In Okere Falls, however, hes just a regular guy in a spray skirt. color: #000; } Adrian recalls getting a phone call from his daughter, then 19, suggesting they meet her in Taupo. 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. Revenue Code For Cpt 59409. display: flex; .mini-contacts.phone.show-on-desktop.in-menu-first-switch.in-menu-second-switch.first a { margin-top: 40px !important; While he clings tightly to those conversations he had with Louise and the knowledge she would have wanted him to keep going, he would most likely still be paddling even if they hadnt spoken about it. This Kaituna River rafting adventure in the Okere Falls Scenic Reserve promises plenty of thrills! The Kaituna River begins at Lake Rotoiti, which is just north of Rotorua, before continuing its long journey to the Bay of Plenty, a journey of around 50 kilometers in length. } This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. text-align:left !important; n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)}; 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. z-index: 100; Furthermore, about 30% of those deaths come from heart conditions or heart attacks. margin:0 auto; /* elementor */ The final of the trio of gorges is known as Smokey. margin-bottom: 0; 0:00 / 5:25 Kaituna River Rafting, New Zealand - 21ft Waterfall! If you arent brave enough to take on white water rafting Rotorua, then Tutea Falls and Okere Falls are just a 20-minute drive from the city, and you can watch the rafters on the river as they tumble over the edge instead of tumbling over with them. Your heart starts pumping as you hear the sound of the water crashing in front of you. } Those fears were founded. Dont worry about hitting a rock just let the powerful rapids take you for a wet n wild ride. window.RSIW = window.RSIW===undefined ? If for any reason we feel safety is compromised we reserve the right to cancel any trip or person. max-height: 25px !important; e.gw = Array.isArray(e.gw) ? Occasionally, the rafts will flip over when they hit the water at the bottom of the falls. I wasnt a very good kayaker then, my skills werent all there and I pretty much just chopped my way down. The river has been run regularly by rafting and kayak since 1991. .home .eapps-instagram-feed-posts-grid-load-more-container { Snaking through bush-clad canyons, the Kaituna River is a mystical gorge of fast-moving water, steep drops and turbulence. } } min-height: 112px !important; #main { Rotorua & Kaituna Rafting offers spectacular white water rafting adventures on the world-famous Kaituna River, just a 20-minute drive from Rotorua, New Zealand. margin: 20px; The most popular sections for white water rafting Rotorua are found closer to the source of the river, by Lake Rotoiti, allowing easy access from the city, but also allows you to tackle Tutea Falls, the tallest waterfall in the world that can be rafted. 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 was thrown from a raft on the Kaituna River, at Tutea Falls, the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world, on Tuesday, the Daily Post at Rotorua reported. //}); border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; .team-members-all .pp-tm-content.pp-tm-content-normal { Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. padding-right: 0; She loved living in Okere with Ryan. The Kaituna River is Ryans playground and his ground zero. 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. The couple met in 2009 when Louise, an up-and-coming star on the canoe slalom scene, moved to the area, where the Lucas family have owned a bach for more than 20 years. margin-right:10px !important; } Maritime New Zealand carry out investigations into all deaths on New Zealand waterways. } That conviction was challenged in the most shocking way when Louise died, and it continues to be challenged. Base Track begins from end of Pilot Quay. We are the original Kaituna Rafting company & have been operating since 1991. position: relative; right:0px !important; You dont need any prior experience prior to doing this, and tour companies claim you dont even need to be able to swim as youll be fully kitted out in lifejackets the whole time. } Our journey for the day started in Rotorua. They will run you through techniques, the commands theyll be issuing and what to do if you fall out or the boat flips. } position: absolute; We offer river rafting trips daily on the Kaituna River(Okere River), and seasonal trips on the Waiora, and Rangitaiki River. Of the 12 deaths reported this year by American Whitewater, four died while rafting with commercial rafting companies. else{ Louise, who came through the canoe slalom ranks with Jones, had been gunning for selection for the London Games in 2012 but was unable to make the mark on the international stage shed hoped. Since opening in 1991, we have had 30 years of safe and awesome tours for our amazing guests! The Kaituna Waterfall experience is a thrill seekers ultimate adventure and a 'must do' New Zealand adrenalin pumping activity. We are a company of super friendly guides that strive to give you the safest and most entertaining trip on the river! Book your spot and find out why Rotorua Rafting was ranked #1 Travellers choice experience in New Zealand, 1 HOUR OF EPICNESS ON THE MIGHTY KAITUNA RIVER WILL LEAVE YOU STOKED, 1 HOUR OF STANDUP PADDLE BOARDING / FAMILY FLOAt, Zipline over waterfalls, Rotorua newest Must Do Activity, MAKE A DAY OF IT AND ADD A HOT POOL AFTERYOURTRIP. 