Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River White Water Rafting & Free Sauna

As I’m normally nervous around water it was a bit daunting for me but we were made to feel very comfortable with the staff fully explaining the safety precautions and the fun we were about to participate in . Our team of 6 plus Tom our guide went through the whole range of emotions of excitement, nerves, trepidation and laughter. It was fantastic!! I would have no hesitation in recommending this adventure to anyone. As we say “ Don’t regret what you do , regret what you don’t do “ So happy to have done this !!

What an incredible experience! We spent 2 weeks trying everything in the Rotorua area and this was our favorite experience! We had 3 kids in our group. You have to be 13 to ride down the large waterfalls so our 14 year old was able to do that. Then we have two eleven year olds that had to join the raft about halfway down the journey. Ruby took really good care of them and made sure they could see us going down the waterfall. Then our guide Jack helped them into the raft and we finished the rest of the journey. Everyone had an absolute blast. Jack was fun, knowledgeable and extremely competent. We felt very safe the entire time. One of my eleven year olds asked if we could come back the next day and he’s insistent we fly back out when he turns 13 so he can do the waterfall. I have several friends visiting the north island in the next year and I’ve told them all, if they only do one excursion, this is it!!

What an awesome experience, was pretty terrified to go on the white water rafting experience, but being something I’ve always wanted to do, decided that at 62 years age, it was now or never. Absolutely thrilling adventure & our guide Hyo Sam & his colleague (sorry can’t remember his name) were so good at giving instruction & making us feel we were in safe hands, did an excellent job.

A unique and incredible experience. A very professional team. I highly recommend this activity. Our guide, Raife, was absolutely fantastic! Safety is taken very seriously. If you're too scared to take the 7-metre drop, there's always an option to get out just beforehand, but nobody does!

This was SOOOO FUN!!! We loved the beauty, the adventure and the fun! Pete was a fabulous guide and just made it so fun! Don’t miss this while in New Zealand!

Probably the best thing I've ever done in my life!! Cant explain how sick it was! and a very reasonably priced aswell! We got a shuttle from rotarua centre to the base camp which was convenient, I think they will pick up from hotels aswell. Our raft guide was called Tor who was amazing, very informative, helpful, funny and a genuinely sick guy very much enjoyed meeting him and glad he led us!!

Had the best experience rafting with these guys! Our guide, Raife, brought such great energy, the river was an enjoyable temperature, and the rapids/waterfalls were incredible to go through. A must do for thrill seekers! The sauna afterwards, along with a cold pool, was the cherry on top for us. They made us feel safe and well taken care of. Would absolutely go with Rotorua Rafting again!

An Unforgettable White Water Rafting Experience! One of the best adventures I have ever experienced! We had an absolutely amazing time white water rafting with my wife and friends. The entire experience was thrilling, exciting and full of unforgettable moments. The guides were fantastic, very friendly, professional and supportive throughout the activity. Everyone made us feel comfortable and safe while ensuring we had an incredible adventure. The team’s energy and enthusiasm made the experience even more enjoyable. Highly recommend this activity to anyone visiting Rotorua. Definitely an experience worth trying, and we would love to do it again! Thank you to the entire team for making our day so memorable!

What a thrill! We had so much fun white-water rafting Grade 5 rapids, especially plunging down the incredible 7-metre waterfall! 🌊 Such a beautiful, picturesque setting surrounded by lush ferns, with professional guides who made the whole experience exciting, safe and full of fun. An unforgettable adventure! 🤩

What an absolutely fantastic experience we had with these guys. So professional but relaxed at the same time. The rafting is fun, exhilarating, beautiful and terrifying all in one - just do it!

Had an absolute blast on this rafting excursion led by our guide Tom with Luca as our safety kayaker. Tom and Luca gave us safety briefings before and during the activity so we felt prepared. Action packed activity which is a must do in Rotorua. You will not be disappointed!!!! Bonus were the photographs taken of us which we were able to purchase afterwards.

A great addition to our NZ adventures. I’m a first time rafter so was admittedly nervous. The RR team was very friendly and did a good job ensuring the trip was safe but also loads of FUN. Our group had people from all of the world! Shout out to our raft guide RAIFE for his superb rafting, guidance, wonderful enthusiasm and humor!

