Rotorua Rafting: Tūtea Falls & Kaituna River

Drop down Tūtea Falls, then paddle through native bush and whitewater.

Whitewater rafting on the Kaituna River in Rotorua includes free pickup from central hotels, professional guides who share Māori cultural storytelling, and a run down Grade 5 rapids capped by the 7-meter Tūtea Falls: the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. Groups stay small, and you get wetsuits, helmets and life vests. Professional photos are available to buy on-site. The experience lasts around 2.5 hours total, with time on the water plus safety briefing and gear-up at the base.

The experience

The Kaituna River near Rotorua is a short drive from town, and your day starts with pickup from your central hotel or the i-SITE information center 30 minutes before your rafting time. You'll travel to the rafting base, nestled among native kahikatea forest, where local and Māori guides walk you through a safety briefing and fit you with a wetsuit, helmet, booties and life vest. The river itself is the point: you're paddling a lively stretch of whitewater with more than a dozen rapids and drops, each one building toward the moment you reach Tūtea Falls.

That 7-meter waterfall is the centerpiece (the highest commercially rafted drop on the planet), and your guides navigate you into position, then over the edge. The run continues through a steep volcanic gorge cloaked in native forest, and as you paddle, your guides share the river's stories: whakapapa (the genealogy and history of the place), tikanga (the customs and protocols that govern how people interact with it), and what the awa (river) means to the iwi (local Māori tribe). This is not a silent paddle. The cultural context is woven through the whole experience.

Back at base, you change into dry clothes and have time to relax before heading back to your hotel. Professional photos taken during your run are available to purchase if you want to keep the moment. Return transport is included, so the whole day (pickup, briefing, paddle, photos and drop-off) is arranged without you organizing a thing.

What’s included

• Free hotel or i-SITE pickup and return transport.
• professional local and Māori guides with cultural storytelling.
• wetsuits, helmets, life vests and booties.
• safety briefing and instruction.
• changing rooms with free storage.
• professional adventure photography (available to purchase on-site).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30, 10:30, 12:30 and 14:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Under 13: can't be booked

GroupUp to 42

Live guideEnglish and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Kaitiaki Adventures Aotearoa

Is this one for you?Book this if you're comfortable with Grade 5 rapids and want to paddle through them actively, not float past, plus experience cultural storytelling from local and Māori guides who share the significance of the awa.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Tūtea Falls and why is it the main draw on this rafting trip?

Tūtea Falls is a 7-meter waterfall on the Kaituna River and the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. You paddle into it as part of the main run, making it the signature moment of the experience.

Do I need rafting experience to book this, or is it suitable for beginners?

The Kaituna River rafting is suitable for all physical fitness levels and does not require prior experience. Your guides handle the safety briefing and lead you through the rapids. The minimum age is 13.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

The price includes free hotel pickup and return transport, wetsuits, helmets, life vests and booties, a professional guide, and access to professional photos (which you can purchase separately). Bring a towel and a change of clothes. The base has changing rooms and free storage for your belongings.

How long does the whole experience take from pickup to drop-off?

The experience lasts around 2.5 hours total, including pickup, the safety briefing and gear-up at base, the paddle itself, and return transport to your hotel.

What makes the guides on this trip different from other rafting operators?

Your guides are local and Māori, and they share cultural storytelling throughout the paddle: stories of the place (whakapapa), customs and protocols (tikanga), and the river's significance to the local iwi. This cultural connection is woven into the whole experience, not added on.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day I'm booked?

If poor weather forces a cancellation, you can choose an alternative date or receive a full refund.