Raft the Kaituna River and Tutea Falls with Kaituna Cascades: Rotorua’s Grade 5 Classic
Difficulty
difficult
Duration
2 hours (about 50 minutes on the water)
Fitness Level
Strong general fitness with good paddling effort and comfort in fast-moving water; expect short bursts of intense activity.
Overview
Drop into a jungle-walled canyon and run the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall with Kaituna Cascades. This Grade 5 Rotorua classic pairs tight, punchy rapids with deep, forgiving pools—big on thrill, smart on safety.
Raft the Kaituna River and Tutea Falls with Kaituna Cascades: Rotorua’s Grade 5 Classic
Select participants and date
Mist hangs in the gorge as the Kaituna River slips from Lake Rotoiti and commits to the canyon. Ferns lean in like curious spectators, and the water, warm and jade, urges you forward. This is where Kaituna Cascades pioneered rafting on the Kaituna—threading a deep volcanic-walled corridor of ledges, pourover waves, and three waterfalls, including 7-meter Tutea Falls, the highest commercially rafted drop on the planet. When the bow tilts and the horizon line disappears, the river doesn’t ask; it dares.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Arrive early to scout the drops
Walk the Okere Falls track 30 minutes before your trip to watch rafts at Tutea and Trout Pool Falls and learn the lines from shore.
Dial in your brace and swim position
Listen closely during the safety talk—low center of gravity in rapids, and if you swim, feet up, face downstream, hands on PFD.
Secure cameras and eyewear
Use a floaty/backdoor tether for GoPros and a retainer strap for glasses; anything loose will belong to the river.
Choose your season wisely
Summer offers warm, silky flows; winter brings crisp air and extra layers. Either way, quick-dry swimwear under the wetsuit is best.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Sacred kingfisher (kōtare) flashing blue along the banks
- Brown and rainbow trout finning in the deep pools
History
Okere Falls powered one of New Zealand’s earliest hydroelectric stations for Rotorua in the early 1900s, remnants of which remain beside the track. The falls and river hold longstanding significance for local Māori communities.
Conservation
Stay on marked tracks and respect culturally significant sites along the reserve. Pack out all rubbish and avoid trampling sensitive riverbank vegetation to protect water quality and native habitat.
Select participants and date
Adventure Hotspots in Rotorua
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Swimwear and towel
Wear swimwear under the provided wetsuit and bring a towel for changing post-river.
Eyewear retainer or contacts case
Protect prescription sunglasses or store lenses after the trip to avoid loss in the rapids.
GoPro with floaty/tether
If you bring an action camera, a floaty backdoor or tether helps keep it from vanishing in the canyon.
Thermal base layer (winter)
A thin, synthetic or merino top under the wetsuit adds warmth on cooler days.
winter specific