White water rafting in Rotorua is a thrilling, adrenaline-fuelled experience that can really get your heart racing. It’s a beautiful combination of nature, skills, teamwork and excitement that’s hard to match elsewhere.

To some, it may seem like quite a modern pastime, but actually, white water rafting has its history in antiquity.

Early Civilizations

Humans have relied on waterways since the beginning of time, both for transportation and for food. The first rafts were created from logs, reeds, or animal hides, and were used to get food and supplies from one destination to another. Many of these journeys were perilous and as such, skills had to be developed to ensure both passengers and cargo arrived safely.

Discovery 

As humanity began to explore the world, some people started to travel for adventure and discovery, rather than just necessity.

By the 19th century, explorers began to document the thrills they had experienced whilst conquering certain treacherous bodies of water. These stories generated intrigue and encouraged others to try the same piece of water. This was where white water rafting for pleasure began.

Modern-Day White Water Rafting

White water rafting for pleasure didn’t really take off until the mid-20th century, when other extreme sports and water sports also began to increase in popularity. Adrenaline enthusiasts started looking for new ways to get thrills.

Bill Dvorak, a pioneer of white water rafting, created a successful commercial white water rafting business in America.  The sport gained popularity across the USA, many other countries began to hear of it and tried to recreate the thrills that the Americans were experiencing. It was around this time that people would have started white water rafting in Rotorua.

EQUIPMENT

Just like white water rafting itself, the raft has changed dramatically since its first incarnation. Gone are the bulky, heavy rafts made of logs that were cumbersome to manipulate and easily damaged. Nowadays, rafts are lightweight, inflatable, durable, self bailing and easy to steer. Helmets and life jackets are now mandatory to ensure safety, and rescue kits are also available. Self bailing rafts are now used to empty any  water that enters the top of the raft, making them lighter and easier to steer. Ropes, rescue pulleys and Karabiners can also be used to haul you to safety if required.

This evolution in equipment, combined with growing enthusiasm, has seen white water rafting explode in popularity worldwide. Whether you’re a novice that can’t wait to try out this new thrill or a hardened adrenaline junkie that’s looking for your next fix of excitement, there is always a rapid suited to your skill set.

If you want to experience the thrills of white water rafting in Rotorua, then please get in touch by phone 0800 524 8862 or by email in**@****************co.nz.