White Water Rafting

The ultimate adrenaline rush!

With so many beautiful rivers filled with water from surrounding mountains,you will have several rafting options in a variety of locations.

You will get an all round experience of excitement and thrills, along with viewing amazing scenic vistas, as you course through often narrow ravines and valleys, bounded by cliffs, untouched thick bush, and a true wilderness environment.

There are many companies offering white water rafting tours ranging from 45 minutes to half days, or incorporated into a 3-4 day combo. All are offering a selection of adrenaline pumping excitement and a never to be forgotten holiday in New Zealand experience!

I will outline where you will find rafting companies operating rather than name them, as there are far too many all offering different choices. I also detail the rating for the river, and how to best decide which company offers the best experience for you and your capabilities.

Have a look at this You Tube cut to get that adrenaline and excitement going -

White water rafting has an element of risk, but in New Zealand, recognised operators will have gone through stringent training. Many operators will display an orange and black fern leaf logo which says they are an accredited operator. These are specific to tourism businesses. To qualify for this they are accessed on :

• The quality of their customers experience

• Service facilities offered

• Equipment used

• The safety and welfare business practices for their clients

CHOOSING YOUR RAFTING TOUR

Rivers are graded 1 – 6 for the degree of difficulty. This is important when choosing which rafting tour you will do. If you are a non or poor swimmer, or have never white water rafted before, you will need to go for a smoother, easier ride first time.It will be just as exciting an adventure.

Many rivers have different Grades for different parts of the river. So if members of your group have varying abilities, you can all choose a white water raft tour at your level.

• Grade 1 - has small waves, little or no current and no obstacles.
• Grade 2 - More current, bigger waves, no obstacles
• Grade 3 - a bigger current, more turbulent, longer rapids, holes, and some obstacles. This is intermediate level.
• Grade 4 – Steeper, more obstacles such as rocks and boulders, holes etc.
• Grade 5 - big waves, very strong currents and boulders and holes
• Grade 6 - is extremely difficult and should be left to professionals if anyone at all.

For further info go to:

http://www.raft.co.nz/qualmark.asp

www.raft.co.nz

River Grades

• Grade 1 - None
• Grade 2 - Waiohine, Mohaka (2-5), Ngarururo (1,4,5), Rangitaiki (2,3,4)
• Grade 3 - Motu, Wanganui
• Grade 4 – Mongohau – (4,5)
• Grade 5 – Wairoa, Kaituna

SOUTH ISLAND

• Grade 1 - Taieri (1-3)
• Grade 2 - Waiau (2,3), Waimakariri (2-4), Buller, Clarence (2,3)
• Grade 3 -4 - Kawarau
• Grade 4 – Arahura (4,5), Waiatoto, Grey, Hokitika
• Grade 5 – Shotover, Rangitata, Karamea

Most accessible White Water Rafting

The Rangitaiki river located near Taihape in the central North Island. has many options for different rafting and bungy experiences.

My son and daughter-in-law had a great experience there staying in a lodge on the edge of the Rangitaiki river as part of the package. Home on holiday........ they made the trip specially, having researched North island white water rafting experiences.

The South Island offers a great range of white water rafting for all abilities.These include

• Queenstown - The Shotover is probably our most famous white water experience. The Kawarau, another near Queenstown, also has many other thrilling activities such as the original bungee, Kawarau Bungy Trampoline and the Zipline
• West Coast - Hokitika and Greymouth both have rafting companies
• Christchurch - just an hour away you can enjoy fantastic rafting in New Zealand with Rangitata Rafts on the Rangitata River.

There are other rivers with operators offering tours, but for the majority of visitors these locations will be where you are most likely to be travelling to.





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