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. @media screen and (max-width: 1920px) and (min-width:769px){ Mt Tarawera and Rafting Combo. The rest of the river seems pretty tame after that rush but you push on through more rapids. text-decoration: none; left: 55% !important; There was no trace of her. When I was here for her funeral I was 100 per cent sure I would never go back to the lower gorges again, because it just felt impossible for me, says Hradilek. He was trapped under water for more than three minutes before his expedition partner, Canadian paddler Mike Roy, was able to free him. It is a winter destination for paddlers from the northern hemisphere. for (var i in e.rl) if (e.gh[i]===undefined || e.gh[i]===0) e.gh[i] = e.gh[i-1]; .footer-1 .wpb_raw_code.wpb_content_element.wpb_raw_html{ Home of the 7m waterfall! This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. margin-left:0px; People ask why do I do it? For me, the most alive I have ever felt is in my kayak. The force of the rapids had pushed Louises lifejacket over her head. Vavrinec Hradilek, who first met Louise when she bounded up to him on the steps of his home boat club at a canoe slalom event in Prague, has been a regular visitor since 2009. 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! age: 13 years (See special notes) Exceptional Value Exceptional Value Book shore excursions with confidence! } While the Kaituna is Closed, we're running trips DAILYon the Rangitaiki. Since the very beginning Ryans goals have been about the adventure and challenging himself to push his limits. Bain could find no easy answer. 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. } He is a passionate outdoorsman with loads of energy and a desire to share with you, the wonders of the Kaituna River the place he calls home. She was right behind me and then I never saw her again.. right: 0px; Raft past beautiful cascading waterfalls, including the stunning Tutea Falls, and even take the opportunity to do some adventurous cliff diving. width:70px !important; There doesnt appear to be much to it from the main road. #carousel-container .carousel-container-content h2 { The couple and top British kayaker Joe Morley, a regular visitor to New Zealand, decided to go for a paddle after work. } After everyone was dressed for rafting we loaded up in the van and headed to the drop in the area of the Kaituna River to begin our adventure. This is the story of her death but it is also a story of renewal, as those closest to her keep her memory alive by celebrating her sense of adventure. .mobile-header-bar .mobile-branding img { 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. Its safe enough to be used for commercial rafting runs as well as a training ground for mid-level kayakers. div#bottom-bar { 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. Complex, precise and powerful sequential manoeuvring is non-negotiable. Accidents happen because of a series of small factors, and one of those becomes important. } 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. 1 HOUR OF EPICNESS ON THE MIGHTY KAITUNA RIVER WILL LEAVE YOU STOKED, WORLDS HIGHEST COMMERCIALLY RAFTED WATERFALL, 1 HOUR OF STANDUP PADDLE BOARDING / FAMILY FLOAT. text-align: left; 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. Experience whitewater rafting immersed in the jaw dropping beauty of the mighty Kaituna River. Adrenaline filled whitewater rafting on the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. } For the best white water rafting in New Zealand, visit us in Okere Falls, Rotorua! It is understood the man had a heart attack after being thrown from the raft he was in at Tutea Falls on the Kaituna River. console.log("Failure at Presize of Slider:" + e) body .fh-button-true-flat-red { .mobile-mini-widgets-in-menu span{ //window.requestAnimationFrame(function() { e.gh = Array.isArray(e.gh) ? He was in a raft guided by a man working for local rafting company Kaitiaki Adventures. Location of the Kaituna River and How to Travel There. Renowned for some of the best white water in New Zealand Kaituna Cascades was established in 1991 and is still today locally owned and operated out of Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand. } I kind of felt like she had my back out there, says Jones. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. } We are all shaken by his death." He remembers getting a glimpse of her after completing the first difficult move. River Rats Base. Pretty much all my friends are river people rafters, kayakers, river guides, he says. They decided to go further downstream. } input#input_1_3 { If you feel like free-floating down the class 5 rapids, jump out of the boat and give it a try. 0 : parseInt(e.tabw); In January this year, 58-year-old Turangi woman Catherine Farrington died while on a private sledging trip near Paengaroa. Gnarly gorge is where things get particularly, well, gnarly. Mr Wright said rafting could be dangerous but his customers understood the risks. height: 105px !important; .vc_col-sm-6 { } It was inevitable that their paths would cross here. They had been confronted by death in their network of friends all too often. window.innerWidth : window.RSIW; In times of war, women and children would lower themselves down the seemingly impenetrable curtain of water, seeking safe haven behind its frothy skirts. 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kaituna river rafting death