Aratiatia Rapids
Aratiatia Rapids
4.5
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4.5
1,239 reviews
Excellent
775
Very good
404
Average
57
Poor
3
Terrible
1
Julia @Scrumptious Solent
Southampton, UK2,354 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Saw this by chance and I was so glad we stopped to watch the water in the dam being released down the rapids. It happens three or four times a day (first one at 10am). And you can watch the gorge being transformed as gallons of water surge down the stony ravine for 15 minutes.
The best place to watch it from is the mid point viewing point (follow the track across the road through the trees for 5 minutes). The view is better from this stony outcrop than from the dam bridge or from the top viewing point which is too far away to get a good view.
Get to the viewing point ten minutes before to reserve your spot!
There’s a toilet in the car park but no cafe facilities.
The best place to watch it from is the mid point viewing point (follow the track across the road through the trees for 5 minutes). The view is better from this stony outcrop than from the dam bridge or from the top viewing point which is too far away to get a good view.
Get to the viewing point ten minutes before to reserve your spot!
There’s a toilet in the car park but no cafe facilities.
Written 19 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pam M
Denver, CO356 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
Highly recommend this strange activity—watching a scheduled release of water from a dam—which fills the gorge below with rushing aqua water. We viewed from the car bridge but should’a’ gone up to the viewing platform about 0.5 km downriver—oh well, learn from our mistake!
Written 7 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
622suziej
Auckland, New Zealand179 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
Lovely little bush walk to see the locks open from further away or closer or right on top. It’s amazing the amount of water that comes down and fills up the river.
Written 12 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dindinz1
4 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
Gabe was the best ....felt safe and exhilirated all in one. These ole girls had a blast.Thankyou #Aratiatia Rapids Jet boat...#taupo
Written 3 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JElliot32
New South Wales, Australia3,811 contributions
Apr 2023
Aratiata Rapids are located immediately below a large dam on the Waikato River. A consequence of damming the river here was to cut off the flow of water to this spectacular set of rapids. The authorities have now made some amends by opening up the dam floodgates for 15 minutes 3 or 4 times a day, at 10.00, 12.00, 14.00 and 16.00 in summer, unleashing a mighty torrent of water to power into a small canyon then the rapids below. When we visited we positioned ourselves on the bridge looking back to the dam wall/floodgates and down to the chasm below, with the rapids beyond that. The water release and rapid, thunderous flooding of the first canyon was truly spectacular, but I think the better viewing position would have been from a couple of lookouts higher up and further downstream, which would have provided a broader picture of the water powering through the entire gorge. (These were about 10 minutes walk uphill from the carpark.)
Written 18 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tim K
113 contributions
Mar 2023
We might have never gone but were directed there by person at the hotel. There is a dam on the Walkaito river for power generation that is opened 3-4 times daily to let out excess water down a gorge with rapids. It is an unusual site and kept us entranced for about an hour, watching the level in the canyon go up and rush down the rapids. There are a couple of spots for watching and a parking lot close by. The bridge get most people, looking at the dam and downstream, but there is a short, easy trail to an overlooking rock ledge (fenced for protection) with both up- and downstream views. Check on line for release times, close but 20 min or so drive from downtown.
Written 14 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hillrun1
Lahaina, HI212 contributions
Mar 2023
I had no real idea what to expect when we arrived at the parking lot. We just kind of followed everyone across the street and picked a spot to watch.
In the summer, the dam releases a ton of water every two hours. The canyon below it goes from near empty to raging river. They do this four times a day so you need to be on time to enjoy it.
My wife stopped at the first lookout, which is closer to the water.
My daughter and I walked the extra 10 minutes to the high lookout. We were not close to the water but we could see the entire event.
When the water starts coming out, it's all white water by the dam. It takes a little while to fill up every pool coming down the little rock valley. From above, you can see the water level rise before it starts to become a raging river.
Once it fills the entire canyon, it flows into a lake behind it that I think you can take a tourist boat to see.
This is pretty awesome and something I wouldn't miss. The other good thing is that Huka Falls is close by and a must see.
In the summer, the dam releases a ton of water every two hours. The canyon below it goes from near empty to raging river. They do this four times a day so you need to be on time to enjoy it.
My wife stopped at the first lookout, which is closer to the water.
My daughter and I walked the extra 10 minutes to the high lookout. We were not close to the water but we could see the entire event.
When the water starts coming out, it's all white water by the dam. It takes a little while to fill up every pool coming down the little rock valley. From above, you can see the water level rise before it starts to become a raging river.
Once it fills the entire canyon, it flows into a lake behind it that I think you can take a tourist boat to see.
This is pretty awesome and something I wouldn't miss. The other good thing is that Huka Falls is close by and a must see.
Written 10 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daynamorphic
Diamond Creek, Australia9 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
Easy walk higher lookout moderate hill climb. Uneven rocky path not suited for stroller or someone unsteady on their feet. Beautiful nature walk to see the amazing blue of the rapids
Written 8 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CrumpySeaford
Seaford, UK791 contributions
Mar 2023
A very interesting spectacle of seeing the dam opening to flood a small gorge. This then drives turbines a bit further downstream to generate electricity.
Huka Falls feeds the lake behind the dam. Currently, the sluices are opened four times a day.
Huka Falls feeds the lake behind the dam. Currently, the sluices are opened four times a day.
Written 3 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simon C
Ashtead, UK782 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
Four times a day the sirens sound and entirely for the benefit of the tourists, two sluices holding back the waters from Lake Waikato are partially opened for 15 mins. It’s a great spectacle to watch the water quite slowly fill up the original path of the river and within 5 mins, it’s a raging torrent.
The best place to watch is either the mid of the upper lookout, much better than the bridge where most people gather.
The best place to watch is either the mid of the upper lookout, much better than the bridge where most people gather.
Written 2 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Summer release hours: 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm, 4:00pm
Winter release hours: 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm
Written 5 December 2016
Hi! I'd love to know if you guys recommend the upper or lower viewpoint? Also- are the viewing spots clearly marked and easy to find?
Thanks so much :)
Written 21 December 2015
The upper section is where you'll see the full power of the river and Rapids. The lower section is beautiful and gives you a good sense of the scale of the river and here you will see the birds and plants and even fish if your lucky!! It is all well signposted and marked so you will have no problems!!
Written 22 December 2015
Olá Henrique vc foi em julho deu para ir em todos os lugares choveu muito
Written 14 December 2015
If the water is coming through Huka Falls at a rate of 200,000 litres a second 24/7, where is the water going if the spillway only opens 4 times a day letting out 90,000 litres per second?
Written 23 March 2015
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Claim your listingARATIATIA RAPIDS: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Aratiatia Rapids
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