Staff + Student LoginSo, I signed up to go on a white water rafting trip hosted by the University of Waikato and put on just for me and my fellow international students and to sum it up, it was Awesome! Due to a last minute technical difficulty, the trip was changed from the intended Wairoa river to the more adventurous Kaituna river. In case you are unaware, the Kaituna river consists not only of full grade 5 rapids but also 3 different waterfalls, including Tutea Falls, reportedly the highest commercially raftable waterfall in the
WORLD at 7 meters (21 feet) tall!! As an added bonus to the change of plans, the staff did a great job of throwing in an opportunity to go Zorbing; basically rolling really fast down a large steep hill in a huge ball filled with water... I know how it sounds, but it was actually really fun! The company that we went rafting with is called Kaitaki Adventures, who I would definitely recommend to anyone interested in going. They have a strong Maori component to the trip, including a Karakia (Maori prayer) before we entered the water. Our raft even learnt a chant, in Maori, which we generally shouted as loud as possible. As well, they teach you about
the unique animals that reportedly inhabit the river, but I’ll let you figure that out for yourself...After the trip we got a free BBQ, kiwi style, and a chance to relax, play some beach volleyball, or hang out in bean bag chairs and enjoy the evening. It was a guides’ Birthday, so we also got the enjoyment of watching him get tackled, taped up, and placed in a tub of water full of booty juice... Crazy guides... On the bus ride home we even got a really nice sunset, also free of charge, which just capped of the day perfectly. All in all, I would do it again (and hopefully will), and if you get the chance, you should as well.
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