New Zealand Rafting Adventure - Pound My Senses
The New Zealand white water rafting experience is synonymous with high quality pulse pounding adventure. With its inception in America, this sport took root in New Zealand in the late 70s and has not looked back since, growing from strength to strength.
Whitewater is formed in a rapid, when a river's gradient (rate at which a river loses its elevation) drops enough to form a bubbly, or aerated and unstable current; the frothy water appears white. The term is also used loosely to refer to less-turbulent but still agitated flows. The term "whitewater" also has a broader meaning, applying to any river or creek itself that has a significant number of rapids. (Source: Wikipedia)
New Zealand is blessed with the presence of fast free flowing rivers with magnificent water courses whose source is in interior mountains. They run through forests into the sea.
Although the sport had raft design problems in its early stages of development and raw and keen guides, today the scenario has altered dramatically with cutting edge design technology and guides more skilled and qualified as ever in terms of keenness and safety procedures.
Rafts are also of various types suited to the changing river flows. There are self bailing rafts for high flows, self bailing rafts for medium to low flows and the inflatable kayaks variety when the river gets really low.
The rivers are graded from Class (or Grade) 1 to Class 5. Rafting can range anywhere from drifitng along tranquil rivers to mind blowing full scale assault on the senses with hardly any space to breathe as you get wet and drenched down tumultous and wild Grade 5 river course. Please note that an age limit of 12 to 13 years applies on the rougher river courses.
A detailed listing at the bottom of this article explains the various Class gradings.
These rafting trips can also range from matter of hours to a few days as most of the time is spent in travelling to the river and back. You will be accompanied by trained guides who are fully aware of the safety rules associated with this sport.
You will be provided all safety gear by your tour operator. You will be well advised to take a towel, a swimsuit and some cash for snacks along the trip to or from the river.
The most popular white water rafting spots in the South Island of New Zealand are along the Kawarau, Shotover and Rangitata rivers (one of the premier courses in the country). The Karamea and Buller rivers to the north of the island offer superb rafting adventures. The Waiho and Arnold rivers on the West Coast offer great rafting adventures.
In the North Island of New Zealand the Kaituna, Rangitaiki, Rangitikei, Tongariro and Wairoa rivers offer fantastic white water rafting adventures with the Kaituna river hosting the highest commercially rafted waterfall.
You can see that the white water rafting adventures are well spread out over both the North Island and South Island. To travel form one site to another, you will need a good vehicle.
River Grading system: Grade 1 – Calm rippling water
Grade 5 – Big whitewater with powerful rapids, ultimate adrenaline rush.
Grade 6 – Unraftable
