablo.
Non-stop fun and excitement!!
Departure03872129544,Mar 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Best rafting trip ever, I would definitely do this again! Kaituna Cascades staff was great and our guide Ollie was the perfect balance of skill and fun! If you have any inclination to go rafting, do not miss this opportunity!!
Thrills and adventure.Our guide, Jared gave excellent instruction and made us feel safe.
Liz G,Mar 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Full of thrills and excitement.
Fabulous day out
suesK6616UC,Mar 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an absolutely fantastic experience. We found it exhilarating. Guide Louis was brilliant and put everyone at ease. Thoroughly recommend
Kaituna Cascades - WWR must doA
S5766WWcraigm,Feb 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00How good was that? A must do in Rotorua. Jasper took us to the edge and over. And somehow we came back!
From NZ$190.00
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