Aratiatia Rapids

These are an area of New Zealand river rapids downstream from the dam for the Aratiatia Power Station on the Waikato River. The rapids are extremely dangerous. With the station in operation, several times a day, the Aratiatia dam gates are opened, which restores the rapids to their normal operation. There are several lookout points to observe the rapids which is a popular tourist attraction. Advisable to go early to avoid crowds and the heat as well. Uneven terrain, lot of walking. Toilets available. Cafe available. Wear comfy shoes, take water, wear hat, sunscreen. Beautiful place. Lots to see. Parking space is that easy to find in parking area.

We filmed the rapid from both ends then spliced it together. It was a great sight to see the dam release. Hope you enjoy it.

Every day, there are a few times that the water gets released from the dam to the river. You can check the schedule on their website, as it is subject to change. By coincidence, we made it just a few minutes before their last scheduled release, and so happy we witnessed that. It is incredible that so much water gets released, and just in a matter of a few minutes, the water rises so much. Incredible experience!

The Aratiatia Rapids dam is a scenic dam built over Waikato river. The dam opens its floodgates at regular intervals throughout the day and is very popular with tourists. Watching the gushing water flowing is an amazing experience. The nearby walks and lookout points to watch the dam are equally good. The walks are short and easy. Ample parking is available on site. The details of floodgates opening times are available on their website. Highly recommended before straightway going to Taupo, while coming from Rotorua or that direction.

“Aratiatia Rapids... When the Dam Says Unleash the Beast!" This was next level.. After Huka Falls I pulled up here,and let me tell you,watching the dam open is like seeing Mother Nature flip the “Turbo Boost” button 🤯 Timing is everything,winter shows at 10am,12pm,2pm… summer flexes with an extra at 4pm.. Don’t be late or you’ll just be staring at a dry river like “huh?” 😂. Arrive 5–10 mins early to snag a park and a decent spot,cause once it’s full,you’ll be stuck at the back trying to see through someone’s uncle’s hat. Then BOOM 💥.... Three sirens,gate opens,and suddenly that empty river becomes a raging icy blue beast in seconds... It’s stunning,but also makes you think what if the dam broke? (me: 👀 “yep, I’m moving to higher ground real quick”). Upper deck,lower deck both views slap... Not heaps of parking tho,so plan smart... Definitely an experience every first timer should tick off... And best part? It’s close to Lake Taupo. Verdict: 10/10 Nature’s version of a YouTube “before & after” transformation. 💦🔥 “Logan was here… survived the sirens and the splash zone.” 🌊😅

Check out when they are opening the dam, we came just before 2pm May 20th and we Saw the dam open, the falls before and then I watched the water make it's way down. I walked both view points, it's uneven so be careful. Not for those with mobility issues. Stay at the dam like my hubby did. Head to huka falls too 😁

So this was pretty cool and interesting. It was also rated the number one thing to do in Taupo on a few websites which I'm not sure is really the case though! Regardless, a fun, free activity to do and worth checking out if you are in the area. But definitely not the number one thing to do in Taupo nor anything that I'd go out of your way to see if it doesn't work in with your itinerary! There had been pretty heavy rainfall so we were surprised to find that we got a double release. We initially headed for the mid viewing point and watched from there. On our way back to our car we heard the sirens again and were able to watch a second release from the bridge. We found this attraction a bit more difficult to find than expected. You need to park your car and walk ACROSS the road from where google maps takes you. Then you have the choice of various viewing points.

An absolutely fascinating experience! To get the best view of Aratiatia Rapids, I first waited near the dam before the scheduled water release. As soon as the siren sounded and the gates opened, I watched in awe as the water gushed out—it was truly mesmerizing! After that, I crossed the road to see the water flowing downstream. Then, I followed the walking track, stopping at each viewpoint—starting with the Lower Lookout and moving to the next ones—to witness the full journey of the rapids forming. Watching the dry riverbed come to life with powerful currents is an incredible sight. I highly recommend timing your visit with the scheduled releases at 10:00 AM, 12:00 NOON, 2:00 PM, and 4:00 PM (from October to March) for the best experience!

Incredible flood of water from the flood gates showing off the mighty Waikato river. A magnificent sight from empty canyon to raging torrent in 5 minutes.

I found this place online and decided to check it out. The rapids are in a narrow canyon and are interesting by themselves. But if you come at the right time (10AM, noon, 2PM, etc), they open the floodgates - literally. Upstream there is a reservoir and they let water spill from that into the rapids, and it's incredible. Was was once a small stream transforms in a matter of minutes into a raging river with lots of rocks in it, creating the rapids. Seeing the transformation was truly impressive and really cool. If you get there a few minutes late, it's ok! You will still see the rapids raging. Definitely worth a short detour when driving between Rotorua and Taupo.

Come here when they open the dam if you really want to see some action. It's a good short hike to see the rapids.