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Black Water Rafting - 4 Hours - Charleston

4.9
63
Experience this rare attraction - float along in your tube using only the natural light of a simply awe inspiring display of glow-worms for navigation within the cave system.

Experience this rare attraction - float along in your tube using only the natural light of a simply awe inspiring display of glow-worms for navigation within the cave system.

Highlights

  • Experience this amazing Black Water Rafting adventure through the amazing Nile River cave system.
  • Wetsuits, wetsuit booties, gloves and a helmet all included.
  • Float through the amazing underground river illuminated by the ceiling of the mesmerising glow-worm colony.
  • Enjoy a hot shower after your incredible adventure.

Experience an incredible Black Water Rafting adventure through the amazing Nile River cave system.

The 4 hour Black Water Rafting adventure in the Paparoa National Park stands out as an experience that let you explore, understand and enjoy a journey through an unmodified ancient cave system, so you can experience the unique feeling to step back in time entering this amazing place.

You are fitted out with wet suits, wet suit booties, gloves and a helmet at our company base at Charleston (25 mins south of Westport and 25mins north of Punakaiki ) before embarking on your adventure. With your cave buddies your guide will take you to The Nile River Rainforest Train to journey through the sub-tropical appearing typical West Coast rain forest surrounded by towering limestone cliffs of the Nile River Canyon.

Once arrived at our train station in the rainforest a short walk and a short climb up some steps leads to the entrance of the cave system. Entering the darkness you will explore the ancient voids of the enormous Nile River cave system where you meander through a calcitic paradise of stalactites and stalagmites in the upper dry levels of the cave.

Once down in the lower active levels of the cave, you will discover and experience a place you won’t forget that quickly - a slow moving underground river illuminated by a ceiling coated in a mesmerising glow-worm colony. On this river you will float in your tube out of the cave using only the natural light of this simply breathtaking display of glow-worms.

You will emerge from the cave into a remote and untouched rainforest covered limestone valley leaving its tranquility floating down the rushing bubbling waters of the low grade Nile River Rapids to where you started your adventure.

After returning on the Nile River Rainforests Train a hot shower awaits you at our base in Charleston.

Experience this incredible award winning journey through a stunning cave system to enjoy the mesmerising glow-worms.

Adult $190.00
Child $150.00 (10 to 16 years inclusive)

What's included

  • Wetsuits, wetsuit booties, gloves and a helmet.
  • A hot shower is available after your experience.

Duration

  • Allow approximately 4 hours for the whole experience

Location

  • Northwest Adventures Ltd. Adjacent to Charleston Hotel State Highway 6 West Coast South Island.

Restrictions

  • Minimum age: 10

Notes

  • Please Note: Water confidence required.

    This experience is suitable for waterproof cameras only.

    Changes to the date and time of the adventure have to be made 24 hours prior to the original booked departure time on BookMe and has to be arranged directly with the operator. Confirmation of the new date or time for the adventure is subject to approval by the operator. The price will be the full retail price with the difference to be paid directly to the operator.

    We photograph your trip with free downloads available.

Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme

Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme

4.9

63 reviews

Showing all 63 authenticated Bookme reviews

Karl from Germany wrote on 21 December 2018

Sehr zu empfehlen!

Ich hatte die Tour vor 26 Jahren schon mal gemacht und war sehr gespannt. Vieles hat sich in der Zwischenzeit geändert (das neue Hauptquartier mit Duschen, Cafe etc., die kleine Eisenbahn,...), nicht aber die Faszination, die von dieser Tour ausgeht. Auf dem Rücken liegend mit dem Schlauch unter den Glühwürmchen durchzuschippern ist einfach unschlagbar. Wenn ich eine Glühwürmchenhöhle in NZ empfehlen müsste, dann diese.

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eugenef from Taiwan wrote on 20 November 2019

Remarkable

Amazing

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Jo from New Zealand wrote on 02 September 2020

Cave tour and black water rafting

This is a fantastic activity! It was very well organised, and Andrea our guide was very knowledgeable, friendly and experienced. The little train was very cute , the bush was beautiful, and the cave was magical! We were kitted out in full wetsuits so were quite cosy, even when in the water. it was a wonderful experience drifting under the glowworms, and then to top it off we had a great ride down the river in our inner tubes as well. Finished with hot showers and a great coffee at the cafe. A really worthwhile and magical experience!

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From Black Water Rafting - 4 Hours - Charleston

Thankyou for writing such a lovely review. We are so grateful to have had you come and experience our little paradise. We are so fortunate that we are able to share this with you and very pleased that you had a great time with Andrea and the stunning environment.

Pip Hannon from New Zealand wrote on 14 July 2020

Our Cave Rafting Adventure!!

You guys have an amazing adventurous tour. A little bit of everything- van ride, miniature train, stunning bush walk, incredible cave walking experience and then to top it off floating on our tubes through that amazing space to see the glow worms and then the fun of tubing down the river through the rapids. We had a wonderful time and will recommend you to all our friends and family. PS your guides are a credit to the company- very passionate about sharing their knowledge.

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From Black Water Rafting - 4 Hours - Charleston

Thankyou so much for your Kind review. We take pride in giving a very personal and unforgettable journey. We are so grateful to have had you come along and experience our slice of heaven. We are very fortunate to have such epic guides who are so passionate about what they do.

Vicky Kelly from New Zealand wrote on 23 February 2020

Afternoon black water rafting

From the minute we arrived Ray made us feel very welcome. Andrea was a great guide & very informative. Good mix of activities including the rainforest train! Beautiful caves & impressive glow worms. Did not disappoint!

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Qualmark Certification

This award identifies a business with a high level of professionalism, a keen awareness of the impact it has on the environment and a commitment to a customer centric approach.

This award is evidence of a sophisticated tourism business that consistently exceeds visitor expectations. Their proactive leadership and management ensure the business's focus on continuously improving their economic, social and environmental performance to create genuine, constantly evolving and sustainable tourism experiences.

This award recognises the best sustainable tourism businesses in New Zealand. It denotes exceptional customer experiences at the heart of everything the company does. This business is leading the way in making the New Zealand tourism industry a world class sustainable visitor destination.

When you see the Qualmark logo, your activity of choice is endorsed by New Zealand Tourism's official quality assurance organisation and backed by leaders in the industry. It's your trusted guide to iconic activities and experiences that are awarded for their exceptionally high level of quality, safety and sustainability.

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