The route lasts for approximately one hour of rafting and starting at the top of the river section, youll pass over the 3 different waterfalls that are found in the Okere Falls part of the Kaituna River. Like the time she caught the train to a small French town and ended up sleeping on the floor of a hat shop. Kaituna River - Grade 5 white water rafting From NZD $115.00 Duration: 2 Hours (approx.) If you do fall out theres a guide in a kayak to save you along with your fellow rafters. River Rats picked us up at our hostel and away we went for a 20-minute drive to their main office. color: #fff !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! } It was built for Ryan and his younger brothers Mitch and Cole both keen mountain bikers to ride beat-up BMX bikes down the steep ramp and plunge into the lake. 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. } I think we really worked together because we wanted the same things in life, and that was to kayak and travel and live life to the full, says Hamilton-born Ryan. 0 : e.tabh; Weve been back a few times. function setREVStartSize(e){ body .fh-button-true-flat-red:hover, body .fh-button-true-flat-red:active { .mobile-branding{ .top-header .main-nav.level-arrows-on>li.has-children>a .menu-text { } 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.
.gallery-shortcode img { else{ We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Kaituna River Rafting | Whitewater Rafting Rotorua | Raft the Kaituna River 0800 772 384 KAITUNA RIVER RAFTING $115pp book now enquire now monthly special ROTORUA ZIPLINE + RAFTING COMBO: $224 LOCK IT IN! Were a really tight-knit community. 0 : parseInt(e.thumbhide); margin: 0 15% !important; sl = nl[0]; 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. 3 hr Kaituna River features grade 5 rapids plus the awesome 7 meter (23 feet) Tutea Falls, the worlds highest commercially rafted waterfall. } He knows that after Louise, people will be thinking has this guy learned nothing?. 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. for (var i in nl) if (sl>nl[i] && nl[i]>0) { sl = nl[i]; ix=i;} 0 : parseInt(e.tabhide); #carousel-container .watch img { font-size: 16px; background-position: top center !important;
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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. He was introduced to the sport by Okere Falls local, Sam Sutton, who was beginning to get recognition on the extreme paddling scene. @media(min-width:1025px){ When they say paddle to the right you paddle to the right if they say get down you get down and grab the raft. if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';
width:70px !important; They decided to go further downstream. Thomas Lynch, who owns an eco-tourism business in the area, felt the culture in the extreme sports fraternity glamorises risk-taking. ix = 0, .elementor-button.elementor-size-sm { Feb 17, 2023 | louisiana high school 100 meter record | louisiana high school 100 meter record .fh-button-true-flat-yellow.fh-fixed--bottom.fh-size--small{ opacity:1;
text-align:left !important; Call 0800 772 384 or Book Online. } top: 7% !important; .show-on-second-switch { border-radius: 3px; This is when the weather is at its best, and considering youre going to be very wet for a few hours, having a bit of sunshine will add to your experience immensely. max-height: 30px !important; width: 100%; It is also here the person he loved and cared about more than anything in the world drowned. The Kaituna River is the most exhilarating waterway in New Zealand, packed with white water rapids and home to the world's largest commercially rafted waterfall.It's a place like no other for adventure seekers, and it's found just outside of Rotorua, in the heart of the North . transform: rotate(180deg); The river, and its people, would have called him back. Revenue Code For Cpt 59409. A man in his 50s has died after reportedly getting into difficulty in a Bay of Plenty river yesterday. Including free pick up from your Central Rotorua accommodation. } There are three waterfalls in the upper section of the river, the first of which sits alongside the remains of what was one of the first hydroelectric power stations in New Zealand. You will get wet, very wet, so make ensure that you bring some warm clothes to change into at the end of the trip, particularly if the weather looks like it might take a turn for the worse. The River Rats Kaituna Waterfall Experience will see you paddling through the pristine heart of the best rafting region in New Zealand - Okere, Rotorua. } AKAROA: PRINTED BY H. C. JACOBSON, "MAIL" OFFICE 1893. I remember sitting below the waterfall after I had made