The Original Kaituna Rafting Company !

Kaituna Cascades

EXPERIENCE THE THRILL OF WHITE WATER RAFTING FROM ROTORUA…

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Kia Ora & welcome to the Original Kaituna Rafting company – creating memories and amazing experiences day after day since 1991.

Located in an awesome sunny riverside location, we are the Rotorua rafting specialists offering the most entertaining river rafting trips on the Kaituna River (Okere River), Wairoa River & the Rangitaiki River.

Kaituna Cascades is stoked & humbled to be the # 1 rated rafting company in Rotorua on TripAdvisor.

Join us for the best white water rafting in New Zealand, and one of the top things to do in Rotorua! 

Having an amazing crew means your team can have more fun and play harder on the river while we take care of you and add to the banter.

Kaituna Cascade’s aim is to tailor our New Zealand rafting trips to your group’s expectations – with a touch of history, culture and sustainability thrown in, giving you the best experience ever.

Max fun, style points and entertainment in a safe and sustainable workplace are our vibes!

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Current River Status

AUTUMN TIME – GET IN QUICK – EASTER & SCHOOL HOLIDAYS ARE ON US !!

The Famous Kaituna River is OPEN with classic great Autumn rafting conditions.

Water temp is 18 degrees C 🙂

The Famous Kaituna River is OPEN.
The flows are lowish (300’s on the control gates) and normal after a beautiful summer.
The big waterfall is tall vertical & at it’s full 7 meters, while the flat pools are slow and fun for swimming.
We have all the rafting gear to keep ya warm, happy & mostly dry on the river!

New Zealand’s best rafting trip – The WAIROA RIVER will be running Sunday’s too !

COVID UPDATE:

LEVEL 2 – Means we are OPEN but with normal restrictions of social distancing; sanitizing, QR tracing at rafting base and masks around the base (not River)

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Kaituna River Rafting

Grade 5 White Water Rafting

$ 125
  • The most legendary rafting trip includes a 50 minute action packed ride down 14 epic rapids featuring the worlds highest rafted waterfall! ...
MOST POPULAR
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Wairoa River Rafting

Grade 5 White Water Rafting

$ 170
  • Renowned for some of the best white water rafting in New Zealand, this gem is not to be missed. Only on Sundays in the summer season ...

EPIC
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Mud pool & Rafting Combo

With Hell's Gate & Kaituna Cascades

$ 200
  • Take on the world's highest rafted waterfall before relaxing into the naturally heated geothermal waters of the amazing Hell's Gate mud pools & sulfur spas
COMBO
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Kaituna & Wairoa Combo

Grade 5 White Water Rafting

$ 270
  • Can't make your mind up - do them both ! Two amazing & very different rivers in one EPIC day of rafting... Only on Sundays

combo
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Rangitaiki River Rafting

Grade 4/5 White Water Rafting

$ 170
  • Our back up option when the Kaituna is flooded - An awesome half day wilderness adventure...
SCENIC & FUN
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Number 1 Rafting company in Rotorua on Trip Advisor !!

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Best Location & Closest to the river

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Original Company

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Eco Tourism

Kaituna River Rafting

Grade 5 White Water Rafting
Rotorua, New Zealand

A 50 minute action packed ride down 14 epic rapids featuring the worlds highest rafted waterfall! ...

Learn More

Mud Baths & Rafting Combo

With Hell's Gate & Kaituna Cascades
Rotorua, New Zealand

Raft down the world's highest rafted waterfall before lathering up in the MUD BATHS. Then relaxing into the naturally heated geothermal waters of the amazing Hell's Gate hot pools !...

Learn More

Kaituna & Wairoa Combo

Grade 5 White Water Rafting
Rotorua & Tauranga, New Zealand

Two different rivers in one epic day of rafting...

Learn More

Wairoa River Rafting

Grade 5 White Water Rafting
Tauranga, New Zealand

Renowned for some of the best white water in New Zealand...

Learn More

Rangitaiki River Rafting

Grade 4 White Water Rafting
Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

Awesome half day wilderness adventure...

Learn More
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  • tripadvisor stars 5 - Kaituna Cascades Rotorua New Zealand  My partner and I did this on the 27-2-22 and I was so nervous during the detailed induction lead by the very cool Elvis but he was so informative and... read more

    Neggie B
    February 1, 2022
  • tripadvisor stars 5 - Kaituna Cascades Rotorua New Zealand  Best experience!
    Absolute pros. From customer service on the phone to on the river.
    Taun and Blue had complete control and knew the perfect spot to take and stop the... read more

    Samuel M
    September 2, 2022
  • tripadvisor stars 5 - Kaituna Cascades Rotorua New Zealand  We had a great time rafting with this group! Pete was our guide and he was non-stop entertainment while we were in the boat. The whole operation was... read more

    S4293OKchrisc
    September 27, 2022
  • tripadvisor stars 5 - Kaituna Cascades Rotorua New Zealand  Epic! Blue & the team were awesome, top rated trip and amazing experience! They really looked after after us and gave us a trip to remember. Experienced team, all real... read more

    Irene M
    February 1, 2022
  • tripadvisor stars 5 - Kaituna Cascades Rotorua New Zealand  Amazing experience! 100% recommended. The guides have wonderful energy, they are professionals and with knowledge in this kind of activity. The team transmits the confidence from the beginning, even if... read more

    Lencymarin
    April 27, 2022
  • tripadvisor stars 5 - Kaituna Cascades Rotorua New Zealand  Blue is an awesome guide, great experience! Highly recommended x this was my first rapid rafting trip. Loved it!

