On the Kaituna River near Okere Falls, commercial rafts go over a 7 m waterfall. Tutea Falls is billed as the highest commercially rafted drop in the world, and the whole grade 5 run takes under an hour, 20 minutes from Rotorua. It sums up New Zealand rafting: short, steep, well organised and cold.
The South Island has the big canyons. From Queenstown, rafts run the Shotover through gold-mining country in Skippers Canyon and finish by shooting a 170 m tunnel blasted through a rock bluff by miners. Inland from Christchurch, the Rangitata gorge is a full grade 5 day, and the West Coast and Murchison rivers add multi-day trips and helicopter drop-offs.
For something gentler, the Whanganui River in Whanganui National Park is a Great Walk done by canoe: three to five days of flat water and small rapids between hut and campsite. Most commercial trips cost about NZ$100 to NZ$320 (about 60 to 180 USD), with wetsuits, helmets and transport included.
At a Glance#
- Biggest thrill: the Kaituna at Okere Falls near Rotorua, grade 5, with the 7 m Tutea Falls, rafted all year.
- Classic canyon: the Shotover from Queenstown, grade 3 to 5, through Skippers Canyon and the 170 m Oxenbridge Tunnel.
- Wildest day trip: the Rangitata gorge in Canterbury, grade 5, about two hours from Christchurch, September to May.
- Central North Island: the grade 3 Tongariro River near Taupō and the grade 5 Rangitikei near Taihape.
- Multi-day wilderness: the Motu on the East Cape, the Mohaka in Hawke’s Bay and helicopter-access rivers on the West Coast.
- Canoe journey: the Whanganui River through Whanganui National Park, the only Great Walk on water.
- Season: rafting runs all year on dam-fed and big rivers; spring snowmelt brings the biggest water in the south.
Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty#
The Kaituna drains Lake Rotoiti and drops through a narrow, bush-lined gorge at Okere Falls, 20 minutes north of Rotorua. The rafted section has around 14 rapids, but everyone comes for Tutea Falls, where guides line the raft up and the crew tucks down as it noses over the drop. Flow is controlled by the lake outlet, so the river runs all year and water is relatively warm by New Zealand standards. Several operators run it, with trips of about an hour on the water costing roughly NZ$100 to NZ$140. Many also offer sledging (riverboarding) and kayak descents of the same stretch.
Inland from Tauranga, the Wairoa River is a short, technical grade 5 run that only flows on scheduled dam-release days, so it fills up fast with local kayakers when it opens. Further east, the Motu River cuts through the roadless Raukumara Range on the East Cape. Commercial trips there take four or five days with camping on gravel bars, and run only when water levels allow, so book well ahead.
Taupō and the central North Island#
The Tongariro River at Tūrangi, at the south end of Lake Taupō, is the North Island’s family pick: grade 3 rapids through native bush, with trips of a few hours that run most of the year. It is also one of the country’s best-known trout rivers, so expect anglers on the banks.
The Rangitikei near Taihape is the opposite: grade 5 rapids through deep papa (mudstone) gorges, run by a small number of operators from their base above the river. Further north and east, the Mohaka in Hawke’s Bay has grade 2 to 4 day trips and multi-day runs with hot springs and river camps.
The Whanganui River journey#
The Whanganui Journey is New Zealand’s only Great Walk that is not a walk. Canoes or kayaks float 145 km from Taumarunui to Pipiriki in five days, or 87 km from Whakahoro in three, through Whanganui National Park. Rapids are mostly grade 1 and 2, so beginners manage with a briefing, and side walks lead to the Bridge to Nowhere, a concrete bridge stranded in the bush by a failed settlement. Hire companies in Taumarunui, Ōhakune and Whanganui supply canoes, barrels and transport. Huts and campsites must be booked through DOC in the Great Walks season; our hiking guide explains the booking system.
Queenstown#
Queenstown sells rafting the way it sells everything else: hotel pickups, glossy photos and trips most days of the year. The Shotover is the classic. The drive in through Skippers Canyon on a narrow, unsealed miners’ road is part of the trip, and the river has grade 3 to 5 rapids at normal flows before the finale through the 170 m Oxenbridge Tunnel and over Cascade Rapid. Trips take four to five hours in all, including the drive in, and cost about NZ$220 to NZ$320 depending on operator and season. Some combine it with a helicopter flight in.
