Top 14 River Rafting in New Zealand

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

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

Raft the Kaituna River near Rotorua with guides such as George, Luca, Elise, and Tor. Expect a full safety briefing, native forest, three waterfalls, Grade 5 action, and the famous Tutea Falls drop. Gear and a post-rafting sauna are included. Hotel transfers cost extra.

“Incredible rafting experience that you won’t get elsewhere! Great rapids and excellent rafting guides. 100% recommend if you want to white-water raft on the North Island.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Rafting Rotorua: Kaituna River White Water Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,274 reviews · 2h 30m · from $83

Join Kaitiaki Adventures for a 150-minute Kaituna River rafting trip with guides such as Aoife, Jack, Ben, and Kyle. Expect 14 rapids, three waterfalls, a 7-metre drop at Tutea Falls, Māori cultural insight, river gear, and optional hotel transport from Rotorua.

“This was the most fun rafting I’ve ever had!! My guides were so awesome (Nixie and Ben) and it was such a good time and very thrilling. Felt very safe during the entire ride. Highly recommend this experience if near Rotorua!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River Rafting Experience-Free Sauna

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 401 reviews · 2 hours · from $74Best value

Head 20 minutes from Rotorua to the Kaituna River for a beginner-friendly rafting trip through 14 rapids and three waterfalls, including a 7-meter drop. Guides such as Lucas, Jack, Peach, and Justin provide clear instruction, with swimming, jumping, optional photos, and a free sauna afterward.

“Our family of four had a great time guide Lucas was exceptional. My son’s 16 and 10 had a blast.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Kaituna River White Water Rafting from Rotorua

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 388 reviews · from $84

Join River Rats for a three-hour Kaituna River rafting trip from Rotorua. After a 15 to 20-minute safety session, you paddle through a fern-lined gorge and over Tutea Falls, the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall. Guides such as Dave, Amy, Zack, and Neville have earned warm praise for calm instruction and strong safety.

“This was an amazing experience. The rafting is a very well set up and run tour with excellent safety briefings by well drilled staff who ran the trip very professionally and provided all the necessary kit. Being on the river and experiencing the natural environment close up was awe inspiring.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Kaituna River and Tutea Falls Whitewater Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 324 reviews · 2 hours · from $80

Meet Kaituna Cascades Rafting 20 minutes from Rotorua for a guided Grade 5 run through warm canyon water, 14 rapids, and Tutea Falls. You get full safety training and winter gear, with guides such as Malcolm, Josh, Alex, and Bal known for calm, playful instruction. No rafting experience is needed.

“My wife and I went white water rafting for the first time and had so much fun. We felt very safe and really appreciated the thorough safety briefing beforehand. Jarrod was fantastic and made it an amazing experience for us. Such a beautiful spot as well — a must-do when you’re in Rotorua!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Queenstown Shotover River White Water Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 309 reviews · from $154

Travel from Queenstown to Deep Creek by shuttle and 4WD, then paddle the Shotover River through grade 3 to 5 rapids, including Jaws, Toilet, Sequel, and the 170-metre Oxenbridge Tunnel. Guides such as Morgan, Jess, Benji, and Erin lead the private rafting activity. Hot showers and digital photos are included.

“We had a great time! Guide was experienced and knowledgeable. It was fun and well organized. Would recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Shotover River Whitewater Rafting Adventure

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

Join RealNZ for a 4.5-hour Shotover River rafting trip from Queenstown. Ride through Skippers Canyon by bus, tackle grade 3 to 5 rapids, and paddle through the historic Oxenbridge Tunnel. Guides such as Jess, Benji, and Morgan are known for clear instruction and a calm approach.

“We had a great day with Justin out on the shot over river! The rapids were really fun and his instructions were clear. Would highly recommend to anyone visiting Queenstown.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Kawarau River Rafting and Jet Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 145 reviews · 4h 30m · from $190

Combine a 25-minute jet boat ride with 8 km of Kawarau River rafting. You will tackle grade 2 to 3 rapids, finish with the 400-meter Dog Leg rapid, and have time to swim or cliff jump. Guides such as Morgan, Jess, Nico, and Josh are praised for clear safety briefings and good humor.

