Kaituna River (Okere upper gorge)
Also known as: Okere River, Okere Falls
Native-bush gorge, three waterfalls incl. Tutea Falls
Is there water?
Whether there is a river here on your dates, and what kind of water it is.
Lake-fed via council-controlled Okere gates (built 1982) - consistent, reliable
Jan-Dec, all months (gate-regulated flow ~200-600 at gates)
Year-round (365 days)
~24 C summer / ~12 C winter (one of NZ's warmest rivers); wetsuits provided
Gate-controlled so flood risk low; cold in winter
Grade & who can come
A river changes grade with its level. These grades describe a normal flow - in flood the same run is harder, and often a different run entirely. Check the gauge before you commit.
Grade V commercial; kayak IV-V
Commercial raft; guided/whitewater kayak; sledging
'Half trip' Grade 3 lower section below the falls for nervous/younger members. 13+ full trip; 10-12 half-river; max ~130 kg; non-swimmers OK with PFD.
Two tiers in one venue - thrill-seekers do the full Grade 5; nervous members do the Grade 3 half or watch from the falls platform
The run
Tutea Falls ~7 m / 23 ft vertical drop - highest commercially rafted waterfall; pool-drop, 14 rapids, 3 falls
Waterfall keeper-holes (Tutea, Trout Pool Falls); rocks, undercuts, wood; lower Gnarly Gorge is a mandatory portage outside the commercial section
Okere gates/slalom to Trout Pool
Popular day trip; back-to-back commercial departures
Access & shuttle
No participant permit; operators need a DOC concession + Ngati Pikiao hapu blessing; AdventureMark certified
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Roadside off Trout Pool Rd / SH33; both ends drive-in
Rotorua pickup ~NZ$15pp; operator shuttle
Wetsuits + helmet/PFD provided; almost no signal in gorge
Rotorua hub; Kaitiaki Adventures, Rotorua Rafting, Kaituna Cascades, River Rats
Hazards & exits
Karakia performed before Tutea Falls; strong Te Arawa cultural significance
Roadside exits (Trout Pool Rd/SH33); swiftwater-trained guides; Rotorua Hospital ~20-25 min
Guided commercial rafting; expert kayakers self-guide
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand river run report. Coordinates are approximate.