Okere Falls marks the beginning of the Kaituna River. max-width: 100px; } @media(max-width:1200px) and (min-width:767px){ e.thumbh = e.thumbhide>=pw ? Cancellation Policy Hearing about Suttons adventures motivated Ryan, then about 15, to get involved. } /*color: #3A444D;*/ margin-bottom: 10px; For Louises parents, Liz and Adrian Jull, the Okere Falls landmarks provide tangible reminders of their youngest child: the general store, where Louise worked before embarking on a teaching career; Taheke Marae, where her funeral took place; the put-in area, where the family released flowers into the stream and said their final goodbyes. window.rs_init_css.innerHTML += "#"+e.c+"_wrapper { height: "+newh+"px }"; Furthermore, about 30% of those deaths come from heart conditions or heart attacks. border:none !important; } .vc_custom_1619577787216 { I did always remind myself how lucky I was. } Roy then dragged Ryan from his kayak and revived him. background-color: #f7e222; This section offers Grade 5 rapids the highest grade for rafting you can tackle, unless your a professional but dont worry, because even if youve never rafted before youll be given prior training. Two others were reportedly floating on an inner tube, two fell off a paddleboard and one person was in a kayak. 33-year-old Emily Fournier of. } } width:50%; } 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. Conditions- You must be 13+ years to join this experience - your safety is our No.1 priority at Kaituna Cascades. Revenue Code For Cpt 59409. Owner of Rotorua Rafting and 4x Extreme Kayaking World Champion Sam Sutton is the man behind the brand. margin-left: 48px!important; var m = pw>(e.gw[ix]+e.tabw+e.thumbw) ? } e.gh : e.el; .home .eapps-instagram-feed-posts-grid-load-more-container { One trip you should not miss on the North Island when you visit Rotorua is a rafting trip with River Rats Rafting. } Shes just a crack-up, she has so many amazing stories from her adventures, Jones says, skipping between past and present tense, as if she still cant get her head around the fact her best mate is gone. The Kaituna River is the most exhilarating waterway in New Zealand, packed with white water rapids and home to the worlds largest commercially rafted waterfall. We were all really fired up, I remember Lou looking at me and giving me the vibe like lets do this, says Ryan. Members of the New Zealand Rafting Association were unavailable for comment and representatives of other rafting companies operating on the Kaituna refused to comment. for (var i in nl) if (sl>nl[i] && nl[i]>0) { sl = nl[i]; ix=i;} margin:0 auto; Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. display: none; right: 5% !important; .textwidget p { There were tributes to Louise everywhere you looked at last years Whitewater XL, the first major canoe slalom event to be held at Aucklands new whitewater park in Manukau, Helmets, paddles and kayaks of local and international competitors alike were plastered with stickers with the name Lulu encased in a stylised heart. margin-bottom: -20px !important; } width: 98%; Moments later, he spotted his girlfriends lifejacket floating in the water. top: 75px !important; A grassy embankment next to the control gates that feed out of Lake Rotoiti marks the put-in area, where paddlers sit in their kayaks, teetering on the edge before they slide down a steep path into water below. Ryan describes returning home that night without his girlfriend as the most gut-wrenching moment of his life. } And yes, Lina and I have a naked dog. The Cave: An Adaptation of Plato's Allegory in Clay; Chasing the Shadows; The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf: A Stop-motion Adaptation A man in his 50s has died after reportedly getting into difficulty in a Bay of Plenty river yesterday. A police spokeswoman said police and Hato Hone St John Ambulance personnel were advised of. #mobile-menu span.menu-item-text { display: block; @media screen and (max-width: 1920px) and (min-width:769px){ margin: 0 auto; @media screen and (min-width:770px) { Raft past beautiful cascading waterfalls, including the stunning Tutea Falls, and even take the opportunity to do some adventurous cliff diving. If it is not the place of drifting, then it is the place of drifters. .mobile-header-bar .mobile-branding img, .branding a img, .branding img { Many who testified grappled with the issue of the risks associated with the sport, and at what point those risks become unacceptable. #carousel-container .book-now a { The Best Rafting in New Zealand! .footer .widget .post-content .text-secondary { As for Ryan, he continues to travel too, last year taking on the Squamish River zone in British Columbia. You drop in, heres the lines, stick the moves, dont go upside down.. } I wish we never went paddling that day. } She was with her husband and a group of friends. The beauty of the Kaituna River is unmatched around the World and its hard to