New Zealand · WHITE WATER RAFTING

The 15 Best White Water Rafting Trips in New Zealand

32 tours  ·  from $49

The Kaituna drops seven metres over a waterfall, which is the highest commercially rafted fall anywhere. These 15 compare rivers by grade, trip length and price, with a note on minimum ages.

Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River White Water Rafting & Free Sauna - The first rapids help you find your rhythm
Rotorua Tours, Tour Reviews, White Water Rafting, White Water Rafting in Rotorua

Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River White Water Rafting & Free Sauna

1.Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River White Water Rafting & Free Sauna

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,952 reviews · from $83Our pick

Take on the Kaituna River near Rotorua with a professional guide, full rafting equipment, and no previous experience required. The roughly 2.5-hour trip includes easy rapids, three waterfalls, and the famous 7-metre drop at Tutea Falls. Finish with a warm shower and free sauna. Children aged 10 to 12 join the half-river option.

“It is an intense but very fun experience. The pictures are true to life. We are in our 60’s and not very fit and we did fine.”

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Waitomo Caves: Labyrinth Black Water Rafting Experience - Checking in outside Waitomo village
Glowworm Cave Tours, Tour Reviews, Waitomo Tours, White Water Rafting

Waitomo Caves: Labyrinth Black Water Rafting Experience

2.Waitomo Caves: Labyrinth Black Water Rafting Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,673 reviews · 3 hours · from $115

Explore Ruakuri Cave with trained guides such as Evie, Molly, G, and Stacey, scrambling through limestone passages, jumping small waterfalls, and floating beneath glowworms. The 3-hour tour costs $115, includes wetsuits, boots, helmets, tubing, showers, and snacks, and suits active visitors aged 12 and over who weigh at least 45 kilograms.

“This was an incredible Indiana-Jones style adventure. Deep caverns, rushing water, going off waterfalls, and floating through the dark with an incredible ceiling of glow worms. It was more than we expected. Our guides were fantastic and attentive to everyone's needs/fears. Well done! Highly recommended.”

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White Water Rafting - Kaituna Cascades, The Originals - Stop 1: Kaituna Cascades and the scenic reserve
Rotorua Tours, Tour Reviews, White Water Rafting, White Water Rafting in Rotorua

White Water Rafting – Kaituna Cascades, The Originals

3.White Water Rafting – Kaituna Cascades, The Originals

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,274 reviews · from $83

Meet your guides at Okere Falls for a two-hour Kaituna River rafting trip with 11 rapids and three waterfalls, including 23-foot Tutea Falls, the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. Guides such as Malcolm, Flynn, Mel, and Hamish are known for clear safety briefings and good humor. No rafting experience is required, but you must be fit, comfortable in water, and under 120 kilograms.

“Our FAVORITE excursion on our New Zealand Cruise. Malcom - our guide - AMAZING. Two in our group were VERY nervous because of the falls. However, did an amazing job on the safety briefing - with humor - that helped them relax. TRead more”

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Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River White Water Experience - From Rotorua pickup to the Kahikatea forest base
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Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River White Water Experience

4.Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River White Water Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 840 reviews · from $49Best value

Join Kaitiaki Adventures for a 2.5-hour Kaituna River rafting trip from Rotorua. Expert guides such as Jack, Ben, Kyle, and Erin lead first-timers through 14 rapids and three waterfalls, including 7-meter Tutea Falls. Gear, safety training, and central hotel pickup are included, with photos available afterward.

“We had the best time. Picked up from our hotel by Jack, then guided down the river by him. He was such great fun, clear on instructions and mad sure we learnt about the culture and had a great time. Would do it again in a heartbeat.”

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Rafting Rotorua Kaituna White Water Rafting | Kaitiaki Adventures - From central Rotorua to the Kahikitea Forest
Rotorua Tours, Tour Reviews, White Water Rafting, White Water Rafting in Rotorua

Rafting Rotorua Kaituna White Water Rafting | Kaitiaki Adventures

5.Rafting Rotorua Kaituna White Water Rafting | Kaitiaki Adventures

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 759 reviews · from $83

Join Kaitiaki Adventures for a guided Kaituna River rafting trip near Rotorua. After a safety briefing and gear fitting, you’ll paddle through native forest, more than 14 rapids, and the famous 7-metre Tutea Falls. Hotel transfers, wetsuit, helmet, booties, life vest, and a professional guide are included. Allow about 3.5 hours overall.

