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From a seven metre waterfall on the Kaituna to a gentle family float on the Shotover, white water rafting in New Zealand has a trip for every confidence level. Pick your river in Rotorua, Queenstown, Wellington or Hanmer Springs. Looking for more? Browse bucket list experiences or family gifts.
New Zealand's rivers run from gentle Grade 1 to 2 floats through to Grade 5 drops, so there's a raft trip for most ages and confidence levels. Below, trips are grouped by region, with the grade, time and minimum age for each so you can choose quickly.
Rotorua is home to the Kaituna River, where the seven metre Tutea Falls is billed as the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. There are three ways to raft it. The 1 hour Grade 5 Kaituna trip spends an hour on the water over 14 rapids and three waterfalls. The 50 minute Kaituna trip starts with a land raft training session, and the 3 hour Kaituna trip includes transfers from your Rotorua accommodation. All three need a minimum age of 13.
For something rougher, the Grade 5 Wairoa River trip takes on rapids called Mother's Nightmare and the Rollercoaster, but it only runs on Sundays, so check dates before you book. Gentler, the Lower Rangitaiki Grade 2 trip never rises above Grade 2, with 90 minutes on the water and lunch provided. Want a different angle on the river? White water sledging is a three hour trip with about 45 minutes on the water, plus training on land and in the river first.
Queenstown rafting runs through Skippers Canyon and along the Kawarau River, and most trips are seasonal. The Shotover River half day trip tackles Grade 3 to 5 rapids and the 170 metre Oxenbridge Tunnel over about 4.5 hours. The Kawarau River jet boat and rafting trip pairs a 30 minute jet boat ride with Grade 2 to 3 rapids and the 400 metre Dog Leg, billed as New Zealand's longest commercially rafted rapid. Both need a minimum age of 13.
Travelling with kids? The family friendly Shotover trip in the morning and the afternoon family trip raft Grade 1 to 2 rapids, take kids from three and suit non swimmers. The afternoon trip passes the Ford of Bruinen filming location from The Lord of the Rings. Allow about five hours for either, including transfers.
If you'd like a board instead of a raft, try river surfing or sledging on the Kawarau River. River surfing starts at age eight and sledging at 13, and you need to be a confident swimmer for both.
Wellington's rivers are close to the city, and most trips suit beginners. On Te Awa Kairangi, the Hutt River, the Grade 2 scenic trip takes 1.5 to 2 hours and welcomes kids from four. The Grade 3 wilderness trip tackles more than 50 rapids and takes kids from 10.
In Waiohine Gorge, the 3 hour scenic trip is a Grade 2 option for beginners and families, with kids from four. To add a cliff, the 5 hour raft and abseil combo includes a 30 metre rappel and a riverside lunch, and the full day raft and abseil trip adds an 8 metre rock jump. Both take kids from eight. For adults only, rafting with a beer tasting finishes at Wild Kiwi Distillery.
Hanmer Springs is about 90 minutes' drive north of Christchurch, and the Waiau River's Grade 2 rapids make a good first raft. Two trips pair rafting with a jet boat ride back: rafting with a return jet boat ride and the raft and jet boat ride on the Waiau River. Both take around two hours and welcome children from six.
Match the trip to your group. For young kids and beginners, look for Grade 1 to 2 trips: the family Shotover trips take kids from three, Wellington's from four and Hanmer Springs' from six. Grade 3 trips add more rapids and a higher minimum age. The Grade 5 Kaituna and Wairoa trips are for confident swimmers aged 13 or over, with weight limits of 120 to 130kg depending on the trip, and a reasonable level of fitness.
Bring swimwear and a towel, and wear something warm to change into. Wetsuits and safety gear are provided, with details on each product page. Rafting isn't suitable for anyone who is pregnant, and several trips aren't recommended for people with back or heart conditions. Many Queenstown trips are seasonal, running roughly October to April, and river conditions can affect trips, so check dates on each product page. Booking changes close 24 or 48 hours before the start, depending on the trip.
Stay on the river with jet boating, including Queenstown, Rotorua and Hanmer Springs, or browse all water sports and canyoning and caving. Planning a trip around your raft? See things to do in Rotorua, Queenstown, Wellington and Hanmer Springs.
RedBalloon lists white water rafting in Rotorua on the Kaituna, Wairoa and Rangitaiki rivers, in Queenstown on the Shotover and Kawarau rivers, in Wellington on Te Awa Kairangi and in Waiohine Gorge, and in Hanmer Springs on the Waiau River.
The Kaituna River trips with 14 rapids are Grade 5, and they include the seven metre Tutea Falls. Check each product page for the grade and time on the water.
Yes. The family friendly Shotover trips in Queenstown take kids from three, Wellington's Grade 2 trips take kids from four, and the Hanmer Springs trips take children from six. The Grade 5 trips need a minimum age of 13.
Yes. RedBalloon vouchers are valid for five years, and the person you're gifting books their own rafting date. If they'd rather do something else, they can exchange the voucher for another experience.