First, incredible is an understatement. This was our favorite part of our trip.

Things to know: My group did the Tumu Tumu Black water rafting tour. There were four of us— two in our twenties and two in our fifties. Thankfully all of us have really good mobility and had no issues completing the tour.

However, we were all surprised by the amount of fitness and dexterity required. We knew we would only be tubing for a short period of time, but we weren’t expecting the intensity. An adventurous spirit and able body is absolutely needed. This was nothing like any cave tour that any of us have done, and we have done several around the world. Lots of clambering, hoisting, balancing, army crawling through tiny tunnels or swimming through water over our head. With that being said — if you can’t swim, the guides will tow you on their back (as they did for a couple of people in our group. They did a great job of helping them to feel safe and secure.) Also, they did tell us that there was alternative routes if the crawling tunnels were too claustrophobic of an option.

The full day tour description states “Spend the rest of the day walking wading swimming jumping clambering climbing and navigating your way through the gigantic streamway passages.”

THAT is an accurate description of the tour, but for four hours instead of eight, and with a short section of tubing.

Again — it was amazing and we regret nothing — but if you don’t have a good level of fitness, or are not comfortable climbing/balancing on rocks, this might not be the tour for you.

Our guides were literally incredible. We knew not to tip since it isn’t custom to NZ, but we really wanted to — they deserved it. They took phenomenal photos as well (free of charge!)

Things I wish I had done:

You really should bring soap/shampoo as the instructions state. I didn’t think it would be necessary, but you will be covered in mud when you come out.

Fingerless fishing gloves would be helpful as many of the rocks are sharp. Several people in our tour were complaining of sore hands at the end.

Bring a separate plastic bag for your wet clothes!! I brought a backpack with other things in it; somebody else in our tour had a brown paper bag. Not sufficient for sopping wet swimsuits at the end.

When choosing boots at the tour, pick a pair that has holes in them. This is the opposite of what we all thought to do — but holes allow drainage, and your boots will be full of water 😉 drained boots = lightweight.

Eat a really, really good protein filled breakfast. You will be starving. They do serve a hot drink of orange juice as well as a bite of chocolate part of the way through the tour.

I hope this is helpful. Just do it! Again, it was absolutely mesmerizing!