Kaitiaki Adventures runs guided activities in Rotorua for more than 25 years. Its best-known trip is rafting on the Kaituna River, which includes Tutea Falls, a 7-metre waterfall that the company calls the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. It also runs white water sledging, where guests ride the rapids on a board with fins, and guided hikes into the Mt Tarawera volcanic crater. The business's office is at 1135 Te Ngae Road in Tikitere, and the Mt Tarawera hikes start from the main carpark on Hemo Road, Whakarewarewa.
Recent customers describe the guides as friendly and funny, and say the safety crew made them feel secure on the water. One rafter says they were nervous at first but enjoyed every rapid. The hikes include Māori stories of the 1886 eruption, and the company says it blends its adventures with Māori culture. Educational groups have their own booking link for group rates. The company can be reached on 0800 338 736 within New Zealand, or on +64 7 350 1151 from overseas. For someone who wants a full day of water and volcanic scenery in Rotorua, the combination of rafting, sledging and a crater hike is the main draw.