White Water Rafting - Kaituna Cascades, The Originals
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Kaituna Cascades was the original company to explore and start rafting the Kaituna River, and is still locally owned and operated by two current raft guides - so you know you'll be in great hands!!
No where in the world can you raft down such a beautiful river that drops into a vertical walled canyon filled with raftable waterfalls and countless playful rapids. The water is deep and warm (most of the year) and is usually a highlight of peoples visit to NZ. All of our guides are handpicked, highly skilled professionals that come from an extreme whitewater background in Kayaking and Rafting. We will give you the safest and most entertaining trip on the river!
This is also most definitely the best value for money rafting in NZ too.
Our aim is have FUN, So come join us for this EPIC once in a lifetime experience.
Cheers & see you on the river - Pete & Blue
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
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! This is an exciting GRADE 5 RAFTING EXPERIENCE. We have a weight limit of 120 kgs and minimum age of 13yrs old - up to 65 years of age 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. The native scenic reserve has a beautiful walking trail which you can view many rapids of the Kaituna River & there is even an amazing café around the corner. This makes for a great half day trip out to this stunning region of Rotorua. 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
Local, professional & highly trained guides
Custom built rafts, wetsuits, helmets, lifejackets, paddles, fleece tops, wetsuit booties, and splash jackets
Digital photos (Available to purchase)
Glasses Strap $5
Rent a Towel $5
Go Pro Harness Hire $5
Other Souvenirs (T-shirt etc)
Options
Rotorua White Water Rafting on the Kaituna River
Option 1: Ever wanted to Raft a 7m waterfall? Join the original Kaituna Rafting Company for an unbeatable grade 5 white-water experience on one of New Zealand's most exciting and beautiful rivers!
Reviews
1,310 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
The Best Day Out!!
D8134VXlindah,Mar 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We have been going for the past few years with our Year 12 school group - travelling over from Raglan for the day. Each time we have had consistently amazing service and the students (and teachers) have all been taken out of their comfort zones and buzzed about their experience for days after. The crew is so capable and the health and safety protocol is very strong! I totally recommend this to other schools and groups - It is the BEST day out by far!!!!
100% Must Do Experience!
Crazy Traveling Farm,Mar 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing experience! 100% recommend it was a proper laugh, even though we did go for a dip! Our guide Cole was epic, gave us lots of instructions and made it fun. The atmosphere was buzzing and it wasn't over crowed.
Definitely a “MUST DO” in Rotorua!!
Escape54181094690,Mar 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Five stars! The rafting was epic, the scenery was unreal, and Josh was the perfect guide to bring it all together. He kept us laughing, feeling safe, and fully soaking in the beauty around us. Awesome experience.
Amazing!
324vanyam,Feb 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Incredible! Highly recommend. Jasper was fantastic- charismatic, knowledgeable, great sense of humour and really encouraging. So much fun!
Wet and wild and totally amazing
Chrissy M,Feb 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It’s wet and wild - wetsuits are supplied and we didn’t get cold - the instructions and training are amazing - incredible fun and action
Awesome!!! had the...
martin s,Feb 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00AWESOME!!! Had the greatest time with friends and our guide (Malcolm) was the best! The rapids were fast and furiuos, we had the greatest time!
Great guides
Timothy k,Feb 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This is a great 5 star trip and the guides are very well trained, our guide Malcolm was very professional and very helpful getting us back in the boat.
An amazing and thrilling experience
KerryAllisonH,Feb 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely amazing experience which I would highly recommend!! Our instructor Jarred was fun and reassuring, giving clear instructions throughout the activity which built confidence, as I was pretty nervous at the start. It was sheer exhilaration from start to finish, I loved it!
Malcolm is the man!
E1539GGmargareto,Feb 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a fantastic experience today! We are a bit of a varied age group from the US and we all loved it. Kaituna Cascades company was a true believer in safety first, but at the same time allowed our free spirits and quests for adventure ride. Malcolm was an excellent guide and we couldn’t be more complimentary of how he ran our raft with fun, appreciation of the forest, and sincere friendliness. T’was truly our topper for a great holiday in New Zealand!
Amazing rafting trip. Super fun!
88NVcatherineb,Feb 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a super fun rafting trip! It’s pretty high energy and high adventure and not very long, just a little over an hour. The guides are super fun. You go down some big rapids and small rapids and a waterfall which was quite crazy. One of the four boats with us did flip and shoot its passengers out. That was quite the adventure. The water was much warmer than I expected it to be. The guides were super fun and do some unusual activities like having you ride one rapid standing up and letting you swim down one rapid. It was crazy. You definitely don’t get to do this kind of stuff in the US! Make sure you are healthy and not afraid to get wet and you will have a blast!
From NZ$135.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
Related Experiences
Operated by Kaituna Cascades