The Kawarau, closer to town, is the gentler alternative at grade 2 to 3, often packaged with a jet boat or bungy. Both rivers are fed by snowmelt and run cold all year; operators supply thick wetsuits, booties and jackets.
Canterbury and the West Coast#
The Rangitata gorge, near Peel Forest in South Canterbury, is one of the hardest commercial runs in the country: grade 5 rapids in a narrow schist gorge, after a grade 2 warm-up for practice. It runs from about September to May, with day trips of about NZ$175 to NZ$215 from Rangitata or with transfers from Christchurch.
On the West Coast, the Buller River near Murchison has grade 2 to 4 day trips through beech forest and is easy to fit into a drive between Nelson and Westport. The Coast is also New Zealand’s heli-rafting country: rivers such as the Karamea and those south of Hokitika have no road access, so trips start with a helicopter flight into the headwaters, sometimes with a night camping in the bush.
Best places to raft in New Zealand#
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When to go and what it costs#
| River | Grade | Best months | Typical trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaituna, Rotorua | 5 | All year | About 1 hour on the water, NZ$100 to NZ$140 |
| Shotover, Queenstown | 3 to 5 | All year | Half day, NZ$220 to NZ$320 |
| Rangitata, Canterbury | 5 | September to May | Full day, NZ$175 to NZ$215 |
| Tongariro, Tūrangi | 3 | Most of the year | Half day |
| Whanganui Journey | 1 to 2 | October to April (Great Walk season) | 3 to 5 days by canoe |
Summer (December to March) has the warmest air and the busiest trips. Spring snowmelt from October to December pushes up flows on the southern rivers, and some trips change sections or cancel when levels are too high. Book a few days ahead in summer and school holidays, and check what is included: most prices cover wetsuit, helmet, life jacket and transport, but not photos. Our costs guide has wider budget figures.
Safety on New Zealand rivers#
Commercial rafting is regulated as an adventure activity, and operators must pass a safety audit to be registered, so choose one that is. Water is cold even in summer, and grade 5 rivers such as the Kaituna, Rangitata and Rangitikei involve real risk: listen to the briefing on swimming a rapid, keep your feet up and downstream, and tell the guide about any medical issues. Minimum ages and weights vary by river and are higher on grade 5 runs. Check that your travel insurance covers rafting.
Didymo and river hygiene
New Zealand rivers are at risk from didymo and other freshwater pests. If you bring your own kayak, wetsuit or boots, Check, Clean, Dry everything between rivers.
For more rafting in the region, see our Oceania rafting guide and the world’s best rafting rivers.
More Things to Do#
New Zealand rafting FAQs#
Where is the best whitewater rafting in New Zealand?
The Kaituna near Rotorua is the most famous run for its 7 m Tutea Falls. The Shotover from Queenstown is the classic canyon trip, and the Rangitata gorge in Canterbury has the most sustained grade 5 rapids.
Can beginners raft the Kaituna?
Yes. No experience is needed, though it is grade 5 and you must be able to swim and meet the operator’s minimum age. Guides steer, and the run is short, with about an hour on the water.
How much does rafting cost in New Zealand?
About NZ$100 to NZ$140 for the Kaituna, NZ$220 to NZ$320 for the Shotover and NZ$175 to NZ$215 for the Rangitata. Prices usually include wetsuits, helmets and transport.
Is the Shotover or the Kawarau better?
The Shotover has bigger rapids (grade 3 to 5), the Skippers Canyon drive and the tunnel finale. The Kawarau (grade 2 to 3) is shorter and calmer, which suits families and nervous first-timers.
Can you raft in New Zealand in winter?
Yes. The Kaituna, Shotover and Kawarau run all year, with thick wetsuits and jackets supplied. Some southern rivers, such as the Rangitata, close in the colder months.
What is the Whanganui Journey?
A Great Walk paddled by canoe or kayak down the Whanganui River, 87 km over three days or 145 km over five. The rapids are easy, but huts and campsites must be booked with DOC in season.