    WillieDevine1
    July 9, 2022
  • tripadvisor stars 5 - Kaituna Cascades Rotorua New Zealand  The team at Cascades were awesome. My groomsmen organised it as a stag activity and we all had a blast. The cliff jump at the end was an awesome finish

    henawheels
    April 11, 2022
  • tripadvisor stars 5 - Kaituna Cascades Rotorua New Zealand  This was my first time rafting and it was a grade 5 as well. I was so happy to go with this company. The staff were so friendly, cheerful and... read more

    Red2explorer
    January 1, 1970
  • tripadvisor stars 5 - Kaituna Cascades Rotorua New Zealand  Had a fantastic experience with these guys. Top quality service and professionalism. Sam was an awesome guide who went above and beyond to ensure we felt safe and comfortable while... read more

    Josephshaw1993
    May 24, 2021
  • tripadvisor stars 5 - Kaituna Cascades Rotorua New Zealand  Pete and his crew were fantastic. A smooth operation ensured we had a fantastic time and a great adventure. I would recommend this experience when you visit Rotorua.

    jaybee5ng
    May 29, 2022
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The Best White Water Rafting in Rotorua, New Zealand!

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Whitewater river rafting in Rotorua, Taupo, and Auckland is an experience you will never forget. The rapids are thrilling, and rafting down the world’s largest rafted waterfall is truly unforgettable.
Kaituna Cascades was the first rafting company to explore and open up the Kaituna River, letting you experience the amazing deep warm water canyons, and raft the famous seven-metre tall Tutea Falls. We were established in 1991 and today is still locally owned and operated out of Okere Falls, Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand.

Okere Falls Rafting

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Why us – you ask….

Giving us our two biggest advantages..

1st – being the original company to start operating in Okere Falls on the Kaituna river gave us the best, closest and most accessible rafting base to the river.

You can see the river from our rafting base which means we walk our guests to the start, and it’s only a 2 minute bus ride from the end of the rafting tour back to our base. Meaning easy logistics – no long bus rides in wetsuits and a longer, more exciting and playful river rafting trip with no stress 🙂

The 2nd advantage & greatest assets are our super friendly & experienced river guides that give you the safest & most entertaining trip on the river!

All our guides are handpicked, highly skilled professionals who come from an extreme white water background in kayaking and or rafting. They all have extensive knowledge of the rivers & white water rafting in the Rotorua & Bay of Plenty areas.

We also normally welcome a couple of international guides every season to our crew, which gives us a more diverse and experienced team over the summer months.

Being locally owned and operated by two current raft guides – you know you’ll be in good hands. Looking forward to rafting with you and the crew any time of the year whether it be amazing summer rafting or epic winter rafting – We’ve got you covered – See you here 🙂

The Best White-Water Rafting Experience in New Zealand

Okay, we might be biased, but we believe we’ve got the best white-water rafting in New Zealand right here in Rotorua. We live and work on the Kaituna River, and we know the seven-meter drop Tutea Falls like the back of our hand, but we’ve been around the country, too, trying out other white water rafting experiences in NZ.

Here’s the thing – if you’re into river or white-water rafting, New Zealand is the place to be, whether you choose Rotorua or anywhere else in the country. The rivers are fantastic, the thrills are experiences you’ll never forget, and the scenery and waterfalls are unlike anything else you will see in the world.

That said, looking at all the options to go white water rafting in New Zealand, Rotorua does stand out. We’ve already mentioned Tutea Falls, but it doesn’t hurt to say it again! When you come to Rotorua and go white water rafting on the Kaituna River, you’ll be taking on the most famous rafting waterfall in the world!

It’s impossible to describe the rush and sense of excitement as the raft drops over the edge and down the 7 meter high drop.

Okere Falls rafting is an unforgettable experience.

So there’s only one thing left to do and that is to come check it out for yourself – you won’t be disappointed and you’ll absolutely love the experience. So, whether you are in Rotorua or are planning to come down from Auckland, we’ve got the best white-water rafting experience this side of – well, this side of anywhere, really.

Book today.

Looking After You with Every Paddle Stroke

At Kaituna Cascades, we have extensive experience white water rafting on our local rivers. We know the rivers better than anyone, and we take maximum safety precautions while also ensuring you have an exciting and fun time.

You’ll need to paddle (no passengers here!), and you’ll need to wear the safety equipment we give you and follow our safety instructions. However, you can rest easy that you will be in safe hands for this truly adventurous experience.

#INSTA FEED