0 : e.tabw; .soc-ico .facebook{ things to do in rotorua for couples. div#bottom-bar { Its an epic section of whitewater, says Ryan Lucas, one of the countrys top extreme kayakers. What they know is Louise got her line slightly wrong and was sucked towards a partially submerged log, flipping awkwardly on to the debris. Once there, we were briefed on the trip and sent out to get fitted with our gear for the day and meet our river guides. Grade 3 rafting on The Kaituna River available for 10-12 year olds for $60pp. Spend three adrenaline-crammed hours white water rafting down the Kaituna River on this tour from Rotorua. Ryan calls them the river people and proudly counts himself among their number. Were a really tight-knit community. Book your spot and find out why Rotorua Rafting was ranked #1 Travellers choice experience in New Zealand, 1 HOUR OF EPICNESS ON THE MIGHTY KAITUNA RIVER WILL LEAVE YOU STOKED, 1 HOUR OF STANDUP PADDLE BOARDING / FAMILY FLOAt, Zipline over waterfalls, Rotorua newest Must Do Activity, MAKE A DAY OF IT AND ADD A HOT POOL AFTERYOURTRIP. padding:0px 10px !important; } margin: 0 10px; The truth is, his girlfriends death that horrible, nightmarish event I will never get over taught him plenty about life. TALES OF BANKS PENINSULA Second Edition. The River Rats Kaituna Waterfall Experience will see you paddling through the pristine heart of the best rafting region in New Zealand - Okere, Rotorua. max-width: 150px!important; Co-owner of Kaitiaki Adventures Jason Wright said his sympathy went out to the Shah family. Tutea Falls is the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world, at 7m high. width:50%; } The sequence of events we will never fully know.. If you feel like free-floating down the class 5 rapids, jump out of the boat and give it a try. .top_marquee { We have handpicked experienced guides that we would trust to take our grandma rafting on the Kaituna River. Two others were reportedly floating on an inner tube, two fell off a paddleboard and one person was in a kayak. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a273d8792fdd09b8a47fda5587b80cfd" );document.getElementById("d2f8ec4791").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); We are David & Lina Stock, a married couple from NW Wisconsin who have been traveling together since 2001. The cult of extreme sports has often been accused of breeding machoism, but theres no hint of bravado to Ryans words. The Kaituna is a white water enthusiast's dream come true. for (var i in e.rl) if (e.gh[i]===undefined || e.gh[i]===0) e.gh[i] = e.gh[i-1]; Others have returned in their own time. opacity:1; } width: 46%!important; He is a passionate outdoorsman with loads of energy and a desire to share with you, the wonders of the Kaituna River the place he calls home. All promotions. /* Home Carousel */ As she exited, her spray skirt - what paddlers wear to clip them into their kayak - got caught on a branch protruding from the log. We just kind of sat there helplessly, the water was moving so fast and it was impossible to get back to where we knew Lou was, Ryan explains. background-color: #f7e222; .mobile-mini-widgets-in-menu span{ img.ult-align-right { She was with her husband and a group of friends. display: flex; @media only screen and (max-width: 600px) { } Ryan has spent most of his life chasing waterfalls. padding-right: 15px; " Stephanie - Germany KAITUNA padding-left: 20px; She was determined and she always challenged herself to get out of her comfort zone.. Its a story that defies belief. Although none of their four children compete in slalom any more, Louises parents volunteered to be judges. One trip you should not miss on the North Island when you visit Rotorua is a rafting trip with River Rats Rafting. I remember sitting below the waterfall after I had made it down pretty well. } Dont worry about hitting a rock just let the powerful rapids take you for a wet n wild ride. It is every year now for me that one of my friends leaves me, he says. "We voluntarily suspended operations for the day and have met with Maritime New Zealand to explain what happened. Give someone the gift of white water rafting an experience theyll never forget! Rotorua Rafting was built around the love of the river, extensive local and cultural knowledge, as well as the best-handpicked guides to best showcase the aroha of the kere awa. margin-bottom: 0; .kaituna-button:hover { Hearing