it down pretty well. "Whether there will be an investigation or not will depend on what information we gather in those enquiries," he said. e.gh : e.el; div#bottom-bar { River Rats Rafting, for instance, will provide you with transfers to and from your accommodation in Rotorua, meaning you dont have to worry about a thing, just the rapids awaiting you on the river. } } In Okere Falls, however, hes just a regular guy in a spray skirt. padding-right: 20px; Morley had already taken another pass through the gorge looking for her. width: 100%; margin-left: 30%; Please Note: You must arrive at the Kaituna Cascades Rafting base 15 minutes before your booking time. Kaituna Rafting are the Kaituna River Specialists. width: 150px; Against a soundtrack of poppy summer tunes blasting over the loudspeaker at the park, the Julls sat down to talk about their daughters extraordinary life. Join in group. This is rare, but if it does happen, then just follow the training you are given at the start and dont worry too much because the worst of the rapids are over and there will be plenty of time to climb back inside the raft. border-radius: 3px; if(window.rs_init_css===undefined) window.rs_init_css = document.head.appendChild(document.createElement("style")); background-color: #f7e222 !important; } console.log("Failure at Presize of Slider:" + e) The Kaituna is a grade five, which is characterised as "extremely difficult and violent, with life-threatening hazards". Two others were reportedly floating on an inner tube, two fell off a paddleboard and one person was in a kayak. border-radius: 3px; flex-wrap: wrap !important; You and your team put your paddles together to give a celebration yell. Occasionally, the rafts will flip over when they hit the water at the bottom of the falls. This is the upper section of the river commonly referred to as the Okere River close to its source at Lake Rotoiti, and its the most intense and exciting stretch of water in New Zealand. text-align: left !important; Rotorua Rafting offers spectacular white water rafting adventures on the world-famous Kaituna River, just 20 minutes drive from Rotorua, New Zealand. Snaking through bush-clad canyons, the Kaituna River is a mystical gorge of fast-moving water, steep drops and turbulence. var nl = new Array(e.rl.length), padding-right: 0; Experience whitewater rafting immersed in the jaw dropping beauty of the mighty Kaituna River. .mobile-header-bar .mobile-branding img { n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
I thought this is what I want to do.. position: relative;
@media(max-width:1200px) and (min-width:767px){ A grassy embankment next to the control gates that feed out of Lake Rotoiti marks the put-in area, where paddlers sit in their kayaks, teetering on the edge before they slide down a steep path into water below. Dying. max-width: 120px; .carousel-container-content { #carousel-container .ult-item-wrap { The tour companies generally bring along a photographer with them too, to take shots along the river, including when you make the final drop over the adrenaline-inducing Tutea Falls. Sitting in the kitchen of the home he and Louise shared over her final months, he shifts in his seat to try to find a comfortable position to confront the memories of that day. a.book-btn.fh-button-true-flat-yellow.fh-fixed--bottom.fh-size--small { Full description. He was put back into the raft after a short time in the water but collapsed about 10 minutes later. display: flex; If you have your own action camera, such as a Go Pro, then as long as you have suitable accessories to ensure you dont lose it, then you can bring this along too. If you are not scared of the water, you and your team can paddle up the rapids into the waterfalls to let the falling water spray into the front of your boat. In all, Ryan has lost seven friends, all drowned. } Ryan didnt just want the hero footage those times when he effortlessly styles his way down a treacherous stretch of water shown in the video feature accompanying this piece. His red kayak is a speck against the funnel of water and towering rock formation. It took several more weeks before he could face going down into the lower gorges again, but he did, finding unexpected solace in the seeing the spot where Jull came to rest. This Kaituna River rafting adventure in the Okere Falls Scenic Reserve promises plenty of thrills! Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River rafting - See 1,518 traveler reviews, 219 candid photos, and great deals for Rotorua, New Zealand, at Tripadvisor. I wasnt a very good kayaker then, my skills werent all there and I pretty much just chopped my way down. There is one particularly striking picture taken just after he has gone over the edge of the 30m high Ram Falls in the Canadian Rockies. I enjoy scuba diving and cars. One trip you should not miss on the North Island when you visit Rotorua is a rafting trip with River Rats Rafting. text-align:center !important; Photo / NZME. In January this year, 58-year-old Turangi woman Catherine Farrington died while on a private sledging trip near Paengaroa. He is thoughtful, earnest and has an emotional intelligence belying his 25 years. Five minutes later, Louise had talked the woman into allowing her to camp out in the store for the night. .bottom-text-block { Before you know it, you are at your first set of class 5 rapids. .pricing-custom ul.pp-pricing-table-features{ .footer .widget .kaituna-button, /*color: #3A444D;*/ It seems most of his childhood was spent hurling himself off things at speed, but for Ryan, the adrenalin rush he got from whitewater kayaking compared to nothing else. We were having a really good summer, Ryan says. } This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It was close to all the things she loved doing, Liz says. 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. line-height: 1.1; text-align:left; The explosion of extreme sports like big wave surfing, snowboarding, rock climbing and base jumping has led to a growing body of international research that sets out to examine the motivations of the participants. div#price_1 h3.pp-pricing-table-title { n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
min-height: 112px !important; a.book-btn.fh-button-true-flat-yellow.fh-fixed--bottom.fh-size--small { #carousel-container .watch img { @media screen and (max-width: 500px) and (min-width:200px){ Hope was being chipped away with every second that ticked by. A common thread of the research is athletes seem to hold the romantic view that doing something inherently dangerous puts you on a higher spiritual plane. Learn more All Rotorua Tours top: 5px; Its safe enough to be used for commercial rafting runs as well as a training ground for mid-level kayakers. display: none; 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. Take the ultimate thrill ride on this Kaituna River white water rafting tour. text-align: center !important; flex-wrap: wrap !important; This reflects the fact that things are very much busier in New Zealand during the summer season, which roughly runs from November to March. " Stephanie - Germany KAITUNA body .fh-button-true-flat-red { Located in the heart of kere Falls, Rotorua Rafting is directly opposite the put in (the start) of the Kaituna River (see map), allowing us to show our knowledge of the surrounding areasBook your spot and find out why Rotorua Rafting was voted #1 Travellers choice experience in New Zealand, #1 in the South Pacific, and in the Top 10 in the world on Trip Advisor 2019 and then again in 2021 sealing the #2 experience in the world! He knows some will find it hard to understand how he can still be passionate about a sport that has taken away so much. The Kaituna is a white water enthusiast's dream come true. width: 100% !important; Ryan would try to climb to higher ground and walk back to the spot he had last seen her. cursor: pointer; The person he becomes on the river would have called him back. Adrian recalls getting a phone call from his daughter, then 19, suggesting they meet her in Taupo. background-color: #f7e222; 2hr30min - 3hrDuration. right: 0px; suburbs to avoid in tauranga. } Let the river take you for a wild ride. The crew are called River Rats because they spend every hour of every day on the river, you are in safe hands. span.menu-text { #carousel-container .carousel-container-content { } Never did Ryan expect he would be looking skyward at Louises funeral and making a promise to honour her wishes. A man in his 50s had got into difficulty in the Kaituna River and, despite attempts by medical staff, [was] unable to be revived and died at the scene. a.book-btn.fh-button-true-flat-yellow.fh-fixed--bottom.fh-size--small { } e.thumbh = e.thumbh===undefined ? padding-right: 15px; .default-btn-shortcode { Too late, youre plunging down the waterfall in one quick motion. Working in Rotorua had its benefits, however, with Louise able to take up residence with Lucas at Okere Falls. The Kaituna River is most famous for a rapid called Tutea Falls, a seven meter drop that is the highest commercially-rafted waterfall in the world. margin: 0 auto; Grade 5. Maritime New Zealand spokesman Ross Henderson said preliminary enquiries were underway. She was with her husband and a group of friends. Shes just a crack-up, she has so many amazing stories from her adventures, Jones says, skipping between past and present tense, as if she still cant get her head around the fact her best mate is gone. fbq('init', '191148196031925');
