Westcoast Full Day Trips

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Hokitika River (Grade 3-4) - Wilderness Heli Rafting

Deep narrow canyons with tight technical white water, amazing scenery in the Upper Gorge, clear blue water and 15 minutes from the town of Hokitika, famous for its Jade (greenstone), the wild beaches, and the amazing driftwood found on them. This river is known for its beauty and is a great option for rafters who want a medium-level trip that has heaps of excitement without being too full on. Check out the awesome flicker photo gallery

• Requirements: Minimum age 12. No previous experience required. Good swimming ability or medium fitness level is necessary.
• Activities: Helicopter, Rafting, Cliff Jumping, Swimming, Sightseeing
• Provided: All Rafting Equipment, Photos, Juice, Snacks
• You Bring: Lunch, Swimsuit, Towel

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Perth River (Grade 4-5) - Wilderness Heli Rafting

The most full-on rafting in New Zealand. This river is not for the faint of heart. Expect a challenging day with steep drops, beautiful deep canyons, mountains, clear blue water, portages, long rapids, cliff jumps, rope swings, and more. This river has it all!

We start the day with a helicopter briefing as we get into our rafting gear. We then fly up the river into the mountains to the start point in a Hughes 500 helicopter. We fly up river in a Hughes 500 Chopper—designed as attack helicopters in Vietnam, very fast and maneuverable. Once we’re into the mountains, and at our start point, the guides pump up the raft and give a comprehensive safety briefing and paddle training.

We start the day with a helicopter briefing as we get into our rafting gear. We then fly up the river into the mountains to the start point in a Hughes 500 helicopter. We fly up river in a Hughes 500 Chopper—designed as attack helicopters in Vietnam, very fast and maneuverable. Once we’re into the mountains, and at our start point, the guides pump up the raft and give a comprehensive safety briefing and paddle training.

Ask any rafting guide in New Zealand and they will tell you this is the most incredible, and challenging rafting trip the country has to offer.

• Requirements: High fitness level or previous rafting experience. Strong swimming ability is necessary.
• Activities: Helicopter, Rafting, Cliff Jumping, Rope Swinging, Portaging, Sightseeing
• Provided: All Rafting Equipment, Photos, Juice, Snacks
• You Bring: Lunch, Swimsuit, Towel
• Pause at a sheltered cove for a break before returning to Kaiteriteri by 12 midday in time to catch an afternoon boat cruise into the Park if you wish.
• Watch out for resident Blue Penguins and other sea birds along the coast.

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Whataroa River (Grade 3-5) - Glacier Heli Rafting

Explore the protected beaches and spectacular granite sculptures of the Southern coast, then travel into the National Park for an enchanting forest walk.

Perfect for seasoned rafters and first-timers. This river has plenty of action, awesome scenery, and lots of rapids. If you have time we’ll take the whole day, but if you’re in a rush we can ride this whole run in a half-day trip.

We start the day with a helicopter briefing as we get into our rafting gear. We fly up river in a Hughes 500 Chopper—designed as attack helicopters in Vietnam, very fast and maneuverable and the pilots love to duck and dive and execute sharp turns and twists. You can opt for a more scenic style flight if you don’t want the rollercoaster ride. Once we’re into the mountains, and at our start point, the guides pump up the raft and give a comprehensive safety briefing and paddle training.

We start off easy, while learning to maneuver the raft and hold on through the waves, the further we go down the river, the bigger the rapids get. There are 2 deep canyons on this trip and a few easy portages around big un-runnable rapids, one that includes a short abseil. This river has plenty of rapids with a few grunty ones. If anyone does not want to run the big rapids they can walk around them and watch their friends go through.

We stop for lunch at a side stream and go for a walk to explore a waterfall in a side canyon and swim in some of the clearest water in New Zealand. This is our most popular and frequently run trip, and is a huge crowd-pleaser. We frequently get guests coming back for a second trip (we offer super special deals for return business) thats how good this trip is. Don’t believe us? Check out the flicker photo gallery!

This river has limited numbers of people allowed on it per season so get in quick!

• Requirements: Minimum age 13. No previous experience required. Good swimming ability is necessary.
• Activities: Helicopter, Rafting, Cliff Jumping, Rope Swinging, Abseiling, Swimming
• Provided: All Rafting Equipment, Photos
• You Bring: Lunch, Swimsuit, Towel

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