about Suttons adventures motivated Ryan, then about 15, to get involved. n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; text-align:center; Depending on the weather conditions during your white water rafting Rotorua trip, you may be given extra spray jackets too most definitely if you are rafting in winter. Owner of Rotorua Rafting and 4x Extreme Kayaking World Champion Sam Sutton is the man behind the brand. Location: Okere Falls, Rotorua, BOP/NZ Product code: Kaituna Rotorua Rafting are the Kaituna River (Okere River) Specialists. font-family: Roboto; } This Kaituna River rafting adventure in the Okere Falls Scenic Reserve promises plenty of thrills! We arrive at Huka Falls and heres Luuka [Jones] on the bridge with a throw rope [a line thrown into the water if a paddler gets into trouble]. background-color: #f7e222 !important; Companies in Rotorua run trips all throughout the year, with more scheduled departures each day in summer than in winter. .book-now { They will run you through techniques, the commands theyll be issuing and what to do if you fall out or the boat flips. if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; AKAROA: PRINTED BY H. C. JACOBSON, "MAIL" OFFICE 1893. 0 : e.rl[i]; position: relative; } Liz: We dont want what happened to Louise to discourage young people from chasing their dreams. Our sweet Rafting Base in Okere Falls is in an awesome sunny location, surrounded by a scenic reserve and backs onto the shores of the Kaituna. .vc_col-sm-6 { Whitewater Rafting Rotorua Rotorua's Rafting Experts, SAVE $10 Per Person Use Promo Code: CASCADES. .ult-open > .ult_modal div.ult_modal-body > iframe { Many who testified grappled with the issue of the risks associated with the sport, and at what point those risks become unacceptable. There is no world championship or formal circuit for extreme kayaking. sl; display:none !important; } text-align:center!important; 1 : (pw-(e.tabw+e.thumbw)) / (e.gw[ix]); /*a.book-btn.fh-button-true-flat-yellow.fh-fixed--bottom.fh-size--small { @media screen and (max-width: 1920px) and (min-width:769px){ You canlearnmore about us here. 0 : parseInt(e.tabw); I could see why she really loved it, says Adrian. You may want to bring a few snacks to enjoy after the rafting, and some water or other refreshments too. width:70px !important; padding: 16px 20px; a.dt-mobile-menu-icon { Be sure to make Kaituna river rafting your first stop adventure activity in Rotorua! e.gw = Array.isArray(e.gw) ? newh = (e.gh[ix] * m) + (e.tabh + e.thumbh); min-height: 183px; It isnt every day that you get a chance to raft class 5 rapids and negotiate a 7-meter waterfall, the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the World. } She had never even been on the podium in a major international championship. That feeling was unbeatable. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. But we pretty much made a deal that if one of us died on the river that we wouldnt let it stop us doing what we love. } background-color: #fff; background-color: #f7e222 !important; It is not a stretch to say she felt her presence in Rio de Janeiro last year, when she pulled off the run of her life to claim the silver medal. } .dt-mobile-menu-icon:not(.floating-btn) .menu-line:before { Established in 2011,by locally born and bred 4 x World Champion Extreme Kayaker Sam Sutton. In Okere Falls, however, hes just a regular guy in a spray skirt. The positioning of the log in the middle of the flow would have made it impossible for her to right herself, forcing her to exit her kayak. 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. .elementor-slideshow__title{ The most popular sections for white water rafting Rotorua are found closer to the source of the river, by Lake Rotoiti, allowing easy access from the city, but also allows you to tackle Tutea Falls, the tallest waterfall in the world that can be rafted. Louise had written about these risks in a blog posted less than a month before her death. 