Charge the Okere: White Water Sledging Rotorua’s Kaituna with Kaitiaki Adventures

Okere Falls•moderate

Difficulty

moderate

Duration

2–2.5 hours (50–60 minutes on water)

Fitness Level

Confident swimmers who can kick fins steadily and recover in moving water; good general cardio helps.

Overview

Go eye-to-eye with Rotorua’s Kaituna/Okere River on a guided white water sledging trip where you steer, surf, and carve your own line. Fast, fun, and surprisingly accessible, this is Rotorua adventure with cultural depth and real skills on moving water.

Charge the Okere: White Water Sledging Rotorua’s Kaituna with Kaitiaki Adventures

Other

Select participants and date

Date

Thu, Oct 30

Travelers

Mist hangs low over the Okere Awa as the river wakes, flexing around boulders and tugging at the banks of towering ponga ferns. You lie at eye level with the current, chest on a foam sled, fins cocked and ready. The water nudges first, then shouts—go—and you kick into a fast, green tongue that folds into a Class III wave train. Spray slaps your cheeks. The river pushes, you answer with your legs, and together you strike a rhythm that feels part swim, part sprint, all grin.

Adventure Photos

Charge the Okere: White Water Sledging Rotorua’s Kaituna with Kaitiaki Adventures photo 1

Adventure Tips

Be a confident swimmer

You’ll spend up to an hour kicking in moving water. Comfort submerging, holding breath in waves, and swimming to an eddy is essential.

Master the fin kick

Short, fast kicks keep the sled planing and responsive—save the big scissor kicks for punching through waves.

Read the seams

Aim for green tongues to enter rapids, then cut across the eddy lines at 45° to avoid getting spun.

Secure eyewear and cameras

Use retainers for glasses and a tethered mount for action cams—holes and flips can strip loose gear fast.

Local Insights

Wildlife

Longfin eel (tuna) in the pools
Tūī calling from the kōwhai and mānuka along the gorge

History

The Okere Awa is significant to Ngāti Pikiao; you can still see remnants of the 1901 Okere hydroelectric station along the riverside track.

Conservation

Stick to formed tracks and platforms, use mineral sunscreen that’s river‑safe, and pack out all waste. Respect cultural sites and any rāhui or guidance from local iwi.