New Zealand has more helicopters per head of population than anywhere else in the world. This enables us to access the remote wild & scenic rivers of the north west of the South Island.

This unique form of adventure combines exhilarating helicopter flights up sub alpine river valleys with exciting white water descents through some of the North West Coast of the South Island's most challenging rivers. From the time we step out of the helicopter where we begin our rafting, we are self-sufficient. There are no roads or other trappings of civilization, just your team, food, equipment and the river to raft. UDNZ are heli-rafting specialists. We run 1 day, 2 day and 3-day expeditions and offer a raft support option for kayakers. Our multi-day expeditions involve a wilderness camp-out by the river, with nights spent around the campfire eating delicious outdoor cooking. Some of our most memorable moments have been on heli-rafting expeditions - these are the trips our guides queue up for. Definitely worth checking out!

Take-offs for the West Coast: 27th Feb and ON DEMAND.If you have group of at least 4, we can go any time!

Three Rivers is exactly that! Ultimate Descents New Zealand gives you the unique opportunity to experience our favourite rivers as a progressive whitewater rafting adventure.

Day 1: Rafting on our very own Buller River, a full day of grade 3-4 white water in the Upper Buller Gorge. At the end of the day we continue our journey, this time by road over to the West Coast. We set up base where the rivers flow into the sea .

Day 2: Commences with a spectacular flight up The Mokihinui River, a prized class 4 whitewater run. This West Coast river is a jewel with unique native forest cascading down to the sandy beaches. After a full day of excitement we head to camp to enjoy an evening spent around an open fire with a sumptious barbeque in true Kiwi style.

Day 3: After a scenic drive up to Karamea we meet the helicopter for our flight. After two days' raftiing we are well warmed up and on the ball for this unrivalled grade 5 rafting run. With technical moves to be made, our adrenalin will be pumping as we negotiate the many rapids.

Up and coming trip dates: Sunday 11th April. Still afew places available. Other dates available on demand

KARAMEA HELI-RAFTING

Karamea heli rafting at its best! Heli rafting the Karamea River's lower gorge with 4 rapids pushing grade 5 at medium to high flows. This is our only one day heli rafting trip, an unforgettable adventure. With a great 10 min helicopter flight to get the heart pumping, you are dropped off on the river's edge with the rafts and guides. Next we will give you all the training and advice you need to paddle as a team safely down the river. Six hours of remote untouched wilderness and sometimes hair raising rafting will unfold along the way with a lunch in paradise for a much needed energy boost. A little walk up Kakapo creek after lunch, then it is back on to the rafts to finish the roller coaster ride out to the opening of the hills to the take out and the end of a great journey.

Next Karamea Helicopter Adventure - 27th February

Click here for gear requirements you need to bring on our wilderness trips.

One Day Karamea Heli-Rafting

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Three Day Heli-Rafting & Five Day Karamea Journey

Taking headwaters from high in the Kahurangi National Park on the northern reaches of the West Coast the mighty Karamea River carves through rugged terrain that harbours New Zealand's most challenging rafting rapids. The Karamea is a 3 day river expedition that can be accessed either by helicopter flight (Karamea Heli-Rafting) or by an extra two days hiking from the eastern side of Kahurangi National Park. For people who wish to take the long way in to the river, the Karamea 5 Day Journey is a unique week long journey.

Whether you decide to take the scenic helicopter flight to the river or experience a more gradual change in landscape hiking through the wilderness, the moment your paddle first dips into the waters of the Karamea you'll become part of a team that will share many memorable experiences over the next 3 days. At first the Karamea is a small river, with long boulder garden type rapids up to Class 4 and a series of tranquil earthquake lakes caused by rock-falls in the great earthquake of 1929. Spectacular vistas unfold around every corner on our way down to the confluence of the Beautiful and Roaring Lion rivers and our campsite at the infamous ‘Roaring Lion‘ rapid.

Next morning after a hearty breakfast, we break camp and load the rafts to take on the 800 metres of Class 5 drops, chutes and holes that are the crux of the expedition. Teamwork and precision are essential to navigate through the maze of house size boulders as each raft and kayaker takes their turn while the other expedition members set safety from the shore. The action is intense and the teams are both elated and relieved to emerge unscathed to continue downstream through the rest of the day‘s great white water. (Our team may choose to portage parts of this rapid due to river conditions and/or size of teams)

Day 3 starts off easy and gradually gets harder as we enter the granite rock walls of the Karamea Gorge. The river is now at full volume, powerful and chaotic as it plummets down the steep boulder strewn riverbed, the raft buckling and twisting in the foaming roller-coaster ride. Finally as the river eases, its power spent, we exit the gorge and drift to the take-out and then head into Karamea for a well-deserved cold beer. The Karamea‘s white water is matched only by its excellent trout fishing, so be sure to bring your fishing tackle if you're a keen angler!

Click here for gear requirements you need to bring on our wilderness trips.

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Mokihinui 2 Day Heli-Rafting
Only available October-December with high river flows

One of the longest helicopter flights in to a rafting put- in through some absolutely stunning scenery Tumbling from the mountains in the northern reaches of the West Coast, the Mokihinui River carves though impressive bedrock canyons and sub-tropical rain forest as it rushes to the Tasman Sea.

This river run is best from October through till December in medium to high flows.

Only recently discovered as a rafting river, a pioneering expedition on the north branch of this river in the spring of 1998 produced a classic trip. From the put- in on the Mokihinui North Branch the river is steep and ‘creeky‘, with long technical rapids containing chutes, slides and drops up to 3 metres, along with plenty of boof moves and holes to keep the kayakers busy. The action is non-stop. Rapids lead into rapids, with the longest pool all day only 400 metres!

Reaching a sandy beach near the end of the gorge we unpack our expedition gear and set up camp. Soon the campfire is roaring and we settle in for an evening of fine food and relaxation before drifting off to sleep to the sound of the river. A hearty breakfast sets us on our way for day 2 on the Mokihinui.

With all camping gear secured on the rafts we head off down the remaining drops in the gorge and on to the confluence with the south branch of the Mokihinui. From here the river takes on a bigger volume feel, plunging through a series of earthquake slip rapids before the gradient eases and the river snakes its way out to the coast through many fun rapids with play spots too numerous to mention. Complete with helicopter flight and 2 days of New Zealand's finest white water, this West Coast gem is a must for white water rafting and kayaking enthusiasts alike.

Click here for gear requirements you need to bring on our wilderness trips.

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