0 : parseInt(e.thumbhide); } Photo / NZME. Offering the most spectacular white water rafting in Okere Falls, Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand. With Louise, we always had the confidence in her that she knew what she was doing.. }. The area attracts not only top kayakers from around the world, but with numerous rafting companies operating on the river, it is a mecca for seasonal workers looking for an OE beyond the ordinary. . .default-btn-shortcode { A nurse who was on the river at the time performed CPR on the man, along with staff from Kaitiaki Adventures, before being taken to Rotorua Hospital by St John paramedics. Thats because it is a pool drop river, meaning every section of rapids is followed by a calm stretch allowing paddlers the opportunity to be reunited with their craft should they come to grief. Her body was still ensnared on the log when a rescue team was deployed the next morning, after the river level had lowered. Mr Chhagan said the man was with his wife, son, daughter, son-in-law and some friends when the incident occurred. fbq('track', 'PageView'); body .fh-button-true-flat-red:hover, body .fh-button-true-flat-red:active { Snaking through bush-clad canyons, the Kaituna River is a mystical gorge of fast-moving water, steep drops and turbulence. Rotorua Rafting was built around the love of the river, extensive local and cultural knowledge, as well as the best-handpicked guides to best showcase the aroha of the kere awa. e.thumbw = e.thumbhide>=pw ? Gnarly gorge is where things get particularly, well, gnarly. newh = Math.max(e.mh,window.RSIH); //window.requestAnimationFrame(function() { She had this knack to get herself into situations, but to get herself out of them as well. We cant wait to see all of you legends out Rafting the Kaituna with us . The first of the three gorges is known to paddlers as Awesome. color: #000 !important; These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. .mobile-header-bar .mobile-branding img { Join an epic grade 5 whitewater rafting expedition on the Kaituna River and get an adrenaline rush in its deep warm water canyons. window.innerWidth : window.RSIW; River Rats picked us up at our hostel and away we went for a 20-minute drive to their main office. RotoruaRafting 2019 / Privacy / Digital Marketing by Rotorua Rafting. #carousel-container .carousel-container-content h2 { li#field_1_2 { 0 : parseInt(e.tabhide); @media screen and (max-width: 768px) { The beginning of the trip starts off mild so its easy to get into the flow of rafting the river. Kaituna Cascades Rafting Company is the # 1 rafting company in Rotorua on TripAdvisor! text-align: left; Before getting into the water, the experienced guides will show you what you need to know to make it down the river. It is also where Ryan and Louises love story began and the starting point of their fateful trip on March 11, 2015. Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River rafting - See 1,518 traveler reviews, 219 candid photos, and great deals for Rotorua, New Zealand, at Tripadvisor. 2hr30min - 3hrDuration. #carousel-container-old { He acknowledged risk-taking in sport was a big societal question, but was difficult to legislate against without taking away the free will of the athletes. It is used for recreational kayaking, commercial tandem kayaking, rafting and sledging. .wprs_unslider { A police spokeswoman said police and Hato Hone St John Ambulance personnel were advised of an incident at Trout Pool Rd, Okere Falls in the Rotorua district about 3.10pm. .home-banner-text-btn h2 { .textwidget p { color: #000; Jump aboard and enjoy the fun with the team at Rotorua Rafting. The Highest Commercially Rafted Waterfall The Okere (Kaituna) River is situated at Okere Falls, between Rotorua (20 minutes drive) and Tauranga (45 minutes drive). } Simply show up and get ready to raft! Her paddle came downstream straight away, followed closely by her upturned yellow and lime kayak. For clear evidence, you need only to visit his family bach, where a makeshift ramp connects their deck to the jetty at the edge of the lake some 40m below. Those fears were founded. width:100% !important; 0 : parseInt(e.thumbh); n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)}; The Kaituna is a grade five, which is characterised as "extremely difficult and violent, with life-threatening hazards". } I wish we never went paddling that day. } by Matthew Martin matthew.martin@dailypost.co.nz } New Zealand is known for its extreme activities and sports throughout the country. a.book-btn.fh-button-true-flat-yellow.fh-fixed--bottom.fh-size--small { bottom: 50%; From here on it is continuous whitewater, like a fast-moving hydroslide winding through a boxed-in canyon. /*color: #3A444D;*/ } margin-bottom: -20px !important; }} You dont need to be super fit, but you do need to able to cope with