“We had an amazing time on this experience with RealNZ. We drove ourselves to the base site, got changed into our wetsuits, and were then taken back into town by bus with some incredibly friendly, chatty staff. From there, we jumped on the jet boat and travelled from Queenstown back to the base site along the river. The white water rafting was so much fun. Our guide, Nico, was outstanding: informative, funny, and always made us feel safe and confident while clearly explaining what was happening. We loved that we were able to swim in the river, try a few tricks, and really enjoy time in the rapids. Nico went…”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Shotover River Whitewater Rafting Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 72 reviews · 4 hours · from $178

Meet your English-speaking guide at Arthurs Point, suit up, and raft six Shotover River rapids, including the 170-meter Oxenbridge Tunnel and Cascade Rapid. Guides such as Jess, Raju, Kai, and Muzz have earned praise for clear instruction and good humor. Expect cold water, rugged scenery, and a serious safety briefing.

“The whole trip was incredible! The drive over was an experience in itself, and the river was beautiful to see while rafting. The guides were great and definitely a trip to put on your list! You get a variety of rapids, but the guides train you well to navigate your way through them. Overall we loved every bit of it!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Tongariro River: Grade 3 Whitewater Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 37 reviews · 4 hours · from $112

Join an English-speaking guide at the Turangi base for a four-hour rafting trip through more than 60 Grade 3 rapids. You’ll receive gear, safety training, and a short bus ride to the river. Guides such as Sarah and Fletcher focus on teamwork, confidence, and safe, lively paddling.

“Awesome Guides, wonderful Nature and enough Action. Great activity. Thanks.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Kaituna River Rafting Grade 5

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 36 reviews · from $81

Join River Rats for a 2.5-hour Grade 5 rafting trip from Rotorua, with safety training, specialist gear, transfers, and about 50 minutes on the Kaituna River. Paddle through major rapids and over 7m Tutea Falls with guides such as Zac, David, and Amy.

“An absolute blast! Great guides, fun river… do it!”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Rotorua Sledging: Kaituna White Water River Board Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 36 reviews · 2h 30m · from $86

Take control of your own river sledge on the Kaituna with guides such as Andy and Caruzo. Expect about an hour in fast water, rugged bush-clad gorges, Māori stories, and hands-on steering with fins. Hotel pickup, wetsuits, safety gear, and return transport are included.

“It was so much fun to do the sledge/sledding! Sure rafting is also great but sledding is an even lore active version, where you actively steer (the sledge) by yourself. We had two great guides Andy and Caruzo who steer us safely and with tons of adrenaline (and own muscle work) thru the river. Great experience! So difference: get ON the boat - rafting Get IN the river - sledge!”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.White Water Surfing Along the Kawarau River

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 30 reviews · 4h 30m · from $164

Suit up in a 5mm wetsuit and bodyboard up to 12km along the Kawarau River near Queenstown. You’ll tackle grade 2 and 3 rapids, ride standing waves, spin through whirlpools, and stop for a cliff jump if conditions allow. Small groups keep the session active and personal.

“The crew were epic!! Did this 17 years ago when I was 21 on a contiki had a ball then and had a ball today!! Can’t wait for my own kids to be at least 8 years old and experience this with them!! Cheers guys Swifty 🤘”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Kawarau River Whitewater Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 18 reviews · from $140

Raft 8 kilometers of the Kawarau River with an English-speaking guide, tackling grade 2 to 3 rapids and the 400-meter Dog Leg. You’ll have time to swim, race other rafts, or try an optional cliff jump, then warm up with a hot shower.

“The guides were all great, very friendly and really knew what they were doing. The river is beautiful. Kudos to RealNZ because they email you pictures of the trip for free! I would 100% recommend this!”

Check availability →Read our full review