Day tour · Upper Waiau / Waiau-uha
Waiau Wilderness Raft 1 Day Tour
A full day on the East Coast's best-kept secret - rugged gorges, tall waterfalls and fun Grade 3 rapids. An exclusive trip, run just for your group.
Where You'll Be
This stretch of the Upper Waiau / Waiau-uha near Hanmer Springs is tricky to get to - which is exactly why it's one of rafting's best-kept secrets. Rugged gorges with steep rocky walls, tall waterfalls, wide-open valleys and pockets of green bush, all with pure clean water running through them. We reach it through the Magdalen Valley and Glenhope Station, a working high-country farm, and you choose how you get there: four-wheel drive, mountain bike, or helicopter.
- Duration7½ hours back in Hanmer around 4pm
- GradeGrade 3
- Minimum age10 years
- PricePriced on enquiry price depends on options chosen
- LocationUpper Waiau River / Waiau-uha near Hanmer Springs
- Pick-up9:00am Boyle Village
- Group sizeMinimum 4 people exclusive trip
The Experience
This is the ultimate day out with a bunch of mates. We run it as an exclusive trip - a minimum of four people, and the day is yours: no strangers in the raft. That makes it a great one for family and friends, an unforgettable team-building day for a work group, or the ultimate stag do or hen's party. And the rafting more than holds up its end: Grade 3 rapids through the Waiau-uha gorges, with amazing scenery and clean water the whole way. More about the Upper Waiau / Waiau-uha →
How the Day Runs
We meet at Boyle Village at 9:00am and head in through the Magdalen Valley and Glenhope Station - by four-wheel drive, mountain bike or helicopter, whichever you've chosen. Rafting begins after morning tea beside the river: we kit you out in all the gear, and a comprehensive safety briefing makes sure you know what to do out on the water, even if it's your first time in a raft. From there it's gorges, waterfalls and Grade 3 rapids, with a picnic lunch partway and plenty of chances to swim. We're usually back in Hanmer Springs by 4:00pm.
Food & Drinks
Morning tea beside the river before we start, a picnic lunch on the water, and hot drinks - all supplied. Bring your own favourite snacks too, and let us know in advance if anyone in the group has particular dietary needs.
What We Supply & What to Bring
We supply:
- Helmet, life jacket, wetsuit, splash jacket and thermal top
- Water shoes and small dry bags (for sunscreen etc.)
- Morning tea, a picnic lunch and hot drinks
Please bring:
- A towel and a change of dry clothes
- Swimwear or underwear to go under the wetsuit
- Sunscreen and any personal medication (e.g. asthma inhaler)
Is this trip right for me?
- Best for: a group of four or more who want the river to themselves - mates, family, a work team, a stag or hen's do.
- Activity level: moderate - a full, active day on the water, but our guides do the hard reading of the river.
- Experience: none needed; a comprehensive safety and paddle briefing comes first.
- Age: 10 years and up.
- Want to stay out longer? The Waiau 2 Day adds a night in the high country, and the Waiau 3 Day steps up to our most challenging Grade 3–4 water.
Safety
Your safety is our priority. Inland Adventures operates under a Department of Conservation concession and complies with the WorkSafe Adventure Activities Regulations, audited annually by AdventureMark. Every trip begins with a comprehensive safety and paddle briefing, and our guides look after you on the water.
"Wow! The East Coast's best-kept secret."
Phil - River Guide
