NAU MAI ︳WELCOME
We invite you to join us on our awesome riverbug adventures
Riverbug.NZ offers first-timer and family friendly riverbug tours, courses and school programmes around Tauranga, Rotorua and Whakatāne, catering for groups and individuals from age 5 years upwards. Simply choose your adventure level and get ready for an unforgettable experience.
★★★★★
Had a great morning on the river with Don, a great experience and beautiful scenery. Fun for the whole family, and challenging for those less coordinated in our group.
Sally Corlson: Trip Advisor Jan 2021
We had the best time ever. This is a MUST DO family activity for loads of fun. The bugs are safe, easy and lots of fun. Don our expert guide is informative and friendly - we had the best time. The high-light of our North Island trip and a must do activity. AAA+
Dan Joines: Google Reviews Jan 2021
Great adventure down a river, encountering small rapids and beautiful scenery aboard a "bug". Thoroughly recommend for something unusual and fun. Owner-operators are very friendly, very experienced, safety-oriented and professional.
Angela Seaton: Google Reviews Dec 2020
BEST TRIP EVER!! What an adrenalin rush this is.. The tour guides Don and Sabine are absolutely wonderful, fun and also make you feel really safe! When you fall in they just seem to be right there to help you! The bugs are super high quality and really comfy too. The rapids were SOOO fun!!! We were laughing the whole day. Already booked for their other tour on the Rangitaiki!
Ciska De Jong, New Zealand Adventures: Google Reviews April 2021
Riverbug Adventure was the Highlight of our holiday A fantastic day on the river in our Riverbugs. It was the highlight of our holiday. We were treated to a wonderful experience while really enjoying the great outdoors. Thank you Don and Sabine for creating great memories!
Carol Herbert: Trip Advisor April 2021
Tours and Courses
Scenic or Whitewater?
We've rated our riverbug tours from MILD to WILD to help you choose your adventure level. All our tours are first-timer friendly and run on fun low-risk whitewater. Our Grade 1 riverbug tours (MILD) are easy moving water suitable for participants 5 years or older. Our Grade 2 tours (WILD) are exciting, fun whitewater suitable for participants 1.25m or taller.
TARAWERA RIVERBUG
YEAR ROUND RIVERBUG FUN FROM $129
School Programmes
INSPIRE. MOTIVATE. CHALLENGE.
Great value educational programmes for students from age 5 years upwards. River, ocean, lake & swimming pool options tailored to your budget & needs. Choose from our regular programmes, build a combo package with other activities, or let us build a programme around your special needs... Starting from $25/person
GIVE SOMETHING SPECIAL...
A RIVERBUG EXPERIENCE...
Simply let us know your wishes and we'll supply the voucher
Meet the Team
Riverbug is our passion that we love to share.
We love our mahi (work), and supporting community and healthy lifestyles through enjoyment of the outdoors is at the heart of what we do. We run guide training and riverbug programmes for rangatahi (youth) and Riverbug activities for community groups under the guidance of riverbug pioneers Don (Ngāti Kahungunu), and Sabine (Germany). When you join us on the water you'll be helping us to help support our community.
te tautoko ngātahi i te hapori ︳supporting the community together
Safe Hands
Riverbug pioneer Don ran the first commercial riverbug tours in NZ in the late 1990's. Together with partner Sabine they brought riverbugs to Austria in 2007, running riverbug tours and manufacturing riverbugs under their brand Riverbug.me. They established a growing riverbug community in Europe and other countries around the world, and have developed Safe Operating Procedures and guide training programmes for riverbug operators. They are the riverbug experts.
With over 50 years of combined whitewater experience between them – you know you'll be in safe hands