The Best Rafting Excursions in New Zealand.

I will explain to you how to book a rafting activity adapted to your profile, and I will then introduce the best rivers of the country.

You will have fun, even if you have never touched a paddle in your entire life. Rafting in New Zealand is perfect for both beginners (including families) and thrill seekers. Of course, I'm well aware that you want to know your chances of falling into a river above all, and I will cover this subject as well.

It is perfectly normal to question yourself about the risks and an important part of this guide will deal with the safety instructions.

You should definitely enjoy rafting, especially in a country where the activity takes place in dream landscapes.

And if you are not always convinced, I can tell you that people who have tried the rafting in New Zealand are rating the experience as extraordinary (some rafting operators receive 99% of positive votes on Trip Advisor).

Keep in mind that rafting is a discipline that requires concentration and team spirit.

You must be in good physical condition, know how to swim and not be afraid to get wet  if you want to join a rafting outing. If not, you would be well advised to pass your turn.

If you feel ready to go through rapids to relive the heroic escape of the dwarfs in the Hobbit movie, or if you want to discover the unfolding of an outing, Kiwipal is pleased to present the complete guide to rafting in New Zealand.

I precise that we are going to talk exclusively of guided tours organized by specialized rafting companies. I do not recommend improvised outing.

Therefore, if you want to go down a river with your children, you should book Class 1 or Class 2 rivers if you are traveling with young teenagers. Adults, even beginners, can directly book Class 3 rivers or even Class 4 if they are looking for strong sensations.

On the other hand, level 5 is only for experts who regularly practice rafting. Some rafting companies nevertheless allow beginners to book such a high level outing, and if I do not endorse this practice, I confess that I have not received any negative feedback so far.

As soon as you talk about rafting, beginners imagine drowning ... Yet, this sport would not have become as popular if it was so dangerous! The organizers that I will present here are renowned for their professionalism.

You will learn how to react in the event of a fall in the river. The right attitude to adopt is not intuitive, but makes sense! It consists of swimming on the back by putting your feet forward to reduce the risk of collisions.

The equipment provided by the organizer includes the combination, the life jacket and, of course, a helmet and a paddle.

Simply bring the swimsuit that you will wear under your suit, not to mention a towel (to dry yourself at the end of the day).

Note that helmets are mandatory on Class 3 rivers and beyond.

They serve to protect you from possible shocks with rocks, and to guard you against the blows of paddles that could accidentally give you another participant.

It is also an essential safety rule: always hold your paddle with both hands! Participants must stay focus and warn each other (this is part of the rafting team spirit).

At this stage of the formation, it is perfectly normal to feel a slight apprehension, but it will be quickly dissipated: to succeed in putting your combination should cause the first bursts of laughter of the day.

You can rely on your guide to distribute participants according to their physical abilities.

The most muscular rowers will sit at the front where they can deploy all their energy.

Depending on the difficulty of the river, the raft accommodates from 4 to 8 passengers without counting the guide.

Master on board, the guide is positioned at the rear of the raft, from where he communicates his orders to the team.

Each descent in rafting is unique, but the guide knows his river by heart and gives instructions in advance as a conductor.

Rest assured, all outings begin on calm waters.

You will have enough time to repeat the basic movements before being confronted to rapids. All orders are meant to be simple: “go on, wait, let go, stop on the left ...”

The more the team performs synchronized movements, the more likely it will win the improvised races with the other rafts. A minimum of discipline is indispensable, but this state of mind is not incompatible with good humor and bursts of laughter!

The rhythm is often unpredictable, but calm sequences allow the beginners to recover forces.

These peaceful moments allow the guide to evoke the history of the region and Maori legends.

But in fast, you will not have any time for a break!

The presence of other rafts makes it possible to engage races between crews.

The rapids are not always physically exhausting! If the river is wide enough and in a straight line, you just have to get carried away by giving a few paddles to rectify occasionally the trajectory. And if a fall appears, rely on the experience of your guide to approach it in the best conditions.

