Mist hanging over the gorge. Native bush dripping with rain. The roar of Tutea Falls echoing through steep canyon walls. Fewer people, wilder water, and at the end of it, New Zealand's only post-raft sauna (we're pretty sure) waiting for you back at base.
Yes, really.
If you've been putting off booking because you're worried about the cold, this is your sign to stop overthinking and send it.
Winter rafting refers to whitewater rafting undertaken during the cooler months (typically June-August in New Zealand), when river conditions, crowd levels, and surrounding scenery combine to create a distinctly different - and often more immersive - experience than summer trips.
Rotorua Rafting operates year-round on the Kaituna River (Ōkere Awa) at Ōkere Falls, approximately 20 minutes from Rotorua city centre. The Kaituna is home to Tutea Falls, the world's highest commercially rafted waterfall at 7 metres, and offers Grade 3–5 rapids through one of the most breathtaking river gorges in New Zealand.
Winter doesn't close the river... It transforms it.
Summer is brilliant, but it's busy. Winter strips that back. With smaller group numbers through the cooler months, you'll often have the raft almost entirely to yourselves - which means a more personal experience with your guide, more time to take it all in, and no queue at the base of Tutea Falls.
There's something genuinely special about having a world-class river gorge feel like it belongs to just your crew.
Winter rainfall does something to the Kaituna. The water moves with more energy - faster, fuller, more dynamic. If you're chasing proper white water, this is the season for it. The rapids hit harder, the drops feel more dramatic, and the river has a presence that's hard to describe until you're in it.
This is the one that surprises people a lot!
Ōkere Falls sits close to the Bay of Plenty's east coast, and the Kaituna gorge creates its own microclimate - sheltered, humid, and notably milder than the open countryside around it. More importantly, the river itself flows from Lake Rotorua and Lake Rotoiti, not from alpine glaciers or snowmelt. The water temperature stays far more stable year-round than you'd expect.
And you're going to get wet regardless of the season - that's kind of the whole point.
Rotorua Rafting provides full wetsuits, booties, spray jackets, and fleece layering - everything you need to stay warm and comfortable on the water. You don't need to bring specialist gear. Just bring a towel, warm clothes for after, and a willingness to get absolutely soaked.
The team monitors river levels and conditions daily and will always brief you fully before you get in the water.
The Kaituna gorge in winter has a different quality to it. The native bush - ponga ferns, kahikatea, tōtara - glistens when it's wet. Mist threads through the canopy. The light is softer and more dramatic. The photos you'll take (or that the Rotorua Rafting photographer will take of you) look more cinematic than any summer snap.
If you've been rafting here in summer, come back in winter. It's a different place.
This doesn't change with the seasons. Tutea Falls is a 7-metre drop that Rotorua Rafting has been running safely for years. In winter, the approach feels even more charged - more water, more sound, more power building as you line up for the drop.
This is the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. Bragging rights don't expire when summer ends.
We get asked this a lot: "Do you still go out if it's raining?" Yes. Emphatically yes. You're going to be soaked within the first five minutes on the Kaituna — a bit of rain from above changes nothing. If anything, the atmosphere is even more intense. Guides love a rainy day on the river. Trust the process.
New Zealand's winter light is genuinely beautiful - lower, golden, more directional. The Kaituna's narrow gorge makes for dramatic natural framing at any time of year, but the moody winter atmosphere adds something extra. The Rotorua Rafting photo team captures the action on-river, and winter shots consistently surprise people. Great proof you sent it off a 7-metre waterfall. Better proof when it looks epic.
Here's the one that separates Rotorua Rafting from every other rafting company on the Kaituna River - and possibly in all of New Zealand.
After your trip, you don't just towel off and head to your car. You step into a free sauna.
Rotorua Rafting is the only rafting company on the Kaituna River to offer a post-raft sauna - and it's completely free for all guests.
Hot showers have always been part of the Rotorua Rafting experience. The sauna takes that to a whole new level. After dropping off Tutea Falls and navigating 14 rapids through an ancient river gorge, sitting in a warm sauna with your crew is... well, it's not a bad way to finish a morning.
In winter especially, this matters. You're not rushing to your car still cold. You're warming through properly, chatting about the trip, and leaving feeling genuinely great.
No other rafting operator in Rotorua offers this. It's completely included in your booking. And it turns a great experience into a full day out.
