Glacier Rafting Trips
Glacier Heli Rafting New Zealand
$huge discounts for singles, couples, and groups
Grade 2-5 Rapids
Full, Half-Day, multi day Wilderness Heli Rafting
Much the same as airlines, we like to fill the seats on trips we already have booked to make it more cost effective-so we offer discounts on trips that have space available.
If you are flexible with your dates or are reading this the day before you want to go rafting, email us or call and enquire about our `spare seat deals`
This applies to any river and any trip, perfect for the traveller on a tight budget that wants the `cream of the crop` of New Zealands white water rafting rivers.
Our trips are already excellent value for money, check out our `rankers` reviews then get in touch with us for the adventure of a lifetime. We pick up and drop off from Franz Joseph so if you are on a tour bus and the weather is a bit crappy for Glacier hiking, give us a ring and come heli-rafting, rain or shine!
Get a massive discount on our spare seat deals, with these deals you will still have the same small group experience, the same awesome rivers, free photos and a day to remember…
Serious discounts for groups of 4 or more!
The Details
- Requirements: varies from river to river
- Activities: Helicopter, Rafting, Cliff Jumping, Swimming, Sightseeing
- Provided: All Rafting Equipment, Photos, Juice, Snacks
- You Bring: Lunch, Swimsuit, Towel
The most full-on rafting in New Zealand. This river is not for the faint of heart. Expect a challenging day with steep drops, beautiful deep canyons, mountains, clear blue water, portages, long rapids, cliff jumps, and more. This river has it all!
We start the day with a helicopter briefing as we get into our rafting gear. We then fly up the river into the mountains to the start point. We fly up river in a Hughes 500 Chopper—designed as attack helicopters in Vietnam, very fast and maneuverable. Once we’re into the mountains, and at our start point, the guides pump up the raft and give a comprehensive safety briefing and paddle training.
We start off on easy water while learning to maneuver the raft and hold on through the waves and steeper drops. Then the action begins, tearing through long whitewater sections surrounded by the deep gorges typical of New Zealand’s West Coast. We stop briefly for lunch, and after catching our breath we’re on the water again. The river picks up the pace as we rip through waterfall drops into deep blue pools. Between the rapid sections the steep mountain walls above us meet the lush forest, and the rich blue pools below to place you in this country’s most desirable nature setting.
Sound cheesy, this river is everything but…
Ask any rafting guide in New Zealand and they will tell you that along with the 3 day Karamea, is one of the top 2 incredible, and challenging rafting trips the country has to offer.
The price goes up for this one as we need 2 safety kayakers and only 5 people per raft to keep the rafts as manueverable as possible for the steep drops we navigate.
Serious discounts for groups of 4 or more!
The Details
- Requirements: High fitness level or previous rafting experience. Strong swimming ability is necessary.
- Activities: Helicopter, Rafting, Cliff Jumping, Rope Swinging, Portaging, Sightseeing
- Provided: All Rafting Equipment, Photos, Juice, Snacks
- You Bring: Lunch, Swimsuit, Towel
Whataroa River
$450
Grade 3-5 Rapids
Full Day Heli or 2 Day Hike-In Wilderness Glacier Heli Rafting, options to walk around the big rapids
The best in the West! Perfect for seasoned rafters and first-timers. This river has plenty of action, awesome scenery, and lots of rapids (22+) If you have time we’ll take the whole day, but if you’re in a rush we can go hammer for nails and ride this whole run in a half-day trip. Options to walk around the big rapids.
This river offers some of the best rafting in new zealand, we start the day with a helicopter briefing as we get into our rafting gear. We fly up river in a Hughes 500 Chopper—designed as attack helicopters in Vietnam, very fast and maneuverable and the pilots love to duck and dive and execute sharp turns and twists. You can opt for a more scenic style flight if you dont want the rollercoaster ride. Once we’re into the mountains, and at our start point, the guides pump up the raft and give a comprehensive safety briefing and paddle training.
We start off easy, while learning to maneuver the raft and hold on through the waves, the further we go down the river, the bigger the rapids get. There are 2 deep canyons on this trip and a few easy portages around big un-runnable rapids, one that includes a short abseil. This river has plenty of rapids with a few grunty ones. If anyone does not want to run the big rapids they can walk around them and watch their friends go through.