American Whitewater reports that on average, there are only 6 to 10 whitewater rafting deaths for each 2.5 million user days on guided rafting trips. } @media (max-width: 768px){ One thing she couldnt make happen was the Olympics. @media screen and (max-width: 768px) and (min-width:200px){ 2023 DIVERGENT TRAVELERS | ADVENTURE TRAVEL BLOG, Rotorua Rafting the Kaituna River: Our Personal Experience, White Water Rafting: Rotorua New Zealand Planning Tips, Location of the Kaituna River and How to Travel There, Training For Your Adventure on the Kaituna River, 15 Fun Things to do in Tauranga, New Zealand, 20 Awesome Things To Do In Queenstown, New Zealand, Two Week New Zealand South Island Itinerary, 19 North Island New Zealand Photos That Inspire Travel, 25 New Zealand Photos That Showcase the South Island, The Tongariro Crossing is the Best Hike in New Zealand, Two Week North Island New Zealand Itinerary, Kaikoura Whale Watching: The Ultimate Guide, 21 EPIC Things To Do In Kaikoura, New Zealand, Karangahake Gorge: Off the Beaten Track in NZ, Best Time to Visit New Zealand: Month by Month Breakdown. } Her parents would often only later hear what she had been up to. .gform_button { 16 Kaituna River: 3.5-Hour Whitewater Rafting Experience. e.tabw = e.tabhide>=pw ? 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. This has fostered a need to take bigger risks, make bolder decisions, and ride narrower margins of safety. New Zealand has become a second home to me, Hradilek says in a distinctive Czech-Kiwi accent that backs up his assertion. Moments later, he spotted his girlfriends lifejacket floating in the water. #main { } }.vc_custom_1536281073929{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}.vc_custom_1536025422002{margin-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;}.vc_custom_1536660768233{padding-top: 50px !important;}.vc_custom_1537872676262{padding-top: 100px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;}.vc_custom_1536657450847{padding-top: 70px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;}.vc_custom_1536281063420{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}.vc_custom_1536662120888{margin-bottom: 30px !important;} .wpb_animate_when_almost_visible { opacity: 1; } position: absolute; Wishlist. It features powerful rapids, large drops, abrupt turns, weirs, fast. Grade 3 rafting on The Kaituna River available for 10-12 year olds for $60pp. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. display:none !important; Some of them dont use it as much as others, but theres always some link back to that river. 0 : parseInt(e.thumbw); Located in the heart of kere Falls, Rotorua Rafting is directly opposite the put in (the start) of the Kaituna River (see map), allowing us to show our knowledge of the surrounding areas. Fuelled by a cocktail of desperation and adrenalin, Ryan clambered up the side of the steep rock wall and along the rim of the canyon, all the while using the whistle on his life jacket to let his girlfriend know he was coming for her. * @media screen and (max-width: 768px) { TALES OF BANKS PENINSULA Second Edition. top: 75px !important; PLACES RAFTED / KAYAKED NZ, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uganda, Russia, Iceland, USA, Canada, Norway, Italy, India, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Guatemala, Germany, Mexico, Spain, France, England, Nepal. Youll be out of Rotorua for around 2 and a half hours in total. Louise had plans off the water as well. background-color: #fff; color: #000; They had been confronted by death in their network of friends all too often. There doesnt appear to be much to it from the main road. 0 : parseInt(e.thumbh); } Ryan calls them the river people and proudly counts himself among their number. This week's death was the third as a result of an incident on the Kaituna River since last August. background-color: #f7e222; text-align: center; Accidents happen because of a series of small factors, and one of those becomes important. The local guides though will always have final say over the matter when it comes to the weather, and if the rapids are deemed too intense after a heavy storm, then the trip may have to be rescheduled. e.thumbw = e.thumbhide>=pw ? width: 100%; The river has been run regularly by rafting and kayak since 1991. .ult-open > .ult_modal div.ult_modal-body > iframe {
margin-bottom: 10px; You have only a moment to catch your breath before the next waterfall meets you. No need to worry about buying special clothing, as wetsuits, helmets, life jackets, boots, splash jackets, and all necessary equipment is provided. background-size:cover !important;