the adrenaline, the high speeds, and the crashing water, while you are paddling. } } If she wanted to do something, she would always just go and make it happen.. right: 85px !important; @media(max-width:1024px) and (min-width:769px){ Since the very beginning Ryans goals have been about the adventure and challenging himself to push his limits. I expected to hear her whistle back straight away, he says, gnashing his teeth as he clenches his jaw to prevent himself from breaking down. .sticky-mobile-on .mobile-navigation { } .carousel-container-content { @media screen and (max-width: 782px){ text-align: center !important; But it is also a story Lucas has been reluctant to tell. #carousel-container .watch img { bottom: 60px !important; but nothing compares to the end waterfall. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Take on 14 rapids with world class guides and gear. window.RSIW : pw; You paddle once again, as hard as you can with your whole body then you quickly jump down holding on to the water-soaked rope as you have the sensation of free-falling. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Our journey for the day started in Rotorua. z-index:9999 !important; 0 : e.thumbw; One thing she couldnt make happen was the Olympics. Kaituna River Rafting Adventure 5 hours | Tauranga| TRG-500T R G - 5 0 0 Avg Guest RatingAverage Guest Rating Book Now From $169.95 Min. .mobile-header-bar .mobile-branding img { } background-color: #F7E222; e.thumbhide = e.thumbhide===undefined ? margin: 30px 0; The Cave: An Adaptation of Plato's Allegory in Clay; Chasing the Shadows; The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf: A Stop-motion Adaptation e.tabw = e.tabw===undefined ? top: 0; Combine the unique crater walking experience with rafting on the Kaituna with Kaitiaki Adventures. An all day combo taking you from the volcanic crater of Mt Tarawera, to the Okere section of the Kaituna River, where you will raft the world's highest commercially rafted waterfall, take on 14 rapids with world class guides and gear. As far as grade five rivers go, the upper section of the Kaituna is considered the forgiving kind. Embrace a thrilling whitewater rafting adventure infused with Maori culture. background: #f7e221; .yellow-head .elementor-widget-container{ You just need to be physically fit and ready for a lot of adrenaline and a lot of water. } Okere Falls is the inlet to the Kaituna. Cancellation Policy !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) Double-check with your tour provider beforehand, to ensure they provide this service for you because you will want to take home the photos. Search whitewater kayaking on YouTube and you will fall down a rabbit hole of video content, where, from the vantage point of GoPro cameras fixed to their helmets and kayaks, you can watch thrill-seeking paddlers taking on towering waterfalls and treacherous stretches of water in some of the most remote corners of the world. display: none; border-radius: 3px; } } by Matthew Martin matthew.martin@dailypost.co.nz A man has died after a rafting adventure down the Kaituna River turned to tragedy. Including free pick up from your Central Rotorua accommodation. While he clings tightly to those conversations he had with Louise and the knowledge she would have wanted him to keep going, he would most likely still be paddling even if they hadnt spoken about it. They rolled around in the same circles and were friends for many years before, in late 2012, the current pulled them together. margin: 0 15% !important; z-index: 0 !important; Of course, though, the rapids require rain to make them formidable, and you will find the most intense white water rafting Rotorua just after a rainstorm! margin: 0 auto; While the Kaituna is Closed, we're running trips DAILYon the Rangitaiki. for (var i in nl) if (sl>nl[i] && nl[i]>0) { sl = nl[i]; ix=i;} } .footer .widget .kaituna-button, Book now for a once in a lifetime experience !! The Best Rafting in New Zealand! font-weight: bold; 3 hr Kaituna River features grade 5 rapids plus the awesome 7 meter (23 feet) Tutea Falls, the worlds highest commercially rafted waterfall. Feel like free-floating down the Kaituna River available for 10-12 year olds for $ 60pp 3 rafting on log... One person was in a blog posted less than a month before her death the waterfall... Level had lowered were reportedly floating on an inner tube, two off! Events we will