We stop for lunch at a side stream and go for a walk to explore a waterfall in a side canyon and swim in some of the clearest water in New Zealand. This is our most popular and frequently run trip, and is a huge crowd-pleaser. We frequently get guests coming back for a second trip (we offer super special deals for return business) thats how good this trip is. Dont believe us? Check out the flicker photo gallery!
This river has limited numbers of people allowed on it per season and only 1 raft trip per day is allowed to guarantee you a real wilderness experience. The scenery is amazing.
With over 22 rapids this is possibly the best value for money raft trip in the country
Serious discounts for groups of 4 or more!
The Details
- Requirements: Minimum age 13. No previous experience required. Good swimming ability is necessary.
- Activities: Helicopter, Rafting, Cliff Jumping, Rope Swinging, Abseiling, Swimming
- Provided: All Rafting Equipment, Photos
- You Bring: Lunch, Swimsuit, Towel
Multi-Day Rafting Trips
This river runs 60km parallel to the Southern Alps before meeting the ocean. We have 2 and 3 day white water rafting options available on this river. Glacial scenery, medium level rapids, this river is good for the entire family. There is only one grade 4 rapid on the river that is easily portaged so it is a great trip for someone looking for a mellow ride with great scenery.
Serious discounts for groups of 4 or more!
The Details
- Requirements: Minimum age 12. No previous experience required.
- Activities: Rafting, Camping, Fishing, Cliff Jumping, Swimming, Sightseeing
- Provided: All Rafting and Fishing Equipment, Tents, Sleeping Mats, Food
- You Bring: Sleeping Bag, Swimsuit, Towel, Overnight Requirements
Mikonui River-discounts for family rafting
$185 or $285
Grade 1-2 Rapids
1 or 2 Days - Multi-Day Wilderness Rafting
One and 2 day overnight white water rafting trips in the mountains of New Zealands west coast. This one is for the family adventure or those wanting to go whitewater rafting in mellow water with wilderness surroundings. Just like all of our rivers there is no road following the river so it is a true wilderness experience. Try the one day or if you want to go camping the overnight is a cracker, excellent trout fishing in the evenings or chill out round the campfire. Lots of options, our best trip for the family on a budget.
Serious discounts for groups of 4 or more!
The Details
- Requirements: Minimum age 6 and able to swim. No previous experience required.
- Activities: Rafting, Camping, Fishing, Cliff Jumping, Swimming, Sightseeing, Family Fun
- Provided: All Rafting and Fishing Equipment, Tents, Sleeping Mats, Food
- You Bring: Sleeping Bag, Swimsuit, Towel, Overnight Requirements
This river is situated on the Northern West Coast and features excellent trout fishing and continuous grade 4 rafting with the occasional grade 5 rapid. This is one of our personal favourites. We enjoy it so much we have our end-of-season staff and friends trip on this most excellent river.
The upper section of the first day has non-stop action with pool drop rapids, which are steep and technical. This section has over 50 rapids and contains some of the best rafting action in NZ, it is non stop all day! We have a fantastic campsite that has excellent fishing in the pools for brown trout (big brown trout) and we also feed the 200 year old eels.
The second day sees the river double in volume when the South branch of the Mokihinui River joins the North branch. The lower section has big volume rapids with some big waves and a few chunky drops. If there are people in the group that dont want the action of day one but would like to join on the second day that is an option as well, they can spend the first day fishing and join us in the evening.
This is one of the guides favorite rivers and we spend our end of season staff trip up here and also have a friends and family trip up here at the beginning of the summer.
Riverside camping in the evenings, and finishing the trip with a beer at the local pub as we check out the video from the past few days. The Rough and Tumble Bush Lodge is directly at the take-out, so guests that are staying there can step out of the raft and into their accommodation.
Serious discounts for groups of 4 or more!
The Details
- Requirements: Single day requires no previous experience, though good swimming abilities are necessary. The 2 day trip requires previous rafting experience or a high fitness level.
