Frequently asked questions

No! You don’t need any experience, 80% of our rafters have never rafted before and our guides will teach you everything that you need to know.

ANYTIME! We raft year round and will dress you accordingly, so don’t worry about getting cold.

This is our most commonly asked FAQ – Nope! We are lucky to have one of the warmest rivers in the country. In the summer, the river is around 24 degrees and in winter it is around 12 degrees which is super warm for NZ.

All you need is a swimsuit and towel – we will provide the rest! Don’t have a swimsuit? Just bring along underwear to wear under the wetsuit. We will provide a wetsuit, neoprene jacket (in the winter) and boots for your feet and of course all safety gear.

No! You don’t need to be an olympic swimmer or a swimmer for that matter. Every rafter wears a personal floatation device (PFD). This is a critical piece of equipment, designed to aid in keeping you afloat in the event you are in the water. We take many non-swimmers and they have a great time. We do need to ensure on check in and again after the safety briefing that non swimmers understand the risks and feel happy that they may end up in the water, although help is generally not too far away, with guides and safety on the river.

We are very lucky in that the Kaituna river is thrilling, exciting, and unbelievely fun, it is also one of the safest rivers in New Zealand. However, as with all adventure sports, there is inherent and assumed risk involved. Risk does add to the excitement and is one of the reasons people enjoy rafting. We do our very best to minimise and manage risk.

To get the full Kaituna experience, waterfalls and all, you need to be 13 or older. This is to meet the standard minimum age for New Zealand Grade 4/5 rivers. We offer to walk those under 13 but over 10, to below the waterfall so that they can enjoy the second half of the trip. This is a grade 3 section.

No, you don’t need to have just climbed Mt Everest, but an average fitness is preferred for your comfort.

Not really, the oldest person we have taken rafting was 86 years old. As long as you feel fit and able, we would love to take you rafting.

While we do have a maximum weight limit of 130kg for safety reasons, it's not just about the number on the scale. It's more about the rafter's shape and whether they can safely fit into our gear. If you can fit our safety equipment, we can generally take you rafting. Our wetsuits range from XXS - XXXXL, although if you are unsure, please feel free to contact us!

Yes and No! Our trips do fill up quickly, especially over the peak rafting season; Dec-March.
We do recommend pre-booking to save disappointment, however, we do our best to cater for walk-ins and last minute reservations.

There are 6-7 people per raft dependent on river conditions.

We can take up to 300 rafters a day. We run trips every hour and a half so can cater for big groups , stag and hen groups, exclusive trips, school groups and work dos! We can generally make it work.

Absolutely! Rafting is an incredibly social activity and you will probably end up with some new friends to have a beer with after.

Not at all! Rafting is very social and you will be popped in a raft with others.

We offer a shuttle from Central Rotorua, but most rafters find it easier to drive straight out to us. Our base is located right across the road from the ‘put in’ and we have lots of safe car parking! Easy for us, easy for you!

Yes, we have communal lockers that are locked for the duration of your rafting trip.

Don’t panic, we are lucky enough to have the Okere Falls store right next door. Check out okerefallsstore.co.nz for menu options. They also have a beer garden, which is perfect for that after raft refreshment.

Absolutely, a popular FAQ.  We have a team of professional photographers out there catching your best pose in a wetsuit. There are a few options and these are available for purchase after the trip.