New Zealand is the ultimate playground for outdoor enthusiasts, so if you’re looking for the perfect place to go white water rafting you won’t be disappointed with these top spots. There are several excellent options for adrenaline-fuelled white water rafting in New Zealand, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro. This outdoor activity is one of the best ways to enjoy the spectacular scenery in the country, with stunning rivers and valleys to explore. You might even discover some hidden gems along the way!
1. Tongariro White Water Rafting, Taupo
Taupo is known for being the adrenaline capital of the North Island, and this white water rafting experience lives up to its reputation. Navigate 60 rapids over a 13 km stretch and send your pulse racing on this river adventure. You don’t need any prior experience because there are no drops to navigate. Paddling through the heart of the Taupo region, you’ll enjoy some spectacular sights that are only accessible by raft. Enjoy a host of wildlife like the blue duck or the giant New Zealand trout before returning to dry land for a hot drink.
2. Vector Wero Whitewater Park, Auckland
The Vector Wero Whitewater Park offers a range of river activities suitable for all ages and abilities. The Tamariki River is perfect for beginners and families with young children. Classified grade 1-2, this recreational course offers a gentle 200m river course with a few mild rapids for some gentle thrills. For those wanting to experience the next level in white water rafting in Auckland, try River Rush, the advanced grade 3-4 course, which is 300 metres long and guaranteed to get the adrenaline pumping. And if you’re still up for a challenge, take on the Pump waterfall – a four-and-a-half metre drop down the highest artificial rafted waterfall on the globe!
3. Kaituna Cascades, Rotorua
Voted the number one rafting company in New Zealand by Trip Advisor, the Kaituna Rafting Company offers a must-do destination for any white water rafting enthusiasts. The river is the white water playground of the North Island with three waterfalls, including the 7-metre Tutea Falls, the world’s highest rafted waterfall! This experience is so great because it combines a relatively gentle river experience with some genuinely jaw-dropping falls. Plus, you can tailor your tour to meet your preferences. How much of an adrenaline-fueled ride will you choose?
4. The Mohaka River Gorge, Hawke’s Bay
Mohaka Rafting offers full-day and multi-day adventures across a range of graded whitewater adventures. Relax on a grade 2 cruise or get your heart pumping with a grade 5 adrenaline-fuelled adventure. If you opt for the latter, you’ll experience one of the best white water experiences in New Zealand, with incredible canyons and technical rapids. For a balanced trip, try a grade 3 experience that allows you to soak up the unique landscapes as you explore the untamed gorges along the river’s expanse.
5. Landsborough River, Queenstown
The Landsborough River experience is no ordinary white water rafting adventure. This epic three-day tour takes you to some of the most remote locations where you can get up close to the untouched wilderness that only a small group of people have visited. You can expect to see towering mountains, awe-inspiring glaciers, and lush rainforests during this trip. It’s a scenic rafting experience that will provide memories to last a lifetime.
Check out some other amazing things to do in our Must-Do Queenstown Activities article!
6. Rangitata Gorge, Christchurch
The Hidden Valleys Rangitata rafting experience offers a range of grade 2-5 rapids that suit a range of ages and abilities. Take a family trip with some mild thrills and epic sights, or test your teamwork on an epic grade 5 journey through some of the most thrilling rapids in New Zealand. Paddle through walls of water as you crash over the magnificent rapids and avoid the rocks as you hurtle down narrow gorges. Back at base, enjoy a shower and barbeque while you look at some of the epic photos from the day.
7. Whataroa River, Franz Josef
Try glacial water rafting on the Whataroa River, which combines an action-packed adventure with sublime scenery. The journey lasts anywhere between half a day to a full day, and there are a bunch of rapids (more than 20) to explore. This trip allows you to gauge whether or not you’d like to partake in the biggest rapids, with walkway options if you’re feeling too intimidated. There’s a range of routes to choose from, with grade 5 rapids available to the biggest thrillseekers. This route encompasses wild and obstructed rapids that are tricky to navigate and require good ability and team communication.
8. Shotover River, Queenstown
The Shotover River adventure is an iconic trip that begins aboard a coach, travelling through Skippers Canyon, famous for its imposing cliff edges, to get your heart pumping before the rafting begins. Once you reach your destination, you can soak up some epic views as you navigate the rapids and canyons. When approaching the end of the trip, you’ll get to ride through the Oxenbridge tunnel, but you will need to be a confident swimmer as the risk of capsizing is moderate to likely.
Cover image credit: Kaituna River Rafting
