On the water · NEW ZEALAND RAFTING TOURS

The 15 Best New Zealand Rafting Tours

22 trips  ·  from $74 a head

This is the shortlist you would send a friend who has never held a paddle: 15 new zealand rafting tours that are worth the money, each with what the water does and the one thing to check before you pay.

Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River White Water Rafting & Free Sauna - Getting ready at 761 State Highway 33
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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 $83 a head Our pick

Raft the Kaituna River through native forest and three waterfalls, including the 7-meter Tutea Falls. Guides such as George, Elise, Luca, and Tor lead the Grade 5 run with clear safety instructions. No experience is needed. Gear and a free sauna are included, with a half-river option for children aged 10 to 12.

“I was nervous about doing this adventure since I hadn’t rafted in a very long time and never class 5. They add a few extra fun things, like swimming down one of the rapids, and sitting on tge raft in the front over another The water is so beautiful, our guide, Elise, was amazing! I had a blast, so glad I didn’t back out!”

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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

2.Waitomo Caves: Labyrinth Black Water Rafting Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,673 reviews · 3 hours · from $115 a head

Join trained guides such as Evie, Molly, or G on a three-hour trip through Ruakuri Cave. You will scramble over limestone, jump small waterfalls, float beneath glowworms, and finish with a hot shower and snacks. The water is 10 to 14°C, wetsuits are supplied, and the tour suits fit participants aged 12 and over who weigh at least 45 kilograms.

“This was an incredible Indiana-Jones style adventure. Deep caverns, rushing water, going off waterfalls, and floating through the dark with an incredible ceiling of glow worms. It was more than we expected. Our guides were fantastic and attentive to everyone's needs/fears. Well done! Highly recommended.”

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Rafting Rotorua: Kaituna River White Water Experience - From Rotorua pickup to the forest river base
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Rafting Rotorua: Kaituna River White Water Experience

3.Rafting Rotorua: Kaituna River White Water Experience

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

Join Kaitiaki Adventures for a guided Kaituna River rafting trip through native forest, with 14 rapids, three waterfalls, and the 7-meter Tutea Falls. Guides such as Aoife, Jack, Kyle, and Ben are known for clear instruction and calm support. Pickup, wetsuits, booties, helmets, and safety gear are included.

“I was terrified to do this- I had only been rafting on the James River and encountered not a single waterfall. Our guide was Draco and my boyfriend and I couldn’t have been happier with him. He got both of us excited and personally I think our group had the most fun. Thank you Drax for putting me at ease and giving us a wonderful experience 10/10 would recommend!”

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White Water Rafting - Kaituna Cascades, The Originals - What happens at the Okere Falls base
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White Water Rafting – Kaituna Cascades, The Originals

4.White Water Rafting – Kaituna Cascades, The Originals

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,274 reviews · from $83 a head

You’ll raft 11 rapids and three waterfalls on the Kaituna River, including the 7-meter Tutea Falls, the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall. Guides such as Flynn, Malcolm, Cole, and Hamish lead the 50-minute river run. The trip suits active swimmers aged 13 to 65 and includes all rafting gear.

“This is one of the best things we did on our 6 week vacation to Australia and New Zealand! The 23 foot waterfall drop is incredible and the rest of the class 5 river is also amazing. The staff are very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The pictures from this trip were also amazing, well worth the additional money.”

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Rafting Rotorua Kaituna White Water Rafting | Kaitiaki Adventures - From Rotorua pickup to the Kahikatea Forest base
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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 a head

Raft the Kaituna River near Rotorua with a professional Kiwi and Māori guide, passing more than 14 rapids and dropping over 7-metre Tutea Falls. Kaitiaki Adventures provides wetsuits, helmets, booties, life vests, hotel transfers, safety training, and optional action photos. Allow about 3.5 hours in total.

“We had such a phenomenal experience. Jack, our guide, made the trip that much better. Would recommend!”

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Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River Rafting Experience-Free Sauna - Learning the commands before the first rapid
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Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River Rafting Experience-Free Sauna

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 401 reviews · 2 hours · from $74 a head Cheapest seat

From Rotorua, you’ll suit up, learn the basics, and raft 14 rapids and three waterfalls on the Kaituna River, including a 7-metre commercial waterfall. Guides such as Jack, Lucas, Peach, and George are known for clear instruction and calm support. You can also swim, jump, surf smaller rapids, and finish with a free sauna.

“Fully professional guides Better than expected exciting activity Bucket list type activity”

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Kaituna River White Water Rafting from Rotorua - From Rotorua hotel pickup to the airport base
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Kaituna River White Water Rafting from Rotorua

7.Kaituna River White Water Rafting from Rotorua

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

You’ll raft the Kaituna River with River Rats Raft & Kayak, passing through a fern-lined gorge and over 14 rapids, including Tutea Falls, the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall. Guides such as Zack, Amy, Dave, and Neville have led recent trips. Expect a 15 to 20-minute safety session, full equipment, and about an hour on the water.

“We went rafting a couple days ago with the river rat crew it was my and my girlfriends first time rafting white water. The team there were absolutely great, really fun positive people who made it an experience we won’t forget and left us hungry to do more rafting in the future. Would highly recommend going to anybody. And the photos that they took and showed in a slide show at the end made it all the funnier!”