If the sauna's got you thinking about a proper warm-up, take it all the way with the Raft & Hot Pool combo. Pair your Kaituna River rafting trip with a soak at the Manupirua Hot Pools on Lake Rotoiti - accessible only by water taxi with Rotoiti Water Shuttles, which makes the whole thing feel like a proper adventure in itself.
Raft the world's highest commercially rafted waterfall in the morning, float in geothermal hot pools in the afternoon. There are worse ways to spend a winter's day in Rotorua.
Check out the combo packages →
The experience runs approximately 2 hours from arrival at base to sauna. Here's a rough idea of how the day unfolds:
Arrival & briefing - Meet the team at our Ōkere Falls base (literally right across the road from the starting point). Your guide will walk you through everything: safety, paddle commands, what to expect on the river. No experience needed.
Get kitted up - Wetsuit, booties, wetsuit jacket, helmet, and PFD (personal flotation device). All provided... You'll be warm!
The river - The Kaituna Grade 5 section runs approximately 1 hour. You'll tackle 14 rapids including the famous Tutea Falls 7-metre drop, plus multiple other waterfalls and technical sections through the gorge.
Photo check - Back at base, check out your on-river photos. The team captures the action so you can relive every drop.
Sauna & showers - Warm up properly. Stay as long as you like.
Book online in advance - Winter slots are limited. Lock in your date to avoid missing out.
White water rafting safety in the context of commercial river tours refers to the combined protocols, guide training, equipment standards, and real-time river monitoring that operators use to manage risk and ensure participant wellbeing on Grade 3–5 river sections.
Rotorua Rafting's guides are trained to senior Grade 4/5 standard and have extensive experience on the Kaituna specifically. River levels and weather are assessed daily. If conditions on the Kaituna push above safe operating thresholds, trips shift to the Rangitaiki River - a Grade 3–4 section that's equally rewarding and a brilliant day out in its own right.
Safety is never compromised for the sake of a booking. The team will always make the right call.
Is Rotorua Rafting open in winter? Yes. Rotorua Rafting operates year-round, including through the New Zealand winter months of June, July, and August. Check the website for current departure times as these vary seasonally.
Do I need experience to go rafting on the Kaituna in winter? No prior rafting experience is required. The Kaituna Grade 5 section is designed to be accessible to first-timers with full briefing and expert guide support. If you're comfortable getting wet and following instructions, you're ready.
How cold is the water in winter? Because the Kaituna flows from Lake Rotorua and Lake Rotoiti rather than alpine sources, the water temperature remains relatively stable year-round. It's cool but not glacial. Combined with the neoprene gear provided, most people are surprised by how comfortable they feel on the river.
What do I wear for winter rafting? Rotorua Rafting provides a full wetsuit, booties, wetsuit jackets, helmet, and PFD. Wear a swimsuit underneath. Bring a warm change of clothes and a towel for after your trip. You'll be glad you did once you're in the sauna.
Does Rotorua Rafting have a sauna? Yes - and it's free. Rotorua Rafting is the only company on the Kaituna River to offer a post-raft sauna, included at no extra cost with every booking. It's available after every trip, year-round, but in winter it's genuinely next-level.
What happens if it rains? Trips run in rain. You're going to get wet regardless of the weather - that's the nature of white water rafting. The team monitors conditions and will always ensure it's safe to be on the river.
What if the Kaituna is running too high? On days where the Kaituna River is running above safe operational levels, Rotorua Rafting shifts to the Rangitaiki River - a Grade 3–4 trip that's longer, scenic, and equally epic.
How far is Rotorua Rafting from Rotorua city? The Ōkere Falls base is approximately 20 minutes from central Rotorua. Shuttle options are available - check the website or contact the team for current transport options.
How do I book? Book directly at rotorua-rafting.co.nz for the best rates. Winter slots are limited, so booking in advance is recommended.
There are a couple of companies operating on the Kaituna. Here's what makes Rotorua Rafting different:
This is the river Sam grew up paddling. It's the river the guides know inside out. And in winter, it's the best version of itself.
Don't wait for summer. The Kaituna in winter is worth every grey sky.
Book your Kaituna River rafting trip →
Or explore combo packages if you want to make a full day of it at Ōkere Falls — rafting, ziplining, and more.
Questions? Get in touch with the team.
