Rangitikei River

River Location

The Rangitikei River flows through the River Region in the heart of the North Island of New Zealand, off of State Highway 1 halfway between Taupo and Wellington.

Go rafting with a commercial outfitter on the Mohaka River

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Level of Difficulty

The Rangitikei can be broken into several different sections for whitewater rafting. The Gorge is rated Class V, with 10 major Class IV-V rapids dispersed over an exciting 12 kilometer run. The Mokai Gorge is mainly a Class II run, and is meant mostly as a fun scenic float and the only way to explore an 80 meter-deep canyon of incredible beauty. The two sections can be combined into an overnight adventure as well.

The Canyon

Home to several of the chosen film locations for the famous Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Rangitikei is a wild, free-flowing river whose currents have molded an incredible landscape. It twists through towering white cliffs, deep sandstone and papa gorges, and past secret waterfalls. An abundant trout population swims in the clear turquoise waters. The Class V Gorge section provides plenty of exciting whitewater with rapids like Max’s Drop, Fulcrum, and Foamy.

The Season

The best time for rafting the Rangitikei is during New Zealand’s summer months, November through April.