Kaituna rafting 🏞️

Some plans are made well in advance, and today was one of those days - celebrations of Maciek and Martyna name, and a long-awaited bucket list item: rafting down the Kaituna River with Tutea Falls, the tallest commercially rafted waterfall in the world at seven meters.

The Kaituna River flows through lush native forest, cutting through deep gorges and waterfalls. In Māori, “Kaituna” means "eat eel", a reference to the river’s past as a rich food source. It also holds deep spiritual significance - before setting off, our guide led a karakia, a traditional Māori prayer, thanking the river for its waters and asking for safe passage. Standing in the humid air, with the sound of rushing water all around, it felt like a moment of connection with something much older than us.

Then, it was time to go. Helmets tight, paddles ready, onto the rafts - and hold on! The water was warm and fast-moving, carving through the canyon as we tackled rapid after rapid. Our group included a bunch of Australians, and with their energy (and maybe a bit of madness), our guide decided to take us straight into the biggest waves. Tutea Falls itself was an instant of pure adrenaline—one sharp drop, a second of free fall, and then a surge of water as we disappeared under the spray.

By the time we pulled our raft onto the shore, soaked and grinning, it was hard to believe that it’s already January 30th. Time in New Zealand seems to be moving too fastLeggi altro