Wairoa River Rafting

Selected Sundays Sept - April. Departs 9:30am

The Mighty Grade 5 Wairoa River
Grade 5 White Water Rafting
Tauranga, New Zealand

TAKE ON THE MIGHTY WAIROA RIVER IN AN ADRENALINE PUMPING RAFTING EXPEDITION YOU’LL NEVER FORGET!

The Grade 5 Wairoa River rafting is renowned for having some of the best white water action in New Zealand. Kaituna Cascades run the whole of the river including the bottom three rapids and the lower waterfall!

Rare, High adrenalin, Bad ass Grade 5 rafting

CHEERS FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL TOURISM

Also please note – This is an exciting grade 5 rafting experience and is NOT suited for older or bigger people. People must know how to swim. We have a weight limit of 120 kgs.

NO.1 RAFTING COMPANY IN ROTORUA ON TRIP ADVISOR

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Daily at 9am, 11:45am and 2.30pm. (We also offer a 4:30pm tour in the summer months - self drive only!) 18 Okere Falls Road, Okere Falls 3074
Wairoa stoke 1

A 50 minute action packed ride down 14 epic rapids and the worlds highest rafted waterfall. Allow 2hours in total.

All year! - Warm water in the summer and cooler in the winter (more gear provided).
Wairoa 17 1

18 Okere Falls Road, Okere Falls 3074, Rotorua, New Zealand. Our base is located on the banks of the Kaituna River and there are no long bus rides or waiting around in wet suits! Arrive early and take a stroll down the beautiful Okere Falls Scenic Reserve walking track. With multiple viewing platforms of the river, and its many waterfalls, it’s the perfect pre-rafting activity!

Grade 5 rafting trip 13+ years - Grade 3 option available for 10 - 12 year olds "Youth" option. NOT SUITABLE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN or THOSE WITH HEART CONDITIONS. MAXIMUN WEIGHT is 120kgs - must be fit and healthy.
Wairoa 12 1

The most entertaining & fun guides to be on the river with (and safest.), custom built rafts, wet suits, helmets, life jackets, paddles, warm fleece tops, wet suit booties and splash jackets. There is also heaps of free off street parking - a volleyball net, loads of picnic tables and chill areas - with access to the river !

Swimwear, Shorts & a sense of adventure! We are GoPro friendly so feel free to bring yours along with a chest harness attachment. We also rent towels for $5, GoPro strap rental - $5, And you can buy Glasser straps to keep for $5, also Digital Photo's of your tour - $40

WAIROA RIVER RAFTING

The power company only release water on certain Sundays, 26 days a year over the Spring/Summer/Autumn period for us to go rafting. 
SO GET IN QUICK

Please Note

The Flow dates for 2025/26 are:
  • September 2025 -Sunday 28
  • January 2026 - Sunday 4, 11, 18, 25
  • October 2025 - Sunday 12, 26
  • February 2026 - Sunday 1, 8, 14/15, 22
  • November 2025 - Sunday 9, 23
  • March 2026 - Sunday 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
  • December 2025 - Sunday 7, 14, 21, 28
  • April 2026 - Sunday 5, 12, 19
  • May & Winter
  • None

HEALTH & SAFETY

We are taking all precautionary safety measures to give you a safe (and amazing) trip down our iconic Kaituna River, Wairoa & Rangitaiki Rivers. However River Rafting is an adventure activity with a degree of risk which increases with the grade of rapids. Rafts can capsize, and people may fall out of the raft in fast flowing & violent water, people may be injured.
The Kaituna & Wairoa River’s are class 5 rivers and both have waterfalls and hard rapids.

Grade 5 = Very difficult rapids, High-powerful-irregular waves, difficult to negotiate, the extreme for commercial operations. This said – The Kaituna river is an amazing river & is normally good for most fit and healthy people”
PARTICIPANTS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT KAITUNA CASCADES CANNOT GUARANTEE YOUR SAFETY.

GIFT CARDS OR VOUCHERS

STRUGGLING FOR A GIFT IDEA, HOW ABOUT SENDING THEM OFF
A SEVEN METRE WATERFALL IN AN EXHILARATING GRADE 5
WHITEWATER RAFTING TRIP?

Our whitewater rafting trips cater for almost anyone, even the young at heart, making a Kaituna Cascades gift voucher the perfect gift idea.

You can personalize the voucher by adding names and even include a small message.

Still unsure on what experience to gift them… Buy a gift card with a custom monetary amount for them to spend on there rafting trip, photo’s or merchandise! 12month Validity!

GIFT VOUCHER PRICE INCLUDES

An epic 1 hour whitewater rafting tour (2 hour round trip)
All safety equipment, training, & the best guides on the river
All safety equipment, training, & the best guides on the river

BOOK A ONCE
IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE!

NOT CONVINCED?

LET OUR RAFTERS TELL YOU ABOUT
THEIR TIME WITH US
This was a great couple bonding experience that took us both to the edge of our comfort zones. Could not speak highly enough of the professionalism of the guiding team - yet making the whole experience one of such fun.
MY FAVOURITE EXPERIENCE IN NZ SO FAR. TOOK THE 9AM TOUR TODAY AND ALREADY CAN'T WAIT TO COME BACK. THE RAFTING WAS SO MUCH FUN AND THE TOUR GUIDES ARE HILARIOUS. NEVER FELT IN ANY DANGER JUST ENJOYED THE RIDE! WOULD RECOMMEND TO ANYBODY. I WENT AS A SOLO TRAVELLER AND IT WAS STILL REALLY ENJOYABLE.
Brilliant! We had heaps of fun. Guides were friendly and made us feel safe and comfortable. Highly recommended to all!

Fantastic outfit. The crew were cheeky as but super professional. We felt safe throughout the entire experience. 11/10 and a big shoutout to Rob for being a GC.
White water rafting at its best. Wonderful guides. A must do when in or around Rotorua. Felt safe, but had the best time.
Great experience! Made me feel safe when I was scared!! You the m san Owen! So glad I did it. It is beautiful!
The guide, Sam, went out of his way to make the trip as fun and exciting as possible. The whole team were friendly and inclusive.
Cole was a really good guide, talked us through everything and had a good laugh. The water was nice, not cold at all. They provide wetsuits, footwear, helmets, life jackets and polo fleeces. Worth the money and would do it again. Recommend going in a group so that you can split the cost of photos.
Unbelievable experience rafting the 7m waterfall this morning! Even more fun when the boat flipped!! Highly recommend! Great fun and great instructors!! Shout out to Pete From the Irish girls.

KAITUNA CASCADES
RAFTING COMPANY

Kaituna Cascades Rafting Company is the # 1 rafting company in Rotorua on TripAdvisor! We are the original Kaituna Rafting company & have been operating since 1991. Located in an awesome sunny riverside location, we are the Rotorua rafting specialists offering river rafting trips on the Kaituna River (Okere River), Wairoa River & the Rangitaiki River. For the best white water rafting in New Zealand, visit us in Okere Falls, Rotorua!
CELLPHONE:
+64 27 276 5457
EMAIL:
[email protected]

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