The minimum age is 13 years old, so this is an activity thats suitable for teenagers too, as long as they are accompanied by an adult. @media (max-width: 1400px){ } line-height: 1.1; width: 96%; @media screen and (max-width: 768px) { margin: 0 15% !important; @media screen and (max-width: 1024px) and (min-width:200px){ .mobile-mini-widgets-in-menu span{ With New Zealand native scenery and Maori History lining the gorge of the beautiful Kaituna River, let Rotorua Rafting show you our backyard. margin-top: 30px !important; If you popped into the local supermarket in Ostrava, youd see Hradileks face adorning Red Bull cans and cookie packets. He remembers getting a glimpse of her after completing the first difficult move. } Were a really tight-knit community. 0 : parseInt(e.tabhide); top: 20px !important; } It is a winter destination for paddlers from the northern hemisphere. They had been confronted by death in their network of friends all too often. When they say paddle to the right you paddle to the right if they say get down you get down and grab the raft. Its interesting, we worry about our kids when they are at home when theyre under your roof youre always conscious of what theyre up to but when theyre away we kind of decided that we couldnt worry or wed drive ourselves mad, says Liz. Rotorua Raftings mission is simple. menu2 Close Menu India angle-down International } e.thumbhide = e.thumbhide===undefined ? We are the closest and most accessible company to the river. Sledging is available from November 1st to April 30th, subject to availability, water levels and minimum numbers. CPT 99238 and 99239 Hospital Discharge E amp M Codes and. There is no feeling like getting down a big, scary section of whitewater and sitting at the bottom after a successful descent. Members of the New Zealand Rafting Association were unavailable for comment and representatives of other rafting companies operating on the Kaituna refused to comment. As you keep paddling, the sounds of water falling over the rocks become the soundtrack of your day while your guide tells you how to navigate the river. The Kaituna River begins at Lake Rotoiti, which is just north of Rotorua, before continuing its long journey to the Bay of Plenty, a journey of around 50 kilometers in length. The grade 5 Kaituna River boasts the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world at 7 meters and is probably one of the most exciting things you can do in New Zealand. white-space: nowrap; The section of the Kaituna River that most commonly forms the white water rafting Rotorua experience, is the area focused around Okere Falls. right:0px !important; Things will start to get more intense after the second waterfall, as you hit more and more rapids in the build-up to the big drop at Tutea Falls. If for any reason we feel safety is compromised we reserve the right to cancel any trip or person. .home .eapps-instagram-feed-posts-grid-load-more-container { .show-on-second-switch { Thats all I had left of her, he says, crying. She was determined and she always challenged herself to get out of her comfort zone.. top: 0; } background: #f7e221; #carousel-container .book-now a { .book-now { It is here he finds his ultimate joy going places physically and spiritually most people will never experience. @media screen and (max-width: 874px) and (min-width:769px) { The only hint that this is the epicentre of whitewater paddling in this country is the haphazardly parked cars that line the highway, some sporting brightly coloured kayaks on their roofs. } Adrenaline filled whitewater rafting on the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. They knew their daughters chosen pursuit came with unthinkable risks, but it never made them overly anxious. "They are obviously very sad and shocked by his tragic death. .home-banner-text-btn h2 { We are all shaken by his death." } } It must have been quite the scene for the local milliner to have been confronted with: this tiny, whippet-like Kiwi barely out of her teens loaded up with a giant pack and a kayak. As she exited, her spray skirt - what paddlers wear to clip them into their kayak - got caught on a branch protruding from the log. I wasnt a very good kayaker then, my skills werent all there and I pretty much just chopped my way down. right: 5% !important; max-height: 25px !important; He was put back into the raft after a short time in the water but collapsed about 10 minutes later. } Liz: We dont want what happened to Louise to discourage young people from chasing their dreams. width: 200px; Those fears were founded. padding-bottom: 0 !important; background-color: #f7e222; .mobile-header-bar .mobile-branding img { div#price_1 h3.pp-pricing-table-title { } Simply show up and get ready to raft! } 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); top: 2% !important; The force of the rapids had pushed Louises lifejacket over her head. background-color: #f7e222 !important; They rolled around in the same circles and were friends for many years before, in late 2012, the current pulled them together. The person he becomes on the river would have called him back. She had never even been on the podium in a major international championship. I remember sitting below the waterfall after I had made it down pretty well. 0 : parseInt(e.tabw); color: #000; #footer .wf-container-footer { } This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In times of war, women and children would lower themselves down the seemingly impenetrable curtain of water, seeking safe haven behind its frothy skirts. text-align:center; .elementor-slideshow__title{ z-index: 999; /*color: #3A444D;*/ color: black !important; color: #34E0A1; Trailhead address: Pilot Quay, Mt Maunganui, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, 3116, New Zealand. } They couldnt walk more than 10m without being swamped by competitors, many of whom have stayed at their Otaki home over the years. Established in 2011, by locally born and bred 4 x World Champion Extreme Kayaker Sam Sutton. display: none !important; A grassy embankment next to the control gates that feed out of Lake Rotoiti marks the put-in area, where paddlers sit in their kayaks, teetering on the edge before they slide down a steep path into water below. 