Day 9 – Tuseday – Part 1

A Spoiler to Start the Day

Some members of our group might describe this day as a “near-death experience”—but don’t worry, everything turned out fine and everyone is safe. Still, it was one of those days we’ll probably never forget.

Rafting the Kaituna River

Our plan for the day was to raft the Kaituna River.

About the Kaituna River and Tutea Falls

The Kaituna River, also known as the Ōkere River, flows through lush native rainforest just outside Rotorua and is deeply rooted in Māori history. The name “Kaituna” comes from its traditional use by the Ngāti Pikiao people for catching eels and whitebait. Today, it’s one of New Zealand’s most iconic whitewater rafting destinations.

Its crown jewel is Tutea Falls, a dramatic 7-meter (23-foot) drop that holds the title of the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. Named after a Māori chief, the waterfall is part of a trio that includes Ōkere Falls and Kaituna Falls, all nestled within the scenic Okere Falls Reserve.

So after breakfast, we headed to Rotorua Rafting, where we were warmly welcomed and quickly geared up with wetsuits, helmets, and booties. A safety briefing followed, and then we hopped on the bus to the launch site—just across the road, really. Another short safety talk in the bus, and then we were ready to board our rafts.

Our guide was in great spirits, and we had a blast navigating the first rapids and smaller waterfalls. Beyond the adrenaline, the ride down the Kaituna River is also incredibly scenic. Towering native rainforest surrounds the river, creating a dramatic and almost surreal atmosphere—especially in winter, with the cooler temperatures .

Before reaching the big one, we received one final briefing and follwing information:

“This is not a theme park ride—this is real nature, real water, and a real boat!”

Anyone who wanted to skip the 7-meter drop could take the so-called “Walk of Shame.” Unsurprisingly, no one did.

The Big Drop

We were part of a group with three rafts, and ours was in the middle. The first boat went over the waterfall smoothly. Then it was our turn. We entered the waterfall with confidence, gliding well into the current. For a brief moment, everything felt under control—until the raft hit the plunge, the force of the water pulled us slightly to the left. In a split second, the raft twisted, tipped—and flipped completely upside down. Suddenly, we were all in the water.

Our kids ended up underneath respectively between the raft and the side rocks , while Pooh and Viator were pulled down by the waterfall—over 70,000 liters of water per second crashing down on us. It felt like being inside a washing machine. We had been warned about this scenario during the safety briefing, and thankfully, the current pushes you out after about 10-15 seconds. The pool below is flat and free of rocks, so the risk of injury is low. Still, those seconds felt like minutes, and it was hard to tell which way was up. It’s a shock moment, full of adrenaline, and you have to consciously fight off panic and the urge to breath.

The Rotorua Rafting team was incredibly professional. A kayaker quickly reached us. Viator was pulled into the first raft and checked by the guide—though he was more concerned about Pooh and the kids and didn’t even notice he was bleeding from the nose (his helmet had hit him). Pooh was guided to grab hold of the kayak, which she managed after a few attempts. Holding on tightly, she was then directed toward the side of the river to stand safely on the rocks. Once everyone was safe, our raft was flipped back upright, and we were all helped back into it so we could continue the journey safely.

We startet good into the waterfall…

Here the raft flips to the left

Now everyone was in the water, Kids are under the raft.

Afterward everyone is happy again 😉

Winding Down After the Rapids

The 3rd raft went down without issues and the rest of the tour was calm, and the remaining rapids felt like a breeze compared to what we had just experienced. Everyone was a bit drained, and back at the base, a hot shower and a cup of cocoa were just what we needed.

Since it was already lunchtime, we grabbed a bite to eat at a small place just across the road before heading back to the hotel for a short break. We had plans for the evening—a cultural experience with the Māori at Te Pā Tū. More on that in Part 2.

All the photos were kindly taken by Rotorua Rafting.