- Activities: Helicopter, Rafting, Fishing, Sightseeing
- Provided: All Rafting and Fishing Equipment, Tents, Sleeping Mats, Food
- You Bring: Sleeping Bag, Swimsuit, Towel, Overnight Requirements
Karamea River
$450, $1500, or $2000
Grade 4-5+ Rapids
1, 3, or 5 Days – Multi-Day Wilderness Heli Rafting
Voted one of the top-ten wilderness expedition rafting trips in the world by Outside Magazine, the Karamea River brings it, and we all get amped when we head up there! It is a big water river, with big rapids and still calm pools between, a huge 800 meter rapid section called the Roaring Lion that has to be portaged in sections, world class trout fishing, and riverside camping, set deep in the Kahurangi National Park. This is the biggest and the best in NZ, set in the sub tropical paradise of Karamea it is a magical trip and all the guides favourite 1 day as we get big white water, fishing for snapper in the evenings and Wayne and Julie Pratt from helicharter Karamea always have a feed of whitebait or venison for us! This trip is excellent for group bookings, we can get a fantastic deal on accomodation as well, from backpackers to hotels to luxury resorts.
Well known all over the world for its great trout fishing and big volume rapids. The Karamea river is a must do if you are after one of the classics. Outdoor magazine rated this river among the top 10 multi-day rafting rivers in the world.
There are no roads leading into this river so the only access is by helicopter or via the incredible Leslie track. The trip starts with half a day of grade III pool drop style rafting leading into grade IV in the afternoon. We then set up camp at the bottom of the “Earthquake Lake” (caused when a massive landslide fell into the valley causing a 2.5 kilometer lake to form) directly above the “Roaring Lion Rapids”, grade V – VI depending on river flows. The evening is spent relaxing in camp or fishing in the lake or the side streams that flow into the Karamea river. This area offers some of the best trophy fishing in the world with the average size of trout being in the 9 lb. area.
The fourth day starts off with a roar as we navigate the roaring lion section. All the sections of this rapid have been rafted but the entire section has never been run at the same time on any commercial rafting trip. Nine hundred metres of solid class V rapids! (most of them portaged, loading and unloading the raft, getting eaten by sandflies and climbing massive boulders) The rest of the second day is filled with action packed grade 4 rafting until we reach our second camp site mid-afternoon. More fishing or relaxing around the campfire with a glass of wine or beer while our chefs whip up a gourmet dinner.
Day 5 dawns and we load up the rafts for the final leg, the rapids get back up to the grade V mark with names like Scare Case, Holy Shit, and Growler to name a few.
We finish the trip at the last resort hotel in Karamea while checking out the video of the trip.
Serious discounts for groups of 4 or more!
The Details
- Requirements: Previous rafting experience or a med-high fitness level is required.
- Activities: Helicopter, Rafting, Camping, Fishing, Portaging, Swimming, Cliff Jumping
- Provided: All Rafting and Fishing Equipment, Tents, Sleeping Mats, Food
- You Bring: Sleeping Bag, Swimsuit, Towel, Overnight Requirements
Stunning mountain scenery in the heart of Mount Aspiring National Park.
We start the day with a helicopter briefing as we get into our rafting gear. We fly up river in a Hughes 500 Chopper—designed as attack helicopters in Vietnam, very fast and maneuverable. Once we’re into the mountains, and at our start point, the guides pump up the raft and give a comprehensive safety briefing and paddle training.
The first day on the water is fairly mellow with a few smaller rapids. We setup camp beside a towering waterfall with world class trout fishing for huge trout in the side creeks; where we provide some excellent food and drink to finish off the day.
Day 2 has all of the action, with plenty of grade 3-4 whitewater, and towering mountains on either side as we raft towards the coast. Stopping for lunch, we take a look at an old hunters cabin.
The last day we raft the Shark Tooth Rapids and spend the rest of the day on grade 2+ water as we navigate the last section back to the vehicles. You can opt to jet-boat out on the last day for an extra $200 per person (minimum 4 people for that price).
Serious discounts for groups of 4 or more!
The Details
- Requirements: Minimum age 12. No previous experience required. Good swimming ability is necessary.
