The 10 Best Boat Tours & Water Sports in North Island, New Zealand

Kaituna Cascades is the Original Rafting Company to start taking people rafting down the Kaituna River & over the 7m Tutea Falls. We are located right beside the river & have been there 30 years. The Kaituna river is now super famous for having the Worlds Highest Commercially Rafted Waterfall. Awesome scenery, warm water, 11 fun rapids and 3 waterfalls makes this a perfect river for anybody. Open all year round. Minimum age 13+ years old. Come and join our super fun team!

River Rats have been offering quality adventures for over 35 years. There’s something for everyone, from full on grade 5 action on the Kaituna River, featuring the world's highest commercially rafted waterfall, through to a gentle grade 2 scenic raft trip suitable for participants as young as 5 years old. Kayaking is available as freedom hire or a guided tour. Paddle the local lakes to a secluded beach or enjoy a hot water swim only accessible by boat, an evening kayak option is available in summer that includes a BBQ dinner and a hidden Glow Worm cave

The Jet Boat is a New Zealand icon, and jet boating is a favourite activity for Kiwis. Set in the beautiful Aratiatia Scenic Reserve is New Zealand’s best white water Jet Boat Ride, Rapids Jet.Conveniently located just 15 minutes drive north of Taupo and 50 minutes south of Rotorua, Rapids Jet operates on the biggest rapids for commercial jetboating in New Zealand.Shoot through a narrow canyon, be exhilarated by spins on crystal clear waters, spot a trout and surf the pressure waves of the awesome Nga AwaPurua rapids. Take time to view the amazing surrounds of Aratiatia Scenic Reserve, and learn about the wildlife and history of the area with your Kiwi owner/drivers Rusty, Jimmy and Gazza.Our 35 minute blast guarantees an adrenaline rush! Since 1993, over 140,000 passengers aged 5-89 years have safely experienced the thrill of real white water jet boating with Rapids Jet.We have thousands of hours experience driving jet boats both in New Zealand and overseas, so you can be sure you are in safe hands with Rapids Jet. Let us share our love of jet boating with you, book a ride on Rapids Jet today.

Kia Ora and Welcome to Rafting New Zealand. A family run business established in 1991. We raft the best rivers, providing family fun rafting for ages 3 years and up all the way through to extreme whitewater action. With professional, fun, Kiwi guides, premier gear and facilities, Maori culture and an excellent safety record, book with us to experience the thrill of rafting, Aotearoa styles. Rafting NZ is NZ's most awarded rafting company.

Seize the rare opportunity to set sail on a working tall ship and step on board Northland’s own iconic R. Tucker Thompson! Often voted the best day of any holiday it is always an experience to create lifelong memories, one not to be missed. Be part of the crew for the day and help set the sails, ride on the bowsprit, or grab a harness to climb the rigging for an amazing view. If you prefer to relax, then let our crew do all the work. The ship is spacious and the friendly crew makes it a memorable experience. Ferry tickets, morning cream tea and delicious BBQ lunch are included, cash bar available. Three days a week we offer short 2-hour late afternoon sailings, a perfect way to start your evening. It's ideal if you are short of time but want a taste of this beautiful vessel. When you sail with us you’re helping others too, as funds raised are used to take kids on life-changing youth development voyages over winter.

A day out on Phantom gives you a chance to get away from the crowds. This is adventure, relaxation and scenic beauty all in one with the personal atmosphere created by your hosts, Rick and Robin. Swim, snorkel and hike the island then enjoy a great home cooked lunch amongst the beauty of the islands on this great owner- operator boat.

Explore world famous Cathedral Cove and the many highlights of our spectacular volcanic coastline in one hour. Our 10 seater boats keep tour groups small and allow us to venture into spectacular sea caves - including a hidden underground blowhole, (high tide only) and get up close and personal with the abundant marine life in the marine reserve.

Operating in the Eastern Bay of Plenty since 2002 we offer guided tours and freedom hires in a variety of locations around the Whakatane /Ohope Beach area. With local guides, our unique moonlight/ sunset tours and offshore tours at spectacular Moutohorā / Whale Island are particularly popular. The trip out to Whale Island by sailing catamaran is always memorable, plus the regular seal encounters and hot water beach experience make it a day to remember. Departure times are Whale Island :8am, Coastal Adventure 8 30am, Ohiwa Explorer by arrangement, Freedom hire available all day. Safety on the water and catering for occasional kayakers (novices) is what we are about ! See you soon !

Tongariro River Rafting is the most experienced outdoor adventure company on the Tongariro River. We create journeys, share stories and bring people closer to nature through biking, fishing and rafting. We celebrate 25 years as a family owned and operated business in 2015. We're passionate about showing off our amazing region to visitors and are dedicated to preserving the natural environment of the Tongariro River for future generations – so much so, we founded the Blue Duck Project – with the goal of returning the rare native Blue Duck to its traditional habitat along the Tongariro River. Our adventures include Grade 3 white water rafting trips, family floats for the younger rafters or first timers, mountain biking and fishing. On your Grade 3 white water rafting trip, you will have an unforgettable 2.5 hours navigating over 60 heart-pounding rapids with an expert guide at the helm. All of our guides are highly trained professionals and our equipment is top quality. You'll even enjoy a deli style lunch after your trip (hot soup in winter). Prepare yourself for one of the most stunning white water rafting adventures in New Zealand – we know this river like the back of our paddle! “Oar-some!!”

Muriwai Surf School is located only 35mins drive from Aucklands central city. Our surf shed is only a one minute walk from the beach. We are located in a regional park which has fantastic walks with great coastal views. The beach is a black sand beach and 45km long. Aucklands West Coast (Tasman Sea) gets plenty of swell which makes it a perfect place for surfers and non surfers looking to escape the hussle and bussle of the city for a few hours (or in my case life). From the surf shed we offer surf lessons, surf coaching, surfboard & wetsuit hire, adventure hire, blokart hire. We are a Kiwi owned and operated family business who pride ourselves on our old school friendly service.