Awesome experience going down the river , guides were knowledgeable and fun. And one of the cheapest activities to do in Rotora. Had that much fun wish it went longer 😊oh and I have never been white water rafting before .

This is an experience of a lifetime! We had the best trip….what a beautiful place. Our guides Luca & Fletcher were masters at making us feel safe, yet had the best personalities to keep us laughing & having a blast. Highly recommend this company

It was my first time rafting so I was obv nervous, but was no reason, it's so much fun! From the beggining they help you suit up and drive you to the near lake with the group. They are clear with the instructions and dangers and soon enough you are rafting. Luca, our guide was very fun from start to finish and professional as well. Even in the water, his instructions and orders were clear and soon enough it's just about having a great time

Awesome float trip. Friendly and fun guides. Recommend this trip for those who want a thrilling experience.

This is a must do! Best experience ever! I’d do it again and again! Best guides ever! Thank you thank you

Awesome experience...just wish it could have gone on and on. "Beadle" was an excellent guide and very patient with those that had never rafted before and those that could not swim! Highly recommend! A+++

Just be honest to the guide and when answering the questions on the registration. Im 56 and LOVED it. From the moment we entered the building ALL STAFF were VERY welcoming and friendly, down to earth,fun,professional and clever at reading the raft.

My wife and I are in NZ for our honeymoon and this was a major highlight of our trip! We had an absolute blast and Luca helped us feel extremely educated and safe on the waters! Would highly recommend!

The experience was awesome! The guides were all excellent. They were very fun and knowledgeable. We felt very safe and care for throughout the entire experience.

Great experience. We loved it.

Shout out to our guide Jasper! This was a thrilling rafting trip, Jasper explained everything and our raft did not flip! He even let us ride down one water fall on our tummies! Visiting from the US and this was a highlight of our trip. The warm sauna afterwards was great! My husband and I loved it…and added their zip-lining tour for a couple days later. Great company!!

Our family did both the ziplining and rafting. Both were AMAZING! On the zip lines, Ruby and Ollie were fun and professional. We learned about plants, birds, and even got to make a token to be on a tree they plant (one for every participant). The rafting lived up to the hype and we all had a great time. Luca helped us feel safe throughout our journey and was really patient with my 78 year old grandpa who wanted to check this off his bucket list. This company is friendly, affordable, supportive of the community, environmentally conscious, and most importantly FUN!

Fun and exciting. I was really nervous but with some laughs my confidence grew. Defenitely worth it!

Amazing experience. A very professional company taking all safety precautions. Everything was well explained. They provided all gear to stay warm and safe. All the staff was really friendly and professional. We had Jesper from Denmark as a guide. He was super friendly and kept us entertained and engaged. It is a fun activity that requires people who can row and swim. Lots of adrenaline and fun. The sauna at the end was incredible. Uri was very good giving the safety briefing. Milly took amazing pictures and drove us back. Gerardo, the new kayak guy from Mexico was also excellent. All and all, a truly once in a lifetime experience.

Adrenaline kick!!! Professional instructor, security above everything. Fantastic environment and nature.

Amazing experience, great guides, highly recommended. Went with my family including 13 year old son, who was a little bit scared, but was well looked after and loved it!

Everyone in our group of 4 thought the experience was awesome. Excellent guide Jesper. A great experience all round. The photos were great and sent to email promptly. Would definitely recommend.

As the older team on the crew we felt welcome, confident and included from the moment we arrived, through the serious preparation and during the action packed ride down the Kaituna River. Thanks to the whole team @rotoruarafting for the laughs and banter and special shout out to Tom for the particular care and encouragement including the left handed sign-off which was noted and very much appreciated. Cannot recommend highly enough

This was an amazing adventure!! Highly recommend this excursion! Beadle and Jure were our raft guides! Both were so knowledgeable. I was in Jure's boat. He was great with instructions both safety and steering. We were a little "fluffy" on our raft and Jure made sure to monitor how raft was reacting in the water and adjusted us in the boat for the best experience! He was funny and inspirational! The pictures afterwards were well worth it!! I felt safe and secure on this tour. Would highly recommend this. It is an adventure worth taking!!!

Amazing experience, funny and friendly staff. Even better than we anticipated. Well worth a trip! Thanks to the team.