“The staff was incredibly helpful, comforting and competent. We'd do it again, today (same day) if we could! Highly recommended! @Curtis was amazing as were his compadres 😉. Worth noting, their photographer is actually great and the photos an absolute necessity. Advised to take a 260 cam video (chest mount only allowed). I left mine sadly but the float and river is unreal beautiful!!”

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Kaituna River White Water Rafting from Rotorua - Starting at River Rats in Rotorua
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Kaituna River White Water Rafting from Rotorua

6.Kaituna River White Water Rafting from Rotorua

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 388 reviews · from $84

Join River Rats for a three-hour Kaituna River rafting trip from Rotorua. After a 15 to 20-minute safety lesson, you’ll paddle through fern-lined gorges and 14 rapids, ending with a 7-meter drop over Tutea Falls, the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall. Guides including Zack, Dave, Amy, and Neville have earned strong praise for safety and fun.

“The gang at the "River Rats" (Cam, Pete, Jen, "Colorado" ) did an amazing job preparing us for our rafting experience. Highly recommend this activity! One of the most beautiful rivers and exhilarating activities I have ever done. We are first tiRead more”

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Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour - Black Labyrinth or Black Abyss?
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Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour

7.Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 362 reviews · from $119

At Ruakuri Cave, choose the 3-hour Black Labyrinth or 5-hour Black Abyss. Guides such as Lachie, Ricco, Sammy, Leo, and Liv lead you through cold water, tight passages, glowworm-lit chambers, and, on the longer tour, abseiling and ziplining. Wetsuits, boots, helmets, snacks, and hot showers are provided.

“If you have the phobias listed on the discription, do not attend! Other than that it was amazing! Had a nice and adventurous crew and our guides were more than fun!”

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Family Adventures Rafting and Sightseeing Trip in Queenstown - The rough and scenic road into Skippers Canyon
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Family Adventures Rafting and Sightseeing Trip in Queenstown

8.Family Adventures Rafting and Sightseeing Trip in Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 339 reviews · from $185

Meet at Marmolada Cafe for a five-hour bus-and-raft trip into Skippers Canyon. Guides such as Georgia, Josh, Mark, Holly, Luke, Simon, and Claudia lead you through easy Shotover River rapids, with safety gear, snacks, cliff jumps, and swimming opportunities. It suits children from age three and requires no water confidence.

“our boys 3 and 4 loved the experience. We had such a great time. I was worried about the coldness but it was great with the wetsuits. Definatly highly recommend doing this with small kids.”

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Kaituna River and Tutea Falls Whitewater Rafting - The safety lesson is part of the adventure
Rotorua Tours, Tour Reviews, Waterfall Tours, White Water Rafting, White Water Rafting in Rotorua

Kaituna River and Tutea Falls Whitewater Rafting

9.Kaituna River and Tutea Falls Whitewater Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 324 reviews · 2 hours · from $80

Join Kaituna Cascades Rafting 20 minutes from Rotorua for a two-hour Grade 5 adventure. After safety training, you’ll paddle 14 rapids and drop over 7-meter Tutea Falls, the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall. Guides such as Malcolm, Josh, Alex, and Bal are known for calm instruction and good humor. Winter gear is supplied.

“Malcolm was the best and it was soooo awesome! A must do”

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Queenstown Shotover River White Water Rafting - From Queenstown to the Rafting Base
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Queenstown Shotover River White Water Rafting

10.Queenstown Shotover River White Water Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 309 reviews · from $154

Ride from Queenstown to Deep Creek along Skippers Canyon Road, then paddle the Shotover River through grade 3 to 5 rapids, including After Shock, Jaws, Toilet, Sequel, and the 170-metre Oxenbridge Tunnel. Guides such as Morgan, Benji, Jess, Guy, Harry, and Erin lead the rafting, with gear, photos, transport, and hot showers included.

“All the rafting guides were friendly and helpful which made our rafting experience loads of fun. Definitely recommend them.”

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Rotorua: Kaituna River Rafting Experience - Arriving at the Rotorua Rafting Base
Rotorua Tours, Tour Reviews, White Water Rafting, White Water Rafting in Rotorua

Rotorua: Kaituna River Rafting Experience

11.Kaituna River Rafting Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 295 reviews · from $59

Spend two hours rafting the Kaituna River near Rotorua, tackling 14 rapids and three waterfalls with an experienced guide such as Peach, Josh, or Nathan. You get a wetsuit, booties, helmet, life jacket, and full instruction. Expect swimming, jumps, river surfing, and the famous 7-meter Tutea Falls drop.

“Great experience! It was first time rafting for us and you do feel safe with the experienced and skilled guides!”