- Activities: Helicopter, Rafting, Fishing, Swimming, Sightseeing, Exploring,
- Provided: All Rafting, and Fishing Equipment, Tents, Sleeping Mats, Food
- You Bring: Sleeping Bag, Swimsuit, Towel, Overnight Requirements
A couple days of wilderness rafting and riverside camping on a fantastic fishing and hunting river in the Kahurangi National Park.
Serious discounts for groups of 4 or more!
The Details
- Requirements: Minimum age 12. No previous experience required. Good swimming ability is necessary.
- Activities: Rafting, Camping, Fishing (optional), Hunting (optional), Sightseeing
- Provided: All Rafting, Fishing, and Hunting Equipment, Tents, Sleeping Mats, Food, Transport
- You Bring: Sleeping Bag, Swimsuit, Towel, Overnight Requirements
Alternate Adventures
Wilderness Heli Hunting
$1,600-$25,000
Grade No Rapids
Helicopter Access Hunting & Fishing – Red Deer, Chamois, Thar, Goat and Wild Boar
New Zealand is a hunting mecca with all the game species available in right at our doorstep; such as Red Deer, Thar, Chamois, and Goat. These are the main species, and they are available to hunt year round. And, because we have helicopter access to the largest area of untracked wilderness in the country we can take you to the best spots.
New Zealand is the only place in the world where ‘Thar’ are available to shoot all year round. Our base is directly below the best Thar hunting in New Zealand with Mount Cook (New Zealands highest mountain) only a 6 km heli flight away. This is an experience not to be missed. The use of helicopters and our pilots knowledge of the area puts you right in the middle of it.
This is wilderness hunting, the animals are wild, not enclosed in a game farm. We prefer to set up camp high in the mountains or stay in back country huts. This is a unique and special experience, we also have a luxury hunting lodge available as well for the missus and kids to hang out at.
We do not waste the meat, what the client doesn’t want for themselves, goes into the deep freeze to be distributed to friends and family. If you are a fisher, we can take you to the best fly fishing creeks in NZ or camp on the beach and surf cast for fish in the evening, or paddle around a lagoon and spearfish flounder.
We have a variety of options available from an evening stalk for red deer, to a multi day heli access Thar hunt, to a rafting/hunting/fishing expedition, so contact us for details.
Serious discounts for groups of 4 or more!
The Details
- Requirements:
- Activities: Helicopter, Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Sightseeing, Exploring
- Provided: Helicopter flights, camping equipment, and food are provided. No firearms license is required, as the gun user is under close supervision of a guide with a New Zealand Firearms License.
- You Bring: Sleeping Bag, Good Clothing & Footwear, Overnight Requirements
Taipo & Wanganui Rivers, Hot Pool Heli Rafting
$850
Grade 3-5 Rapids
1 Day and 1 Night - Wilderness Hot Pool Heli Rafting
Both of these rivers have natural hot pools and excellent whitewater rapids that are fun and technical, but not too extreme. These are perfect for families, couples, or groups of friends seeking a scenic and thrilling adventure.
We fly into the hills to a remote backcountry hut with hotpools next to it. After a relaxing evening around the campfire soaking in the hotpools we have a hike in the mountains to where the rafts have been dropped off. We then spend the day rafting back out through New Zealand wilderness and back to civilization.
The Taipo has higher grade rapids and needs rain to add water to the river, the Wanganui does not need extra water in the river and has grade 2-3 medium level rapids with one grade 4. (walk around option)
There is also excellent hunting for red deer on both of these rivers and that is always an option in the evenings/early mornings as well.
Serious discounts for groups of 4 or more!
The Details
- Requirements: Regular conditions are grade 3-4 on the Taipo and grade 2-3 on the Wanganui, and require no previous experience, though swimming abilities are necessary. Flood conditions are grade 4-5, and require previous rafting experience or a high fitness level.
- Activities: Helicopter, Rafting, Hot Pools, Swimming, Camping
- Provided: All Rafting and Fishing Equipment, huts/Tents, Sleeping Mats, Food
- You Bring: Sleeping Bag, Swimsuit, Towel, Overnight Requirements
Some great pool drop style rafting surrounded by the inspiring mountain scenery on the Wanganui. The natural hot pools spring from the mountains, where we soak in their rejuvenating minerals just after lunch.
Serious discounts for groups of 4 or more!
