About Kaitiaki Adventures
Kaitiaki Adventures is one of Rotorua's most established adventure operators, specialising in whitewater rafting, river sledging, and guided volcanic hiking on Mount Tarawera. Based near the Kaituna River at Okere Falls, they've built a reputation as the go-to outfitter for visitors seeking authentic Kiwi adventure experiences combined with Maori cultural storytelling.
Their rafting trips tackle the legendary Kaituna River including the seven-metre Tutea Falls — the world's highest commercially rafted waterfall — across 14 rapids and three waterfalls. River sledging, which Kaitiaki pioneered in Rotorua, puts you even closer to the action: armed with a bodyboard and fins, you navigate grade-three rapids face-first. Their Mount Tarawera guided hikes explore the volcanic crater rim with stories of the devastating 1886 eruption woven throughout by knowledgeable local guides.
What makes Kaitiaki special is the depth of cultural connection — the name itself means "guardian" in te reo Maori, and the guides bring the land's history alive in a way few adventure companies manage. Whether you're plunging over Tutea Falls in a raft or standing on the crater rim at dawn, every experience is grounded in respect for the landscape and the stories it holds.