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Queenstown: Shotover River Whitewater Rafting Adventure - The Skippers Canyon coach ride is no mere transfer
Queenstown Tours, Tour Reviews, White Water Rafting, White Water Rafting in Queenstown

Queenstown: Shotover River Whitewater Rafting Adventure

12.Shotover River Whitewater Rafting Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 234 reviews · from $175

Travel by coach through cliff-hugging Skippers Canyon, suit up at the rafting base, then paddle 16 kilometers of the Shotover River. Expect calm stretches, grade 3 to 5 rapids, the 550-foot Oxenbridge Tunnel, and Cascade Rapid. Guides such as Jess, Morgan, and Benji are praised for clear instruction and calm safety leadership. Hot showers and digital photos are included.

“My daughter and I had an excellent morning white water rafting. The whole event was very professionally organised and safety was always a priority. Our guide was very confident and communicated extremely well, which I now realise is of paramount importance for this activity. I can thoroughly recommend this, I will now be looking to go white water rafting again and hope for a similarly great experience ! Thank you.”

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Shore Excursion: Scenic Rafting from Napier - What class II rafting feels like here
Hawkes Bay Tours, Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions in Hawkes Bay, Tour Reviews, Tours, White Water Rafting

Shore Excursion: Scenic Rafting from Napier

13.Shore Excursion: Scenic Rafting from Napier

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 179 reviews · from $139

Raft the Mohaka River from Napier on gentle class II rapids with guides such as Deon, Mike, Dallas, or Lottie. Expect a one-hour drive, about two hours on the river, local Maori and regional history, supplied rafting gear, optional swimming, photos, and a homemade light lunch.

“a great experience, rapids are quite tam, only grade 2. Still good fun. Jen our guide was alot of fun and awesome. The family had a great time. Deon was great with communication, especially as we were on cruise ship, which arrived late. Definately recommend.”

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The Hobbit Barrel Run Rafting Tour on the Pelorus River - On the Pelorus River: paddling rather than passive sightseeing
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The Hobbit Barrel Run Rafting Tour on the Pelorus River

14.The Hobbit Barrel Run Rafting Tour on the Pelorus River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 167 reviews · from $133

Join Pelorus Eco Adventures for a guided rafting trip on New Zealand’s Pelorus River. After gearing up in a wetsuit, paddle toward locations used in The Desolation of Smaug, hear about local milling and mining, and return to Havelock by included transport. Jade is one guide named in the tour feedback.

“We had a great time kayaking! Jade was a wonderful guide. There is a shower and hair dryer available if you decide to swim. I would definitely recommend!”

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Queenstown Kawarau River Rafting and Jet Boat - The jet boat adds speed before the paddling begins
Boat Tours in Queenstown, Cruises & Boat Tours, Jet Boat Tours, Jet Boat Tours in Queenstown, Queenstown Tours, Tour Reviews, White Water Rafting, White Water Rafting in Queenstown

Queenstown Kawarau River Rafting and Jet Boat

15.Queenstown Kawarau River Rafting and Jet Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 158 reviews · from $197

Pair a fast jet boat ride with a guided Kawarau River rafting trip. You’ll race through canyon country, paddle grade 2 to 3 rapids, swim in the river, and choose an optional cliff jump. Guides such as Gabe, Matt, Mark, and Danny have helped make this a friendly, well-run half-day adventure for families and first-time rafters.

“What a great day!! The guides were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and fun. We started with an amazing jet boat ride on the river and then fun white water rafting. Everyone on staff was super helpful and friendly”

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New in White Water Rafting

★ 5.0Black Labyrinth: Black Water Rafting – Private Tour from AucklandFrom $7138 reviews
★ 5.0Thrilling Riverbug Adventure on the Rangitāiki RiverFrom $1184 reviews
★ 4.8Te Awa Kairangi Grade 2 Scenic Rafting TourFrom $8910 reviews
★ 4.5Kaituna Rafting & Mt. Tarawera Guided Hike ComboFrom $20011 reviews
★ 4.7Rangitaiki Rafting Grade 3-4From $11716 reviews
★ 4.8Rangitaiki Rafting Grade 2From $1176 reviews
★ 4.6White Water Surfing Along the Kawarau RiverFrom $16430 reviews
★ 5.0Shotover River Rafting & Skippers Canyon TourFrom $1785 reviews
★ 4.8Kawarau River Whitewater RaftingFrom $14018 reviews
★ 5.0Hanmer Springs Rafting and Quad Bike comboFrom $19814 reviews
★ 4.3Waiau Gorge Rafting TourFrom $9924 reviews

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