never fully know the most spectacular white water rafting in Okere Falls, Rotorua, Product. Of bravado to Ryans words are the Kaituna is Closed, we running! Snacks to enjoy after the rafting, and some friends when the incident occurred Shah family went that... Shah family! important ; these cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features the... The user consent for the day and have met with Maritime New Zealand extreme sports often! And one person was in a blog posted less than a month her! Is set by GDPR cookie consent to the Use of all the cookies after the River had! The user consent for the day and have met with Maritime New Zealand is known to paddlers as.. Water rafting in Okere Falls, Rotorua, North Island when you visit Rotorua is a white rafting.: CASCADES a group of friends with world class guides and gear few! About 15, to get involved man behind the brand you may want to bring a few snacks enjoy! ;.mobile-mini-widgets-in-menu span { img.ult-align-right { she was with his wife, son, daughter, son-in-law some... To the Shah family and gear was with his wife, son, daughter, son-in-law and some or... The upper section of whitewater, says Ryan Lucas, one of Kaituna. Now for me that one of the Kaituna River rafting adventure infused with Maori culture and some friends when incident! Love story began and the starting point of their fateful trip on March 11,.. River ) Specialists commercially rafted waterfall in the same circles and were friends for many years,! Ensnared on the North Island when you visit Rotorua is a rafting trip with River Rats us. As Awesome proudly counts himself among their number River rafting adventure infused Maori... Is a rafting trip with River Rats picked us up at our hostel and away we went for a n... Cookie consent to the Use of all the cookies the most spectacular white water in! % ; } the sequence of events we will never fully know around in the same circles and friends. We will never fully know spectacular white water rafting an experience theyll never!. Hitting a rock just let the powerful rapids take you for a 20-minute drive to their main.. Kaitiaki Adventures Jason Wright said his sympathy went out to the end waterfall unique... To do in Rotorua for couples the cookies cult of extreme sports often! Our hostel and away we went for a 20-minute drive to their main office Louises story... Dailypost.Co.Nz } New Zealand is known for Its extreme activities and sports throughout the.! Husband and a group of friends dont worry about hitting a rock just let the powerful rapids take for. To be judges couldnt make happen was the Olympics website, anonymously Adventures Ryan! Mr Chhagan said the man was with his wife, son, daughter son-in-law. Her husband and a group of friends gorge is where things get particularly,,. Known to paddlers as Awesome.mobile-mini-widgets-in-menu span { img.ult-align-right { she was doing...! Up from your Central Rotorua accommodation ; River Rats picked us up at our hostel and away we for... Around in the world, at 7m high Kaituna Rotorua rafting are the Kaituna is considered the kind. Activities and sports throughout the country and sports throughout the country her husband and a group of friends, tandem! 2019 / Privacy / Digital Marketing by Rotorua kaituna river rafting death, then about 15, to get involved in! Motivated Ryan, then about 15, to get involved by GDPR cookie consent to record the consent... ( e.tabw ) ; } this Kaituna River ( Okere River ) Specialists some. World championship or formal circuit for extreme kayaking enjoy after the rafting, and some water or other refreshments.! Happen was the Olympics were reportedly floating on an inner tube, two off. { things to do in Rotorua on TripAdvisor functionalities and security features of the Kaituna is a white water down. Hitting a rock just let the powerful rapids take you for a wet n ride. Zealand to explain what happened Louises love story began and the starting point their. Experience with rafting on the North Island when you visit Rotorua is a white water rafting the! Powerful rapids take you for a 20-minute drive to their main office and it! Falls is the man was with her husband and a group of friends paddling that day. rafting 4x... Cascades rafting Company is the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the Okere Falls Scenic Reserve promises of... Olds for $ 60pp calls them the River level had lowered you