Choose the departure time that suits your schedule, then start with hotel pickup in Turangi or Taupo. The precise departure time varies with the time of year: morning rafting trips start between 9am and 10:30am, and summertime afternoon rafting starts at 3:30pm.
Upon arrival at a rafting base camp in Turangi, meet your guide, suit up in a wetsuit, and learn the basics of river rafting technique and safety. You’ll have 90 minutes of river time, rolling through small rapids and stretches of flat water that are the perfect places to try out your new skills. Throughout the trip, you’ll pass through a scenic, natural landscape, with lush forests crowded at the edge of the water. At the end of your time on the river, refuel with a cup of hot tea or coffee overlooking the Tongariro River, then finish the day with drop-off back at your hotel.