14 Geothermal Mineral Baths Experience: Pavilion Pools for 12+. width: 100%; newh = (e.gh[ix] * m) + (e.tabh + e.thumbh); This is the story of her death but it is also a story of renewal, as those closest to her keep her memory alive by celebrating her sense of adventure. In Okere Falls, however, hes just a regular guy in a spray skirt. } No need to worry about buying special clothing, as wetsuits, helmets, life jackets, boots, splash jackets, and all necessary equipment is provided. div#bottom-bar { And I said well thats going to be a fat lot of use and she said yeah Im not sure what Im really standing here for, he chuckles. She wasnt the first of Ryans friends killed in the sport; she hasnt been the last. margin-bottom: 10px; Warm water, outstanding scenery, heart-pumping rapids and world-class guides white water rafting in New Zealand doesnt get any better than this. width:15px !important; } 7M TUTEA FALLS Experience the adrenaline of white water rafting on Kaituna River! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. border-radius: 3px; By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. } !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) left: 40% !important; /*color: #3A444D;*/ The Kaituna Waterfall experience is a thrill seekers ultimate adventure and a 'must do' New Zealand adrenalin pumping activity. try { for (var i in e.rl) nl[i] = e.rl[i] div:nth-child(1) > div > div > div.tourDetails > a, #page > div.masthead.inline-header.right.light-preset-color.widgets.shadow-mobile-header-decoration.small-mobile-menu-icon.mobile-menu-icon-bg-on.mobile-menu-icon-hover-bg-on.dt-parent-menu-clickable.show-mobile-logo.sticky-off.fixed-masthead > div.top-bar > div.right-widgets.mini-widgets > span.mini-contacts.phone.show-on-desktop.in-menu-first-switch.in-menu-second-switch.first {display:none !important;} margin-left: 7px; .contact-imb-boxes input{ } color: #fff; color: #000; z-index:9999 !important; Give someone the gift of white water rafting an experience theyll never forget! @media(max-width:1200px) and (min-width:767px){ t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; As you near the edge, follow your instructors commands and hold tight. Rotorua Rafting offers spectacular white water rafting adventures on the world-famous Kaituna River, just a 20 minute drive from Rotorua, New Zealand. font-size: 16px; display: flex !important; color: #000 !important; } He immediately yelled ahead to Morley swimmer, a word that carries weighty connotations to whitewater kayakers. } Since the very beginning Ryans goals have been about the adventure and challenging himself to push his limits. Tutea Falls is 7 meters tall and definitely a Class 5 drop! The remote stretch, which carries the outflow of Lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti northwards to Maketu, is isolated by its geography and singular in its sense of destiny for the people that run the rapids. It was where she felt really good. He was thrown from a raft on the Kaituna River, at Tutea Falls, the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world, on Tuesday, the Daily Post at Rotorua reported. color: black !important; border-radius: 3px; . In all, Ryan has lost seven friends, all drowned. And yes, Lina and I have a naked dog. } Youll get kitted out and made to go through the motions of paddling by your guides before you are even allowed near the boat. I think we really worked together because we wanted the same things in life, and that was to kayak and travel and live life to the full, says Hamilton-born Ryan. You may be thinking this is crazy, as your goal is to stay in the boat. According to the International Scale of River Difficulty, whitewater streams are graded one to six, with one being an easy, gentle passage and six being unrunnable for all but a few experts. color: black !important; @media screen and (max-width: 768px) and (min-width:200px){ text-decoration: none; 14 awesome drops, including two waterfalls and some other great rapids in a stunning jungle setting. One trip you should not miss on the North Island when you visit Rotorua is a rafting trip with River Rats Rafting. Kaituna Cascades was established in 1991 and is still today locally owned and operated out of Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand. pw = pw===0 || isNaN(pw) ? .bottom-text-block{ This is the upper section of the river commonly referred to as the Okere River close to its source at Lake Rotoiti, and its the most intense and exciting stretch of water in New Zealand. right: 85px !important; Every time we go through theres a few tears. .admin-bar .dt-close-mobile-menu-icon { Some of them dont use it as much as others, but theres always some link back to that river. Since opening in 1991, we have had 30 years of safe and awesome tours for our amazing guests! } Youll be in safe hands, so just enjoy the ride! His red kayak is a speck against the funnel of water and towering rock formation. Working in Rotorua had its benefits, however, with Louise able to take up residence with Lucas at Okere Falls. And made to go through theres a few tears Mineral Baths Experience: Pavilion Pools 12+! Death. 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