Finally, I am often asked where is the best position on board ?

To tell the truth, you will be soaked no matter where you will be seated, but anyone who has already experienced rafting knows that it is better to sit at the back of the raft to avoid many splashings.

The water of the rivers is fresh and the traditional break “cookie + hot drink” at half-way is always appreciated.

Whatever the season, a hot shower is essential to recover at the end (some companies even offer hot dogs and beers).

It seems legitimate to ask whether the raft can sink like the Titanic.

In fact, the raft is an unsinkable inflatable dinghy made up of several independent watertight compartments. A waterway would not call into question the buoyancy of the raft.

There is no need to panic if a fall occurs, even if you are in rapids.

Try to swim on your back and keep your legs stretched in the direction of the current so you do not risk a collision with the debris at the bottom of the river.

Your life jacket is enough to keep your head above water, and you will not be left on your own during a long time anyway... If the current permits, the team will maneuver the raft to fish you. If not, a second guide that follows in a kayak will take care of you.

But if the fear of falling into the water prevails, I recommend you to choose a Class 2 river where the risk of falling is practically zero. Even on a Class 3 river, you have little chance of falling. The risk is more serious at Class 4, but the life jackets protect you effectively.

La compagnie Rafting New Zealand has been based in Turangi for more than 20 years, but shuttles are available to customers in Taupo.

I am not alone in recommending this organizer who has been awarded many times at the New Zealand's Awards in the Rafting category since 2010.

Three different outings are available, but the first one is only aiming families with small children (with a swimming break included).

The “White Water” (Class 3) and Upper Gorge (Class 4) itineraries are exceptional if you're looking for thrills. The Class 4 itinerary is, however, conditioned by the opening of a dam and you will have to contact the company to know the schedules.

Outings are organized throughout the year, with more frequent departures in summer (and highest rates). Count a half day of activity, of which 2h (sometimes 2h30) are spent on the water. Here is a summary table.

The is a is one of the oldest companies in New Zealand, with an activity dating back to 1974.

It offer a free shuttle from Queenstown to the  Shotover and Kawarau rivers. The excursions last about 4:30, with half of the time spent on the river.

The quality of the coaching allows this organizer to eclipse all its competitors. You can book with your eyes closed!

The peculiarity of the Queenstown Rafting formulas is that the difficulty of the rivers is not linear. It is an undeniable advantage that allows to propose thrills (some passages flirt with Class 5) without exhausting the participants.

The Shotover River made the fortune of the prospectors, but the veins are now exhausted.

According to most experts, this is the most beautiful rafting river in New Zealand.

The 12 km itinerary takes place on a turquoise water, with rapids whose difficulty passes successively from average to difficult in the Skipper Canyon. You will even borrow the Oxenbridge Tunnel dug by the gold diggers!

The Kawarau River is a more affordable river (Class 2 to 3) suitable for adults and teenagers who like to race between crews. But the rapids are rare, which can disappoint thrill seekers.

Each guide has a first aid certificate and outstanding swimmer skills. They are above all professionals who work with a smile, but who always double-check the material in the smallest detail.

Rafting is often considered dangerous because it is systematically associated with class five rapids that are not intended for beginners.

But for the Cartesian minds who only swear by the numbers, I dug the subject to find you the real rafting's accident statistics each year.

There are 100 to 150 wounded per year per 100,000 participants. With a risk rate of 0.1%, there is nothing to be worried about...

Compared to mountain biking which creates ten times more accidents, the rafting would pass for a harmless sport (I spare you the comparison with road traffic).

However, this activity requires to be fit enough and accompanied by a guide.

If you have absolutely no strength in your arms, and you do not like endurance sports, it's better to pass your turn. If, on the other hand, you practice a sport regularly and your doctor gives his consent, indulge yourself!

Rafting is one of the best activities you can book for your stay in New Zealand. I am glad to have made you discover it, and the time has come to pass on the relay to our friend Ben for practical questions.