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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Wetsuits, Booties, Fleece Tops & Splash Jackets
Photos
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.
Reviews
411 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Perfect in every way!
U2575ZRdennisb,
Nov 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00These folks went above and beyond our expectations. First, when we pulled into the parking area with a flat tire, the crew changed the tire for us! Nicest people ever. Next, getting us geared up with wet suit, thermal top, boots and helmet went flawlessly. Pre trip instruction on dos and don'ts was very well explained and all questions were clearly answered. Ride itself was terrific fun. Felt we were in very competent hands. Would absolutely do it again and strongly recommend you give them a try.
Outstanding Guides, Breathtaking Adventure!
L1565RJmikeh,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely amazing – I would definitely book with THIS company again - because of the GUIDES! I’ve done several rafting tours before, including some in Austria, but none have ever felt as good as this one. The difference here is 100% the tour guides. From the very beginning, we did a dry training session on land where they explained everything clearly — how to sit, paddle, react, and stay safe. I always felt completely confident and well-prepared. The guides managed to combine absolute professionalism with so much fun, humor, and positive energy. The canyon scenery is breathtaking, the 7-meter waterfall is unforgettable, and the whole tour felt safe, exciting, and incredibly well organized. You can tell these guides truly love what they do — and that makes all the difference. At the end, you can even buy photos that perfectly capture this spectacular adventure — a great way to remember an experience that truly deserves more than 5 stars!
Kaituna River Adventure
Inspire04146405151,
Nov 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had such a fun time on the Kaituna River. Everything (except the swim test) was a blast. Josh was an excellent guide and made the experience great. Felt safe and was able to go out of my comfort zone to do the 7 m drop!!
Great fun!!
bhenriksen56,
Oct 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience all around ! Bal was an awesome guide and kept us safe with a ton of fun!! Recommend for everyone!! We were nervous at first but totally worth it!! Would do it again in a heartbeat!
White water rafting
gr0driguez2018,
Oct 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a wonderful time today with Josh as our guide. Super fun, and highly recommended, even in the rain! We felt very safe and had a thrilling time. This has been the best activity we have done thus far in New Zealand! Great company, great guides. Jasper did a beautiful job with the photos as well. Cheers!
First timer
MargJB25,
Oct 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely loved it!!!Thanks Bal and the team for an amazing experience. Don’t over think it - book it, do it, no regrets!
Cool, Calm, and Absolutely Hilarious Rafting with Bal
Stay13807800813,
Oct 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00From start to finish this trip was an absolute highlight of our time in Rotorua. Bal was our guide and he nailed the balance of being calm, reassuring, and totally in control while also keeping the whole group laughing the entire way. Even at the big drops we felt safe, and his relaxed vibe made it easy to just enjoy the ride. The whole Kaituna Cascades team were welcoming and professional, and the river itself is stunning
Best Rafting on the Kaituna
jessevR1258ZC,
Oct 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a blast on this tour! Our guide Josh was very experienced and ensured our safety while also ensuring everyone had a good time. Would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a couple hours of action packed fun!
Rafting
Wanderer63450943507,
Sep 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Awesome, such a good experience. Did it during winter wasn’t cold with all the layers they give you. Josh was a great tour guide!!
Amazing
Departure59129006004,
Aug 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We went with Whakatāne high school, and had the best time ever will recommend 1000 times and will definitely make my parents to take me again, we had Josh as a guide and was the best made our experience so fun, all the staff was amazing, really helpful and super funny, best time ever!
From NZ$190.00
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Operated by Kaituna Cascades