border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; The company you book with will provide most of the equipment of course, including wetsuits to keep you warm in the water, helmets, boots, and top of the range lifejackets. Its as committing as it possibly gets. She cant help but wonder if the other LJ may have had a little something to do with the delightfully unexpected result. Kaituna River Rafting English. @media screen and (max-width: 874px) and (min-width:769px) { margin-top: 13px; } background: #000000 !important; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script',
} font-weight: bold !important; This white water rafting trip is the ideal outing for adventure lovers. Kaituna Cascades is the most fun and experienced rafting company in Rotorua. This can be particularly an issue for the Gnarly section as it is very tight and continuous and there is not any easy option for scouting.. Only a few highly skilled paddlers dare to venture beyond Trout Pool Falls, the take-out point for the commercial rafts. } People ask why do I do it? For me, the most alive I have ever felt is in my kayak. In winter then, youll need to be flexible if you want to get out on the water, but when you do, youll probably have the most exhilarating white water rafting Rotorua experience of the year. We are a company of super friendly guides that strive to give you the safest and most entertaining trip on the river! Our aim is to be the highlight of your holiday in New Zealand and give you the best rafting experience ever! In other words, there is one death for every 250,000 to 400,000 "person visits" of whitewater rafting. That was her, she would always just go ahead and do it.. What they know is Louise got her line slightly wrong and was sucked towards a partially submerged log, flipping awkwardly on to the debris. 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. width: 96%; @media(max-width:660px){ e.tabw = e.tabw===undefined ? .mobile-header-bar .mobile-branding img { He was just 20. I was like, my girlfriend, she is pretty kickarse.. display: flex !important; 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. There are around 14 big rapids in total not counting smaller bumps along the way! document.getElementById(e.c).height = newh+"px"; display:none !important; Pulled back aboard after a short time in the water, Mr Shah collapsed about 10 minutes later and died at Rotorua Hospital on Thursday. } } @media screen and (max-width: 778px){ } "I'm super proud of all the people who tried to help him, my guides, the nurse and St John." min-height:64px; On this guided tour, you will spend 50 minutes sailing down Kaituna, one of New Zealand's most famous rafting destinations. Just before Christmas, Ryan took some of Louises friends who were visiting from overseas back down the gorges. He insisted on supplying footage where things have gone wrong. } } catch(e){ width: 100%; Weve visited nearly 100 countries on all 7 continents. position: relative; #carousel-container .carousel-container-content { Daily Departure Times: 9:00am, 11:45am, 2:30pm and 4:30pm (summer only). display:block !important; Trailhead address: Pilot Quay, Mt Maunganui, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, 3116, New Zealand. 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js');
Its a great place to train, a great place to hang out. We were all really fired up, I remember Lou looking at me and giving me the vibe like lets do this, says Ryan. The section of the Kaituna River that most commonly forms the white water rafting Rotorua experience, is the area focused around Okere Falls. You may want to bring a few snacks to enjoy after the rafting, and some water or other refreshments too. There are large rock cliffs with all kinds of growth over the waterway. } } You know? .transparent .mobile-branding .sticky-mobile-logo-second-switch img { PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION When I began to compile the following collection of Peni Kaituna River: 3.5-Hour Whitewater Rafting Experience 4.7 / 5 13 reviews Activity provider: Kaitiaki Adventures View all 9 images Add to wishlist Eco-certified Travel through steep New Zealand native bush clad canyons, riding 14 awesome rapids and 3 waterfalls. } Kaituna White-Water Rafting Adventure 500 Reviews Badge of Excellence Rotorua, New Zealand Save to Wishlist Likely to Sell Out From $81.36 Lowest Price Guarantee Select Date and Travelers Check Availability Reserve Now & Pay Later Secure your spot while staying flexible Free cancellation Up to 24 hours in advance. That feeling was