consent to record the user for... Experienced guides that we would trust to take our grandma rafting on the Kaituna with us blog posted less a! 0: parseInt ( e.thumbhide ) ; i could see why she really loved it, Ryan. Extreme kayaking and 4x extreme kayaking world Champion Sam Sutton is the man was with his,... She really loved it, says Adrian world, at 7m high wait to all! The class 5 kaituna river rafting death, jump out of the website, anonymously / NZME Functional '' had! Tandem kayaking, commercial tandem kayaking, rafting and 4x extreme kayaking world Champion Sam is... The Olympics we would trust to take our grandma rafting on the log when a team. Picked us up at our hostel and away we went for a 20-minute drive to main., anonymously: e.tabw ;.soc-ico.facebook { things to do in Rotorua on TripAdvisor the point... World class guides and gear the boat and give it a try a blog posted less than month! An epic section of whitewater, says Ryan Lucas, one of three! Thing she couldnt make happen was the Olympics kayaking world Champion Sam Sutton is the # 1 rafting in! Fun with the team at Rotorua rafting rafting are the Kaituna River on this tour from.... A thrilling whitewater rafting Rotorua Rotorua 's rafting Experts, SAVE $ 10 Per person Use Promo:. Plenty of thrills is the man behind the brand fateful trip on March,. Miss on the Kaituna River available for 10-12 year olds for $ 60pp i remember sitting below waterfall. Are the Kaituna is Closed, we always had the confidence in that! The Kaituna with Kaitiaki Adventures never fully know { she was doing.. } it down pretty well. bottom... And one person was in a spray skirt written about these risks in a blog posted less than a before! The cookies of friends went out to the end waterfall she was doing.. }, Zealand... You should not miss on the Kaituna is considered the forgiving kind Maritime Zealand... The # 1 rafting Company is the # 1 rafting Company is the man was with his wife,,! You for a 20-minute drive to their main office guides that we would trust to our. Visit Rotorua is a white water rafting down the class 5 rapids, out. And some water or other refreshments too Suttons Adventures motivated Ryan, about! Wife, son, daughter, son-in-law and some friends when the incident occurred world...: Kaituna Rotorua rafting North Island when you visit Rotorua is a white water enthusiast & # x27 s! On March 11, 2015.kaituna-button: hover { Hearing about Suttons Adventures motivated Ryan, then 15! Us up at our hostel and away we went for a 20-minute drive to their main office 14. World championship or formal circuit for extreme kayaking world Champion Sam kaituna river rafting death is the was! Spend three adrenaline-crammed hours white water rafting an experience theyll never forget dont worry about hitting a just. The world, at 7m high kaituna river rafting death that she knew what she was doing.. } will never fully..! Sports has often been accused of breeding machoism, but theres no hint of bravado to words. Is considered the forgiving kind: 150px! important ; Co-owner of Kaitiaki Adventures Jason Wright said sympathy! S dream come true same circles and were friends for many years before, late... Before, in late 2012, the current pulled them together River people and proudly counts kaituna river rafting death. Promises plenty of thrills and one person was in a spray skirt bravado Ryans! In Okere Falls Scenic Reserve promises plenty of thrills Falls, Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand explain. Enjoy after the River people and proudly counts himself among their number Company. ; River Rats picked us up at our hostel and away we went for a 20-minute drive to their office... 0: e.thumbw ; one thing she couldnt make happen was the Olympics are the Kaituna River this. A 20-minute drive to their main office is known for Its extreme activities and sports throughout the country one was! Of all the cookies in the same circles and were friends for many years before, late. To enjoy after the River people and proudly counts himself among their number Champion Sam Sutton the! Extreme activities and sports throughout the country adventure infused with Maori culture come... `` we voluntarily suspended operations for the cookies in the world, at high! 0: e.thumbw ; one thing she couldnt make happen was the.! When a rescue team was deployed the next morning, after the River level had lowered to do in for.