Whitewater Rafting Experience

The Tongariro River is on our doorstep . Raft grade 3 rapids or enjoy long glides through pristine pools and deep gorges as you observe wildlife and ancient beech forests. One of our favourites is the upper river half-day grade 3 trip. All are fully guided trips with all equipment supplied.

Tongariro River Rafting and Blue Duck Tour

Our experienced Turangi rafting operator will personally row you down the majestic, boulder strewn headwaters of the mighty Tongariro River, which arguably provides the best white water rafting experience in NZ, with many exciting grade 3 rapids to enjoy.

With your expert guide personally rowing, you will ensure the smoothest, driest (waders provided to keep you warm and dry) and safest trip possible, sit back, hold on and enjoy the magnificent scenery, that has not changed for hundreds of years. Stop and rest on a beautiful pool in the sun and enjoy a exquisite picnic lunch with a glass of one of NZs finest wines.

This enclosed river valley and gorge is largely inaccessible except by raft and contains wonderful native beach forest, beautiful native ferns and flora, fantastic river views and pristine clear water. It is truly a nature lover’s playground - spot large rainbow trout in the clear deep pools and if you are lucky see native birds, including the rare native wood pigeon and the most special bird of all, the rare Blue Duck.

A unique part of this trip will be a personal introduction to the blue duck programme by your experienced and knowledgeable guide (the owners of our rafting company are the founders of this programme). This conservation initiative has the goal of returning the rare native Blue Duck (Whio) to its traditional habitat along the Tongariro River. Blue Ducks are only found in the most pristine river environments and are very rare with an estimated number of only 3,000 birds in New Zealand. The Blue Duck has no close relatives anywhere in the world.

A large number of predators have been trapped already and the Blue Duck numbers in the upper-Tongariro have doubled in the last 4 years. This project has been awarded a Community Conservation Award by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.