unbeatable. "They are obviously very sad and shocked by his tragic death. Hearing about Suttons adventures motivated Ryan, then about 15, to get involved. He was in a raft guided by a man working for local rafting company Kaitiaki Adventures. /*a.book-btn.fh-button-true-flat-yellow.fh-fixed--bottom.fh-size--small { newh; After getting picked up, youll be taken to the mustering areas on the river to kit up and go through the safety brief, then youll hit the water in your raft. } It does not store any personal data. The Kaituna is a grade five, which is characterised as extremely difficult and violent, with life-threatening hazards. In times of war, women and children would lower themselves down the seemingly impenetrable curtain of water, seeking safe haven behind its frothy skirts. It must have been quite the scene for the local milliner to have been confronted with: this tiny, whippet-like Kiwi barely out of her teens loaded up with a giant pack and a kayak. #carousel-container-old { width: 200px; .footer-paras{ } Okere Falls is the inlet to the Kaituna. /* elementor */ After all, if youre going to throw yourself off a 20m waterfall in a plastic tub, then youre going want to have some skite footage. margin-bottom: 0; } margin:0 auto; height: 105px !important; But it is also a story Lucas has been reluctant to tell. e.thumbhide = e.thumbhide===undefined ? White Water Rafting on the Kaituna River 100+ booked HK$ 547 Book now for 19 Nov 2022 Rangitaiki River Rafting New Activity HK$ 804 Book now for 19 Nov 2022 Twilight Paddle Board or Kayak the Glowworm Caves Rotorua 5.0 1 reviews HK$ 618 Book now for tomorrow Waikite Valley Thermal Pools Entry Ticket 4.7 3 reviews HK$ 95 Book now for tomorrow for (var i in e.rl) nl[i] = e.rl[i] li.book > a .menu-text { @media screen and (max-width: 1920px) and (min-width:769px){ } But there are all these people who connect us with Louise as well, and its kind of like a big family, says Adrian. There was nothing to suggest that Wednesday evening was going to be any different, until Ryan saw a paddle whisk past him in the rapids. } margin-top: 33px !important; }; A man has died after a rafting adventure down the Kaituna River turned to tragedy. Offering the most spectacular white water rafting in Okere Falls, Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand. margin-left:0px; Ryan has spent most of his life chasing waterfalls. } Dont worry about hitting a rock just let the powerful rapids take you for a wet n wild ride. He finally reached the point in the river where he thought Louise had been ejected. .top_marquee { VOTED#2 EXPERIENCEINTHEWORLD, #1 EXPERIENCEINNZ, and #1 EXPERIENCEINTHESOUTHPACIFIC.Rotorua Rafting offers spectacular white water rafting adventures on the world-famous Kaituna River, just a 20 minute drive from Rotorua, New Zealand. margin-top: -70px; He routinely looked back to check on Louises progress. Ryan was knocked unconscious after his head slammed into the front of his kayak on landing. The Kaituna River is a world-famous white-water destination. try { .wprs_unslider { color: #000 !important; There were tributes to Louise everywhere you looked at last years Whitewater XL, the first major canoe slalom event to be held at Aucklands new whitewater park in Manukau, Helmets, paddles and kayaks of local and international competitors alike were plastered with stickers with the name Lulu encased in a stylised heart. input#input_1_3 { } padding:0px 10px !important; z-index: 999; Its a place like no other for adventure seekers, and its found just outside of Rotorua, in the heart of the North Island. He was trapped under water for more than three minutes before his expedition partner, Canadian paddler Mike Roy, was able to free him. Let kaituna river rafting death River, and some water or other refreshments too the.. Hitting a rock just let the powerful rapids take you for a n..., two fell off a paddleboard and one person was in a Bay of Plenty yesterday... - grade 5 white water enthusiast & # x27 ; s dream come true gorge for... The best rafting experience ever Lynch, who owns an eco-tourism business the. He becomes on the floor of a hat shop gone wrong. x27 ; s dream true! Reached the point in the extreme sports fraternity glamorises risk-taking an incident on the Kaituna River most... Sport that has taken away so much Before Christmas, Ryan says. ( e ) { of! The section of the Falls uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website office.! Year olds for $ 60pp, suggesting they meet her in Taupo were. Accent that backs up his assertion not will depend on what information we gather in those enquiries, he. 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