White water rafting and kayaking on the West Coast

Full Day Rafting Tours

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 awsome 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
* Price: NZ$350

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 off on easy water while learning to maneuver the raft and hold on through the waves and steeper drops and waterfalls. Then the action begins, tearing through long whitewater sections surrounded by the deep gorges typical of New Zealand’s West Coast. We stop briefly for lunch, and after catching our breath we’re on the water again. The river picks up the pace as we rip through waterfall drops into deep blue pools. Between the rapid sections the steep mountain walls above us meet the lush forest, and the rich blue pools below to place you in this country’s most desirable nature setting.

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
* Price: NZ$450

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

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 dont 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. Dont 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
* Price: NZ$350

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Multi Day Expeditions

Mokihinui River 1 or 2 days (Grade 3-5) - Wilderness Heli Rafting

This river is situated on the Northern West Coast and features excellent trout fishing and continuous grade 4 rafting with the occasional grade 5 rapid. This is one of our personal favourites. We enjoy it so much we have our end-of-season staff and friends trip on this most excellent river.

The upper section of the first day has non-stop action with pool drop rapids, which are steep and technical. This section has over 50 rapids and contains some of the best rafting action in NZ, it is non stop all day! We have a fantastic campsite that has excellent fishing in the pools for brown trout (big brown trout) and we also feed the 200 year old eels.

The second day sees the river double in volume when the South branch of the Mokihinui River joins the North branch. The lower section has big volume rapids with some big waves and a few chunky drops. If there are people in the group that dont want the action of day one but would like to join on the second day that is an option as well, they can spend the first day fishing and join us in the evening.

This is one of the guides favorite rivers and we spend our end of season staff trip up here and also have a friends and family trip up here at the beginning of the summer.

Riverside camping in the evenings, and finishing the trip with a beer at the local pub as we check out the video from the past few days. The Rough and Tumble Bush Lodge is directly at the take-out, so guests that are staying there can step out of the raft and into their accommodation.

* Requirements: Single day requires no previous experience, though good swimming abilities are necessary. The 2 day trip requires previous rafting experience or a high fitness level.
* Activities: Helicopter, Rafting, Fishing, Sightseeing
* Provided: All Rafting and Fishing Equipment, Tents, Sleeping Mats, Food
* You Bring: Sleeping Bag, Swimsuit, Towel, Overnight Requirements
* Price: $900 for 2 day or $1500 2 day exclusive luxury tour

Buller River 2,3 or 5 days (Grade 2-3) - Wilderness Rafting

Two day, three day and five day trips available. 5 day is a source to sea-rafting from the Nelson Lakes to the ocean at Westport. We are flexible with this trip. The rapids on the Buller River are medium level with only 1 short grade 4 rapid on the entire river and the rest of the rapid sections are grade 2-3 with flat water in between. Suitable for the entire family.

* Requirements: Minimum age 12. No previous experience required.
* Activities: Rafting, Camping, Fishing, Cliff Jumping, Swimming, Sightseeing, Family Fun
* Provided: All Rafting and Fishing Equipment, Tents, Sleeping Mats, Food
* You Bring: Sleeping Bag, Swimsuit, Towel, Overnight Requirements
* Price: $500, $850, or $1250

Karamea River 1, 3 or 5 days (Grade 4-5) - Wilderness Heli Rafting

Voted one of the top-ten wilderness expedition rafting trips in the world by Outside Magazine, the Karamea River brings it, and we all get amped when we head up there! It is a big water river, with big rapids and still calm pools between, a huge 800 meter rapid section called the Roaring Lion that has to be portaged in sections, world class trout fishing, and riverside camping, set deep in the Kahurangi National Park. This is the biggest and the best in NZ, set in the sub tropical paradise of Karamea it is a magical trip and all the guides favourite 1 day as we get big white water, fishing for snapper in the evenings and Wayne and Julie Pratt from helicharter Karamea always have a feed of whitebait or venison for us! This trip is excellent for group bookings, we can get a fantastic deal on accomodation as well, from backpackers to hotels to luxury resorts

* Requirements: Previous rafting experience or a med-high fitness level is required.
* Activities: Helicopter, Rafting, Camping, Fishing, Portaging, Swimming, Cliff Jumping
* Provided: All Rafting and Fishing Equipment, Tents, Sleeping Mats, Food
* You Bring: Sleeping Bag, Swimsuit, Towel, Overnight Requirements
* Price: $450 (1 day) $1300 (2 days) $1700 (5 days)

Waiatoto River 2 or 3 days (Grade 2-4) - Wilderness Heli Rafting

Stunning mountain scenery in the heart of Mount Aspiring National Park.

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. 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.

The first day on the water is fairly mellow with a few smaller rapids. We setup camp beside a towering waterfall with world class trout fishing for huge trout in the side creeks; where we provide some excellent food and drink to finish off the day.

Day 2 has all of the action, with plenty of grade 3-4 whitewater, and towering mountains on either side as we raft towards the coast. Stopping for lunch, we take a look at an old hunters cabin.

The last day we raft the Shark Tooth Rapids and spend the rest of the day on grade 2+ water as we navigate the last section back to the vehicles. You can opt to jet-boat out on the last day for an extra $150 per person.

* Requirements: Minimum age 12. No previous experience required. Good swimming ability is necessary.
* Activities: Helicopter, Rafting, Fishing, Swimming, Sightseeing, Exploring,
* Provided: All Rafting, and Fishing Equipment, Tents, Sleeping Mats, Food
* You Bring: Sleeping Bag, Swimsuit, Towel, Overnight Requirements
* Price: $1250 (2 days) or $1500 (3 days)

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Something different? Try Hot Pool Heli Rafting!

Taipo & Wanganui Rivers 1 day and 1 night (Grade 3-5) - Wilderness Hot Pool Heli Rafting

Both of these rivers have natural hot pools and excellent whitewater rapids that are fun and technical, but not too extreme. These are perfect for families, couples, or groups of friends seeking a scenic and thrilling adventure.

* Requirements: Regular conditions are grade 3-4, and require no previous experience, though good swimming abilities are necessary. Flood conditions are grade 4-5, and require previous rafting experience or a high fitness level.
* Activities: Helicopter, Rafting, Hot Pools, Swimming, Camping
* Provided: All Rafting and Fishing Equipment, Tents, Sleeping Mats, Food
* You Bring: Sleeping Bag, Swimsuit, Towel, Overnight Requirements
* Price: $550

Whanganui River 1 day (Grade 4-5) - Hot Pool Heli Rafting

Some great pool drop style rafting surrounded by the inspiring mountain scenery on the Wanganui. The natural hot pools spring from the mountains, where we soak in their rejuvenating minerals just after lunch.

* Requirements: Minimum age 12. No previous experience required. Good swimming ability is necessary.
* Activities: Helicopter, Rafting, Hot Pools, Swimming
* Provided: All Rafting Equipment, Juice, Snacks
* You Bring: Swimsuit, Towel, Lunch
* Price: $375

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