NEW ZEALAND RAFTING TOURS

The 15 Best Rafting Trips in New Zealand

22 trips  ·  from $74 a head

The Kaituna drops seven metres over Tutea Falls, the Shotover runs through a Queenstown gorge, and Waitomo tubes you through a glowworm cave. The 15 below are priced and graded.

Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River White Water Rafting & Free Sauna - Getting dressed and learning the safety commands
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Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River White Water Rafting & Free Sauna

1.Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River White Water Rafting & Free Sauna

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,952 reviews · from $83Our pick

Review of Rotorua Rafting on the Kaituna River, including the Grade 5 waterfall, gear, sauna, price, timing, safety, and booking advice.

“Amazing experience! Check-in smooth. Nervous first time rafter here, and WOW what a ride. Guides were great and gave good instruction. There wasn’t a time that I felt unsafe. Great way to celebrate my birthday.”

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Waitomo Caves: Labyrinth Black Water Rafting Experience - Getting ready at the Black Water Rafting base
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Waitomo Caves: Labyrinth Black Water Rafting Experience

Rafting Rotorua: Kaituna River White Water Experience - Getting suited up for serious whitewater
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Rafting Rotorua: Kaituna River White Water Experience

White Water Rafting - Kaituna Cascades, The Originals - Getting suited up for Grade 5 water
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White Water Rafting – Kaituna Cascades, The Originals

Rafting Rotorua Kaituna White Water Rafting | Kaitiaki Adventures - From central Rotorua to the Kahikitea Forest
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Rafting Rotorua Kaituna White Water Rafting | Kaitiaki Adventures

5.Rafting Rotorua Kaituna White Water Rafting | Kaitiaki Adventures

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 759 reviews · from $83

Raft the Kaituna River near Rotorua, tackle 14 rapids and a 7-metre waterfall, and enjoy Māori-guided adventure with hotel pickup.

“A thrill a minute. The guides make something that could be very dangerous almost completely safe. The big waterfall is white knuckle and the highlight of the experience. There are a few different companies but I would recommend Kaitiaki.”

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Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River Rafting Experience-Free Sauna - The briefing makes the big drop possible
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Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River Rafting Experience-Free Sauna

Kaituna River White Water Rafting from Rotorua - The 15-minute safety briefing matters
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Kaituna River White Water Rafting from Rotorua

Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour - Getting geared up for cold underground water
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Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour

Family Adventures Rafting and Sightseeing Trip in Queenstown - Getting Kitted Up at the River Base
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Family Adventures Rafting and Sightseeing Trip in Queenstown

9.Family Adventures Rafting and Sightseeing Trip in Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 339 reviews · from $185

Review of Queenstown’s family rafting trip, with gentle Shotover River rapids, Skippers Canyon views, gold-mining history, and practical tips.

“Family adventures rafting was great, shuttle drivers holly and Luke did a good job trying to make the trip as best as could be, the road through skippers canyon was brutal, holly was amazing, arrrived at base camp to get kitted up with thermalRead more”

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Kaituna River and Tutea Falls Whitewater Rafting - Arriving at the red and yellow rafting base
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Kaituna River and Tutea Falls Whitewater Rafting

Queenstown Shotover River White Water Rafting - The Skippers Canyon Road transfer is part of the show
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Queenstown Shotover River White Water Rafting

Queenstown: Shotover River Whitewater Rafting Adventure - Getting suited up at the rafting base
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Queenstown: Shotover River Whitewater Rafting Adventure

12.Shotover River Whitewater Rafting Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 234 reviews · from $175

Raft Queenstown’s Shotover River through grade 3 to 5 rapids, Skippers Canyon, and the 550-foot Oxenbridge Tunnel.

“Our whitewater adventure was fantastic! Our instructor was super competent and safety was a very high priority for the team. Heaps of fun and I highly recommend it.”

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Shore Excursion: Scenic Rafting from Napier - The two-hour float on the Mohaka
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Shore Excursion: Scenic Rafting from Napier

13.Shore Excursion: Scenic Rafting from Napier

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 179 reviews · from $139

Review of Napier’s scenic Mohaka River rafting trip, with gentle rapids, family-friendly fun, lunch, transport, and cruise timing tips.

“Excellent tour. All staff were very friendly and helpful. The rafting was so much fun., and we enjoyed the lunch as well. Highly recommend!”

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The Hobbit Barrel Run Rafting Tour on the Pelorus River - From Bluemoon Lodge to the water
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The Hobbit Barrel Run Rafting Tour on the Pelorus River

Queenstown Kawarau River Rafting and Jet Boat - The jet boat delivers speed before the paddling starts
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Queenstown Kawarau River Rafting and Jet Boat

15.Queenstown Kawarau River Rafting and Jet Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 158 reviews · from $197

Combine Queenstown jet boating and Kawarau River rafting with rapids, swimming, cliff jumping, canyon views, and hot showers.

“Jet boat trip was excellent, lots of fun. Very benign and relaxed river rafting, suitable for families. Guides were excellent. Lots of opportunities to jump in the water as it is mostly just drifting down the river.”

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