Kaituna Rafting, which trades as Rotorua Rafting, runs white water rafting on the Kaituna River at Ōkere Falls, from 763 State Highway 33. The company was founded in 2011, and the website says it has run more than 10,000 trips since then. It is ranked number one on TripAdvisor and the website. Guests get free transfers from central Rotorua, a guided cultural walk through the forest, and world-class safety equipment. The trip takes about 30 minutes before the raft is launched, then about 30 minutes on Grade 3 rapids. Guests need a swimsuit and towel, and lunch options are available. Participants must be at least 10 years old. No experience is needed, and the website describes the fitness required as low. Book online, or call 0800 772 384.
Customers praise the guides as expert, fun and gentle, and say they explained what to do in the rapids. One reviewer said the river is rapid but manageable. Another said a drop was serious and their boat flipped, but the guides gave clear instructions. A guide was especially attentive to a parent in her sixties. Customers also mention the clean, pristine water and the chance to swim through the rapids. Our pick in Ōkere Falls for a first white water trip with guides who take the time.