Whitewater sledging, or hydrospeed, involves riding a custom-designed river sledge through rapids. Hydrospeed puts you in control, as opposed to rafting where the guide does the steering.
Sledging is a more extreme activity compared with whitewater rafting, which means that sledgers need to be strong swimmers.
Kaitiaki Adventures and Raftabout run whitewater sledging (hydrospeed) trips on the Kaituna River. A 3½ hour trip on the Kaituna River costs $120–129.
Several companies offer whitewater rafting trips around Rotorua with the Kaituna, Rangitaiki and Wairoa Rivers being the most popular. The Rangitaki boasts grade four rapids and is perhaps the most scenic option, but the Wairoa and especially the Kaituna River offers grade five rapids with more excitement. The Kaituna River features the legendary Tutea Falls with its massive seven-metre drop, which is claimed to be the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall.
Rafting trips cost $85–109 on the Kaituna River, $110–140 on the Rangitaiki River and $115–137.50 on the Wairoa River.
The main rafting companies operating in Rotorua are Kaitaiki Adventures, Raftabout, River Rats, Rotorua Rafting and Wet ‘n’ Wild.
The Swoop ride at the Agrodome involves up to three people being hoisted in sleeping bag-like harnesses 40m (141ft) above the ground and then swooping at 130km/h (81mph).
Compared with the Skyswing at the Skyline complex, the Swoop ride is a more authentic adrenaline activity and less of a theme park ride. If you’re going to choose between the two, go for this one.
Unlike some other swing rides, you pull your own ‘rip cord’.
The Skyline Rotorua complex, on Fairy Springs Road north of the town centre, features gondola and luge rides as well as the Zoom Zipline ride and Skyswing ride.
The gondola is aimed mostly at older tourists, but it does give you a nice view and the gondola ticket is included in the Skyline Combo packages and is pretty much the easiest way to get to the action at the top of the hill.
The gondola is a 900m-long cableway system that gives you a scenic ride in an eight-seater cabin and offers a lovely view of Rotorua, Lake Rotorua and the geothermal activity in the surrounding countryside.
The luge track is generally the most popular – and best value – of the activities available at the Skyline complex. It is a cheap and fun activity that many backpackers love. There is almost 5km of luge track that you get to ride on a go-cart/toboggan hybrid.
Essentially you have a choice of three tracks: the scenic track (2km), the intermediate track (1.7km) and the advanced track (1km). Most people start off on the scenic track, which is the best value as it is also the longest track; although the intermediate and advanced tracks are more exciting and include tighter bends and tunnels.
The Zoom Zipline consists of pair of 400m-long ziplines where you are strapped into a harness and fly through a Redwood forest at 80km/h. There is the option of finishing off with a 13m free-fall.
The Skyswing is essentially a tamer alternative to the swings that you can do in Queenstown. It is still an adrenaline rush where you swing 50m above the ground reaching speeds of 150km/h, but unlike New Zealand’s other swings, rather than being strapped to a cord, you get to sit on comfortable seats inside a pod that holds three people. In this respect, the Skyswing is more of a theme park ride and less of an adventure activity.
Shweeb is a suspended monorail that you pedal like a bicycle. The Shweeb track near the Agrodome consists of two 200m-long overhead rails with suspended pedal-powered pods. The aerodynamic design of the pods means that you can reach speeds of 45km/h and also tackle 60º corners. As there are two parallel rails, it is possible to race your friends on the track.
Freefall Xtreme at the Agrodome is the only skydive simulator in New Zealand. Body flying involves leaping into a 220km/h column of wind that is generated by a twin turbo Detroit Diesel V12 engine. There’s a safety net to prevent you from falling into the engine.
If you’ve wondered what skydiving is like but prefer to fly two metres (rather than 4000 metres) off the ground then this may be just the activity for you. As a bonus, you get to fly for longer than freefalling from a plane.
Off Road NZ offer a range of activities that include a 4WD Bush Safari where you drive small four-wheel-drive vehicles through a muddy course and a Monster 4WD Thrill Ride where you come along for the ride in an expertly-driven specially-modified vehicle.
The 4WD Bush Safari experience takes 45–60 minutes and the muddy course features a water crossing and a six-metre controlled slide down an 80º incline. It’s the most fun you’ll have in a Suzuki Jimny.
The Monster 4WD Thrill Ride is a 15-minute experience where someone else does the driving. It’s a bigger, open, vehicle that is much higher off the ground so it there are plenty of thrills.
The Off Road NZ course is located on a 54.5ha (135 acre) course, a 20-minute drive north of Rotorua.
Rotorua Bungy claims to be New Zealand’s best value bungee jump. You jump from a purpose-built 43m (143ft) high tower at the Agrodome complex.
The AgroJet is an exciting jet boat ride at the Agrodome that claims to be New Zealand’s fastest, reaching 100km/h in 4.5 seconds.