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Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour - Black Labyrinth: three hours of water and glowworms
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Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour

8.Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 362 reviews · from $119 a head

Enter Ruakuri Cave in a wetsuit and inner tube for a glowworm-lit adventure. Black Labyrinth suits ages 12 and up, while Black Abyss adds abseiling and ziplining for ages 16 and up. Guides including Lachie, Ricco, Sammy, Leo, and Liv lead small groups through cold water and tight passages.

“This is an awe inspiring experience. To be in the caves and interacting with them by walking through, swimming through, jumping through the caves makes it much more than just being shown the caves. You feel much more connected to the caves by having the chance to be in there and do adventurous things there. The experience itself is amazing, and the guides are wonderful.”

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Family Adventures Rafting and Sightseeing Trip in Queenstown - Guides turn a mild river into a memorable outing
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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 a head

Family Adventures takes you from Queenstown through Skippers Canyon by bus before a guided float and paddle on the Shotover River. Expect class I and II rapids, safety gear, snacks, and guides such as Georgia, Josh, Mark, Holly, or Luke, depending on the day. It suits children from age three and does not require water confidence.

“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 - Getting suited up for warm-water whitewater
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Kaituna River and Tutea Falls Whitewater Rafting

10.Kaituna River and Tutea Falls Whitewater Rafting

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

Meet Kaituna Cascades Rafting 20 minutes from Rotorua for a two-hour outing on the Kaituna River. After a safety briefing and gear fitting, you raft 14 rapids in about 50 minutes, including the 7-meter Tutea Falls. Guides such as Malcolm, Alex, Bal, and Josh are known for calm instruction, humor, and strong safety skills.

“Easily the best thing we did in new zealand. Would recommend!!!”

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Queenstown Shotover River White Water Rafting - Getting ready at Deep Creek
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Queenstown Shotover River White Water Rafting

11.Queenstown Shotover River White Water Rafting

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

Join RealNZ for a half-day Shotover River rafting trip from Queenstown. Ride the scenic Skippers Canyon Road, practise with guides such as Morgan, Jess, or Benji, then tackle grade 3 to 5 rapids, Oxenbridge Tunnel, and Cascade Rapid. Gear, transport, digital photos, and hot showers are included. You must swim and weigh 40 to 120 kg.

“We had the experience of a lifetime as a family. Pushing ourselves and seeing a remote picturesque canyon in the middle of New Zealand in Skipper’s Canyon. The guides were amazing - providing confidence and sharing laughter along the journey. Benji our guide was awesome sharing rafting tales from the UK to Iceland and beyond. If you want a memory to cherish for a lifetime - book today!”

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Queenstown: Shotover River Whitewater Rafting Adventure - Getting fitted out 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 a head

Take a half-day rafting trip from Queenstown through Skippers Canyon to the Shotover River. Expect a dramatic coach ride, full safety training, wetsuits, grade 3 to 5 rapids, the dark Oxenbridge Tunnel, and hot showers afterward. Guides such as Jess, Benji, and Libby have earned praise for clear instruction and good humor.

“We had the best experience white water rafting today! So. Much. Fun. Had amazing instructors and guides including, especially Iko who kept us all very safe and happy. Thank you for an adventure we will never forget.”

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Shore Excursion: Scenic Rafting from Napier - Getting equipped at the family base
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Shore Excursion: Scenic Rafting from Napier

13.Shore Excursion: Scenic Rafting from Napier

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

Travel from Napier to the Mohaka River for a two-hour float through native bush and easy class II rapids. Guides including Deon, Jen, Mike, Dallas, and Lottie lead the trip, share Māori and local history, and supply all rafting gear. A homemade lunch follows, with pickup from your ship or Napier city.

“Great trip, not to rough and can sit in middle of the raft if nervous. Lottie the team leader was Fab!”

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The Hobbit Barrel Run Rafting Tour on the Pelorus River - Stopping at the film locations
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The Hobbit Barrel Run Rafting Tour on the Pelorus River

14.The Hobbit Barrel Run Rafting Tour on the Pelorus River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 167 reviews · from $133 a head

Join Pelorus Eco Adventures for a guided rafting trip on New Zealand’s Pelorus River, the setting for barrel scenes in The Desolation of Smaug. You’ll receive safety gear, travel from Havelock, and stop at movie locations while learning about local milling and mining. Allow three to four hours, and bring a change of clothes if you plan to swim.

“We had a great time kayaking! Jade was a wonderful guide. There is a shower and hair dryer available if you decide to swim. I would definitely recommend!”

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Queenstown Kawarau River Rafting and Jet Boat - The jet boat ride across Lake Wakatipu and the Kawarau
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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 a head

Spend about 4.5 hours combining a fast jet boat ride with a guided Kawarau River rafting trip. Expect 360-degree spins, grade 2-3 rapids, swimming, an optional rock jump, and the 400-metre Dog Leg rapid. Guides such as Gabe, Guy, Matt, Mark, and Danny have earned praise for keeping the day safe and fun.

“What an adventure! We were taken from Queenstown on a bus to the location to get geared up for rafting. We then hopped on the bus again and went back in to town to begin our jet boating. What a ride! We then met the rest of the crew part way down the river for our white water rafting experience. The staff were amazing and this added to the whole experience. Highly recommend!”

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Just added: New Zealand Rafting Tours

★ 5.0Queenstown Kawarau River Whitewater RaftingFrom $148 a head57 reviews

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