keep your eyes on the rapids as they come up. But it is also a story Lucas has been reluctant to tell. but nothing compares to the end waterfall. } He was put back into the raft after a short time in the water but collapsed about 10 minutes later. Wishlist. text-decoration: none; Paddle through the pristine heart of the best rafting region in New Zealand - Okere, Rotorua; } width: 100%; Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River rafting - See 1,518 traveler reviews, 219 candid photos, and great deals for Rotorua, New Zealand, at Tripadvisor. Adrian Jull finds himself obsessing over the smaller details the seemingly inconsequential elements that conspired against his daughter. } But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. .single-tour .page-title { "We voluntarily suspended operations for the day and have met with Maritime New Zealand to explain what happened. max-width: 120px; It seems most of his childhood was spent hurling himself off things at speed, but for Ryan, the adrenalin rush he got from whitewater kayaking compared to nothing else. Tutea Falls is the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world, at 7m high. .elementor-button.elementor-size-sm { This is a long, deep gorge in a changing landscape that sees the tight, winding canyon widen out to boulder gardens. 1 : (pw-(e.tabw+e.thumbw)) / (e.gw[ix]); That group included Vavrinec Hradilek. .footer-1 a.kaituna-button { e.thumbhide = e.thumbhide===undefined ? .transparent .mobile-branding .sticky-mobile-logo-second-switch img { The truth is, his girlfriends death that horrible, nightmarish event I will never get over taught him plenty about life. . left: 40% !important; The grade 5 Kaituna River boasts the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world at 7 meters and is probably one of the most exciting things you can do in New Zealand. The demands of the tourist town quickly outstripped the supply from the station, and it was decommissioned in the mid-1930s. Rotorua & Kaituna Rafting offers spectacular white water rafting adventures on the world-famous Kaituna River, just a 20-minute drive from Rotorua, New Zealand. There is no feeling like getting down a big, scary section of whitewater and sitting at the bottom after a successful descent. width:100% !important; Our sweet Rafting Base in Okere Falls is in an awesome sunny location, surrounded by a scenic reserve and backs onto the shores of the Kaituna. And I said well thats going to be a fat lot of use and she said yeah Im not sure what Im really standing here for, he chuckles. I was like, my girlfriend, she is pretty kickarse.. e.gh = Array.isArray(e.gh) ? } .footer-1 .wpb_raw_code.wpb_content_element.wpb_raw_html{ } Detective Sergeant John Wilson of the Rotorua police said police investigations were in the early stages and more information would be gained after a post-mortem examination had been carried out. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. } By the time police and a rescue team reached the area and were properly briefed, it was too dark to launch a search. Established in 2011,by locally born and bred 4 x World Champion Extreme Kayaker Sam Sutton. I think people need to see the good stuff and the bad, and know the reality of it, he says. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". .soc-ico .facebook{ } The Kaituna River is home to kere Falls, Kaituna Falls, and the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world 7m Tutea Falls. It is here that he has spent all his summers since he was a kid. } Your local guides are going to be experienced and well versed in taking newcomers and old hands alike out onto the Kaituna River. If you want to enjoy slightly calmer rapids but great weather, then consider traveling to Rotorua in the spring shoulder season, just before summer, when the rivers will be full and the sun will begin to emerge from the New Zealand clouds. Never did Ryan expect he would be looking skyward at Louises funeral and making a promise to honour her wishes. } Location: Okere Falls, Rotorua, BOP/NZ Product code: Kaituna Rotorua Rafting are the Kaituna River (Okere River) Specialists. .show-on-second-switch { .sticky-on .main-nav > .book > a .menu-text { Be sure to make Kaituna river rafting your first stop adventure activity in Rotorua! He was in a raft guided by a man working for local rafting company Kaitiaki Adventures. .footer .widget .kaituna-button, } Maritime New Zealand spokesman Ross Henderson said preliminary enquiries were underway. We are the closest and most accessible company to the river. This is the upper section of the river commonly referred to as the Okere River close to its source at Lake Rotoiti, and its the most intense and exciting stretch of water in New Zealand. margin-top:25px; } Adrenaline filled whitewater rafting on the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. margin-left: 7px; Simply show up and get ready to raft! } It does not store any personal data. After getting picked up, youll be taken to the mustering areas on the river to kit up and go through the safety brief, then youll hit the water in your raft. } /* height:100px !important; */ Get wet, Get wild, Get stuck in! Full description. Ride the rapids of the Kaituna River in a safe and fun way that's perfect for rafting beginners. Thats all I had left of her, he says, crying. .sticky-mobile-on .mobile-navigation { Its a story that defies belief. This white water rafting trip is the ideal outing for adventure lovers. 