The Details
- Requirements: Minimum age 12. No previous experience required. Good swimming ability is necessary.
- Activities: Helicopter, Rafting, Hot Pools, Swimming
- Provided: All Rafting Equipment, Juice, Snacks
- You Bring: Swimsuit, Towel, Lunch
Bring your friends. Have more fun. Get better deals.
Eco-Rafting will provide discounts for groups of 4 or more. How does it work? Well, the more people you bring, the more lenient are. The more lenient we are, the bigger the discount you get. The bigger the discount you get. It’s simple physics. Tell other people at your hotel or hostel, get a group then give us a ring and talk turkey! Groups of 6 or 9 get the best deal, so tell your travelling mates, the couple using the next computer or the other fullahs and fullah-esses at the hostel and save yourself the cash for beer or ice-cream later. Sweet as! Contact us for details.
Feature
Book Your Next Adventure
Welcome to the West Coast, its raining again and if its not, its about to and that means good rafting! Get in touch and check out our many options, we operate on over 22 rivers (not all are listed on the website) and we have some fantastic options. We take no more than 2 rafts (12 guests) at a time so you are guaranteed a small group experience. We do accomodate larger groups by request. Drop us a line and have a yack.
Featured updates and promotions are limited to availability. Ensure your trip by booking online. Special offers may terminate or change at anytime without notice.
Posted on July 8th, 2009
Rafting Terms & Policies
Environment
We follow strict environmental guidelines and work closely with the New Zealand Department of Conservation to ensure the places we visit are kept clean and green and in the same pristine condition for the next visitors. We have special permits for all the rivers we raft and we have limited spaces available. This is wilderness rafting, you will not see anyone else on the river as we have exclusive permits to run these trips. We are proud to say we can drink the water from every river that we run and we want it to stay that way.
Safety
Eco-Rafting has been in operation for 10 years with an excellent safety record. We have Safety Operational Plans for every river we run, these are reviewed on a weekly basis and are checked every season by the Maritime Safety Authority to ensure our operations run smoothly. Eco Rafting is a registered New Zealand Rafting Association company, and is certified under Maritime Safety Authority New Zealand as an approved rafting operator.
We carry a satellite phone and emergency locator beacon on all trips.
Our guides all hold a New Zealand Rafting Association Rescue Technician Certification– rated as the leading rafting license in the world – and attend rescue courses bi-annually to ensure we are kept up to date with global developments and rescue techniques in the white water rafting industry. We are proffesionals, this is our full time job and we are very good at what we do! However, River rafting is an adventure activity with a degree of risk, participants should be aware that the rafting operator cannot completely guarantee your safety.
All trips are run by a certified senior guide. All Grade 4-5 trips have a professional safety kayaker supporting the trip. Our equipment is top quality and goes through rigorous safety checks.
You are in good hands!
You Bring
Make sure you bring a swimsuit, towel, lunch (for single-day trips), medication for any allergies or medical conditions such as athsma, hayfever, bee allergies, etc. For multi-day trips, you will need to bring a sleeping bag, and any overnight requirements you may need.
Provisions
We provide all rafting and adventure equipment necessary for each trip – Wetsuits, warm thermal tops, drytops, diving booties, helmets, lifejackets, neoprene gloves and hats on cold days-so even if its raining we stay nice and warm all day, plus snacks and drinks. We provide the helicopter transport to applicable trips, which is included in the price of the trip. On multi-day adventures, we provide all tents, sleeping mats, and food throughout the trip. On fishing and hunting trips, we provide the fishing gear, and firearms used and you can bring your own equipment if you wish.
We take excellent photo’s, photo’s are free and videos are also available for purchase, if you have a waterproof camera feel free to bring that along
Cancellations
We have limited spaces on these trips, we like to keep the groups small for a better experience. Therefore, there will be a 10% fee for any cancellation if it has been booked and confirmed with Eco-Rafting outside of 48 hours; and there will be a 100% fee for no-shows or cancellations within 48 hours of the intended departure time.
If we have to cancel for whatever reason you will recieve a 100% refund.
Booking Information
Inquire or secure a spot using our online booking form. We will then have your information and contact you within 2 business days to confirm all of the details and answer any questions you may have. You can also phone direct or skype us.