An exciting and unforgettable rafting experience! The Kaituna River had plenty of thrills, and the guides were friendly, professional, and made us feel safe throughout. The free sauna afterwards was a great way to relax. Highly recommended for anyone looking for adventure in Rotorua!

Just perfect, it doesnt get much better than that

The experience was one I booked because I have always wanted to go Rafting. Me & my girlfriend were really nervous but the Guide, Jack was excellent, he made it such an enjoyable experience and calmed everyone’s nerves. As for the experience itself. The rapids were fun and exhilarating!! Would definitely recommend and will be doing it again should we travel back to New Zealand.

One of the best white water rafting experiences I’ve done! There’s a lot of heavy rapids and it’s definitely an adrenaline hit, but all while staying safe the whole time. They also kit you out heavily so you’ll be plenty warm even in the winter. The sauna and shower afterwards were nice too. My guide Jack was amazing and extremely funny

Absolutely unreal experience! We had a group of 27, ranging in age from 10 to over 40, and every single one of us loved it. The guides were brilliant!! They were all professional, funny and made everyone feel completely safe while still keeping it exciting. The Kaituna River and waterfall were incredible. They were so accomodating of our 10 year old too! They made him feel extremely included! Easily one of the highlights of our Rotorua trip and something we’ll be talking about for years. Highly recommend Rotorua Rafting!

Hands down best experience in NZ- it’s a must do!!!

Such a fun rafting experience. Lots of rapids and the waterfalls were exciting. Swimming over one of the waterfalls was also really fun. The guides were patient, funny and I felt very comfortable and safe.

We did the rafting yesterday with our guide Jack. Check in was easy and you were made to feel welcome from the moment you arrived to the time that you left. The instructions were clear and from the moment we entered the boat we were put at ease by Jack who was happy to answer any questions. The experience was truly exceptional. The high waterfall drop although scary was nowhere near as bad as we weee expecting but was still incredible. The option to swim and ride the rapids was also a great experience . We loved every second and cannot recommend this enough. We met some lovely fellow travellers and the sauna afterwards was a welcomed addition.

This is quite the adrenaline rush! The water is bracing and makes you feel really alive. The team really know their stuff.

We did the Katina River rafting this morning. As a 55 year old male, with quite a few injuries, I was very nervous about the 7 metre Tutea Falls. However our guide Jack, was amazing! He was cool, calm and collected throughout the ride. He continually reassured us and provided many points of history. After the trip we took some time in the in house sauna, which was a real relief after the rafting. Overall this was a very memorable experience, something we will remember for a lifetime. Thank you all very much!

White water rafting down the Kaituna is one of the best things I experienced in Aotearoa, and I've been around South Island and North Island several times. The thrill is of course to be expected, but above all, what made the tour worth it is also the knowledge shared by our Maori guide and the way made us feel very safe the whole time. I will do it again; in winter time or summertime. Worth every penny!

Wicked experience! Everything you hope for out of a rafting company. The employees make this experience what it is, they are fun, professional and knowledgeable. They know how to keep you safe while also encouraging a fun environment. The rafting was so fun, the rapids are big enough to give you a rush, and they let us swim down one of the smaller rapids!

Even though some of us had never been white water rafting before the staff made us feel very safe and we had an amazing time. Would highly recommend. They were well organized and there's a great cafe within walking distance where we ate after zip lining (Also highly recommend) and before rafting.

My raft had Jack! THE MAN. Had so much fun, never thought I would trust a stranger with my life right away lol. He definitely made the experience THAT MUCH MORE FUN. Justin was amazing for sharing history and doing our karakia for safe passage. Overall the whole team was absolutely amazing and made everything so memorable and FUN. Thank you guys!!

Fantastic experience, definitely worth doing if in Rotorua! Our guide Jack was amazing and made the whole rafting ride seamless! Will definitely be back!

My family and I enjoyed ourselves, we'd do it again!

Excellent afternoon. All the kit was clean, in good condition and well sized. The guides listened, gave options and made sure everyone got what they wanted. The rapids were superb, the big drop awesome and the headfirst out of the raft rapid quite an experience! The photos taken by the team were good quality and excellent value. The hot shower and very hot sauna back at base were the perfect ending.