0 : parseInt(e.thumbhide); Every time we go through theres a few tears. Call 0800 772 384 or Book Online. Combine Maori culture with stunning scenic vistas and 360-degree panoramic views. max-height: 25px !important; His red kayak is a speck against the funnel of water and towering rock formation. 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. Raft the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world! The upbeat refrains seemed incongruous but were also fitting: It was the type of music that accompanied Louises many online videos of her epic adventures. In other words, there is one death for every 250,000 to 400,000 "person visits" of whitewater rafting. The Highest Commercially Rafted Waterfall The Okere (Kaituna) River is situated at Okere Falls, between Rotorua (20 minutes drive) and Tauranga (45 minutes drive). color: #000; Kaituna River Rafting English. Maritime New Zealand carry out investigations into all deaths on New Zealand waterways. padding-right: 20px; @media screen and (min-width:768px) { I thought this is what I want to do.. The Kaituna Waterfall experience is a thrill seekers ultimate adventure and a 'must do' New Zealand adrenalin pumping activity. margin: 0 15% !important; } /* elementor */ Gnarly gorge is where things get particularly, well, gnarly. #tripadvisor-loader { He was Madhu Shah, a tourist who is understood to be from Mumbai (Bombay) in India. display:block !important; The white water rafting Rotorua tour will begin gently enough, as you paddle along the calm beginning. right: 0px; From here on it is continuous whitewater, like a fast-moving hydroslide winding through a boxed-in canyon. color: #000; } Too late, youre plunging down the waterfall in one quick motion. flex-direction: column; I was very strong when I spoke at the coroners court to say that we didnt want that section of river closed off. About a 15-minute drive east of Rotorua, along a stretch of highway that hugs the shores of Lake Rotoiti, lies the settlement of Okere Falls. You may want to bring a few snacks to enjoy after the rafting, and some water or other refreshments too. Trailhead address: Pilot Quay, Mt Maunganui, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, 3116, New Zealand. margin-left:0px; 0 : parseInt(e.mh,0); She was known to get up at 5am and do a couple of laps before work then squeeze in another paddle in the evening. .bottom-text-block{ You canlearnmore about us here. }} Ryan has spent most of his life chasing waterfalls. Rotorua Rafting offers spectacular white water rafting adventures on the world-famous Kaituna River, just a 20 minute drive from Rotorua, New Zealand. Mt Tarawera and Rafting Combo. } color: #000 !important; 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. t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; #carousel-container .carousel-container-content { .dt-mobile-menu-icon:not(.floating-btn) .menu-line:before { border-radius: 3px; Including free pick up from your Central Rotorua accommodation. button.mfp-close { window.innerHeight : window.RSIH; All you see is the waterfall mist for a slight second while the whole raft is pushed down by the falling water, then you pop out on the bottom to a nice pool of water. She became really wrapped in the adventure aspect exploring wild rivers, which is something you cant really do in the slalom world, her father explains. a.same-logo { There is one particularly striking picture taken just after he has gone over the edge of the 30m high Ram Falls in the Canadian Rockies. .fh-button-true-flat-yellow.fh-fixed--bottom.fh-size--small{ font-size: 20px; }.vc_custom_1536281073929{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}.vc_custom_1536025422002{margin-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;}.vc_custom_1536660768233{padding-top: 50px !important;}.vc_custom_1537872676262{padding-top: 100px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;}.vc_custom_1536657450847{padding-top: 70px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;}.vc_custom_1536281063420{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}.vc_custom_1536662120888{margin-bottom: 30px !important;} .wpb_animate_when_almost_visible { opacity: 1; } border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; background-color: #f7e222; } The company you book with will provide most of the equipment of course, including wetsuits to keep you warm in the water, helmets, boots, and top of the range lifejackets. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)}; } The first drop at Okere Falls is simple enough, and you will adjust to the raft and get used to paddling, while still getting very wet. for (var i in e.rl) if (e.gw[i]===undefined || e.gw[i]===0) e.gw[i] = e.gw[i-1]; We offer river rafting trips daily on the Kaituna River(Okere River), and seasonal trips on the Waiora, and Rangitaiki River. display: none; width: 100%; Kaituna River G5 Rotorua's favourite adrenaline pumping adventure. } background: #000000 !important; Mr Wright said rafting could be dangerous but his customers understood the risks. As your raft creeps up with the nose of the raft just starting over the large drop you think to yourself, am I really doing this? On this guided tour, you will spend 50 minutes sailing down Kaituna, one of New Zealand's most famous rafting destinations. position: relative; } position: absolute; if(window.rs_init_css===undefined) window.rs_init_css = document.head.appendChild(document.createElement("style")); position: relative; }. This is rare, but if it does happen, then just follow the training you are given at the start and dont worry too much because the worst of the rapids are over and there will be plenty of time to climb back inside the raft. It would have been the last thing that Louise wanted, says Adrian. color:#fff !important; Of course, though, the rapids require rain to make them formidable, and you will find the most intense white water rafting Rotorua just after a rainstorm! This week's death was the third as a result of an incident on the Kaituna River since last August. This is when the weather is at its best, and considering youre going to be very wet for a few hours, having a bit of sunshine will add to your experience immensely. 16 Kaituna River: 3.5-Hour Whitewater Rafting Experience. Before you know it, you are at your first set of class 5 rapids. Occasionally, the rafts will flip over when they hit the water at the bottom of the falls. That was her, she would always just go ahead and do it.. color: black !important; } function setREVStartSize(e){ input#input_1_3 { Once kayakers emerge from the gorge, the pace changes dramatically as the river broadens, calming the pushy, high-volume river to a flatwater stream that flows all the way to the Maketu estuary, out into the Bay of Plenty and the great oceans beyond. Since the very beginning Ryans goals have been about the adventure and challenging himself to push his limits. e.tabhide = e.tabhide===undefined ? Spend three adrenaline-crammed hours white water rafting down the Kaituna River on this tour from Rotorua. } All her friends have a story to tell of her madcap adventures around Europe, where going with the flow landed her in some unlikely situations. background: #f7e221; padding: 10px 10px; text-align:left !important; width: 100%; The River Rats Kaituna Waterfall Experience will see you paddling through the pristine heart of the best rafting region in New Zealand - Okere, Rotorua. .mobile-header-bar{ Once you discover this place, its hard to get away from it.. .home-banner-text-btn h2 { } Kayaking gave her so much confidence, it made her the person she was.. .contact-imb-boxes .elementor-widget-container .the7-box-wrapper{ .team-members-all .pp-tm-content.pp-tm-content-normal { var pw = document.getElementById(e.c).parentNode.offsetWidth, e.mh = e.mh===undefined || e.mh=="" || e.mh==="auto" ? I kind of felt like she had my back out there, says Jones. Kaituna Cascades was established in 1991 and is still today locally owned and operated out of Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand. #carousel-container .carousel-container-content h2 { Depending on the weather conditions during your white water rafting Rotorua trip, you may be given extra spray jackets too most definitely if you are rafting in winter. Take the ultimate thrill ride on this Kaituna River white water rafting tour. e.thumbw = e.thumbw===undefined ? 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! Gallery AUD 118.90. But again, youre unlikely to fall out as long as you follow the commands given by your boat leader. The minimum age is 15 years. } e.gh = e.el===undefined || e.el==="" || (Array.isArray(e.el) && e.el.length==0)? Best Price Guarantee. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. There was no trace of her. At the moment we are trying to arrange for his body to be taken back home to India." } You and your team put your paddles together to give a celebration yell. With the gorge framed by native bush, fallen logs also pose a major hazard for kayakers. 0 : parseInt(e.thumbh); While the Kaituna is Closed, we're running trips DAILYon the Rangitaiki. If you do fall out theres a guide in a kayak to save you along with your fellow rafters. Youll get kitted out and made to go through the motions of paddling by your guides before you are even allowed near the boat. She decided artificial slalom courses were not for her and switched her focus to whitewater kayaking. color: #000 !important; Grade 4 | White Water Rafting Bay of Plenty, One Hell of a combo | With Hells Gate & Kaituna Cascades. @media screen and (max-width: 2000px) and (min-width:1025px){ 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. } You just need to be physically fit and ready for a lot of adrenaline and a lot of water. Those fears were founded. newh; } } We are the original Kaituna Rafting company & have been operating since 1991. background-attachment: scroll !important; text-align: left !important; He was introduced to the sport by Okere Falls local, Sam Sutton, who was beginning to get recognition on the extreme paddling scene. } The Kaituna is a grade five, which is characterised as "extremely difficult and violent, with life-threatening hazards". #carousel-container { s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script', e.tabw = e.tabhide>=pw ? padding-right: 0; Use Promo code CASCADES on booking for $10 off - That's only $95pp!! There are around 14 big rapids in total not counting smaller bumps along the way! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. } A man has died after a rafting adventure down the Kaituna River Bain could find no easy answer. background-size:cover !important; position: absolute; This spectacular 2.0 - 2.5-hour experience provides all the gear you need, initial training, and around 50 minutes on the water. padding: 7px; WebMedicare Billing Codes" cpt 99501 description. background-color: #fff; color: #fff !important; I think we really worked together because we wanted the same things in life, and that was to kayak and travel and live life to the full, says Hamilton-born Ryan. American Whitewater reports that on average, there are only 6 to 10 whitewater rafting deaths for each 2.5 million user days on guided rafting trips. 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. } Like the time she caught the train to a small French town and ended up sleeping on the floor of a hat shop. right: 5%; background-color: #f7e222 !important; } width: 46%!important; @media(max-width:768px){ width: 200px; } } } @media screen and (max-width: 1024px) and (min-width:200px){ Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. It wasnt always easy to watch. The first of the three gorges is known to paddlers as Awesome. As they neared the town, they got in touch to arrange a place to meet. font-size: 22px !important; " Stephanie - Germany KAITUNA 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. display: flex; left: 55% !important; Approaching that section of river always intensifies the heaviness in his chest that has never really left him since that early autumn evening in 2015. bottom: auto; by Matthew Martin matthew.martin@dailypost.co.nz A man has died after a rafting adventure down the Kaituna River turned to tragedy. With an expert guide at the helm, you'll paddle through Class 5 white-water rapids of the Kaituna River, including an awesome 21-foot (7-meter) drop down Tutea Falls, the worlds highest commercially rafted waterfall. They teach you to paddle forward and paddle back. padding: 5px 0 5px 0; The area attracts not only top kayakers from around the world, but with numerous rafting companies operating on the river, it is a mecca for seasonal workers looking for an OE beyond the ordinary. padding: 8px 16px; width: 96%; @media(max-width:1024px) and (min-width:769px){ It is also where Ryan and Louises love story began and the starting point of their fateful trip on March 11, 2015. right:0px !important; else{ display: none !important; I always try to think over her exact words. width: 100%; The Kaituna River is home to kere Falls, Kaituna Falls, and the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world 7m Tutea Falls. The Kaituna River is Ryans playground and his ground zero. Location of the Kaituna River and How to Travel There. Kaituna River Rafting | Best White Water Rafting on the Kaituna River, NZ 0800 772 384 Blog Contact Us "The highlight to our trip to NZ, fun guides, beautiful scenery, and worth every penny! 0:00 / 5:25 Kaituna River Rafting, New Zealand - 21ft Waterfall! This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. newh = (e.gh[ix] * m) + (e.tabh + e.thumbh); } .same-logo img.preload-me{ About a week after the accident, one of Ryans friends with knowledge of the river looked through the footage for him, searching for clues as to what happened. padding-left: 85px; We went down the river in groups of three rafts and waited after every large fall to make sure someone was not unlucky and fell out of the boat. You might even enjoy the extra rush of capsizing on the worlds tallest commercially rafted waterfall. text-align: center !important;
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