River Valley Lodge

River Valley Lodge Multi-generational family-run adventure lodge in the wild Rangitikei canyon. Come for the adrenaline, stay for the whānau feel.
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Grade 5 whitewater rafting, e-biking, horse trekking & communal dining — plus hands-on Whiō conservation. to share your photos with us and have them featured

Did You KnowDid you know part of The Lord of the Rings was filmed along the Rangitikei River? You'll pass right by the s...
13/08/2026

Did You Know

Did you know part of The Lord of the Rings was filmed along the Rangitikei River? You'll pass right by the site on our multi-day rafting trips — Mokai Canyon, Epic Rangitikei, and the Rangitikei River Explorer all wind through this stretch of native bush and towering cliffs. A few days on the water, and a piece of movie history along the way.

Looking for somewhere different for your next team retreat or off-site? At River Valley, corporate groups swap the board...
11/08/2026

Looking for somewhere different for your next team retreat or off-site? At River Valley, corporate groups swap the boardroom for the riverbank — fireside strategy sessions, hearty shared meals, and a change of scene that actually helps people think clearly. Our meeting spaces are available from mid-autumn right through to mid-spring, and Christmas functions are always popular too. Let us show you the River Valley way — get in touch to start planning.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ TripAdvisor, February 2026 "Brian as leader gently shared so much knowledge and oozed passion. His side-kick Fynn...
09/08/2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ TripAdvisor, February 2026 "Brian as leader gently shared so much knowledge and oozed passion. His side-kick Fynn was energetic and engaged. Tasty garden-to-table meals prepared by chefs Miranda and Peter at River Lodge. Wonderful variety of scenes and riding surfaces. Definitely needed to follow River Valley advice about intermediate+ riders with off-road e-bikes with big batteries."

"Brian oozed passion. Miranda's meals were tasty garden-to-table. Fynn was energetic and engaged." That's the Tussock to Dune in one review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Tussock to Dune takes you from the Rangitikei high country to the West Coast — supported e-bike touring through scenery that very few cyclists ever reach. If you've been thinking about doing it, the 2026–27 season is open for bookings now. And if you complete the Tussock to Dune, the Annie to Cape is waiting to take you to the East Coast. Two rides. Two coasts. 🚵 🔗 Find out more here - https://rivervalley.co.nz/tour/tussock-to-dune-cycle-tour/.

✨ Did you know? River Valley offers a Paddle & Peddle package — combining scenic rafting on the Rangitikei with an e-bik...
06/08/2026

✨ Did you know? River Valley offers a Paddle & Peddle package — combining scenic rafting on the Rangitikei with an e-bike ride through the Rangitikei hill country. The scenic rafting section is 13km of Grade 2 river — easy enough for everyone, spectacular enough to remember.
Then swap the paddle for an e-bike and head out into the hill country for a completely different view of the same landscape. Two very different adventures. One very good day out. Talk to us about the Paddle & Peddle when you book. It's a great option for mixed groups or for people who simply want to make the most of a day at River Valley. 🚵🌊 - https://rivervalley.co.nz/tour/paddle-pedal/

Spring is closer than it looks. And if you're planning a River Valley stay for the season ahead, now is the time to sort...
04/08/2026

Spring is closer than it looks. And if you're planning a River Valley stay for the season ahead, now is the time to sort your dates.

We have accommodation to suit most groups — Riverside Suites with ensuite bathrooms for those who want comfort and a view, through to bunk rooms for groups who'd rather spend the budget on the river.

The Lodge is 32km from Taihape on the banks of the Rangitikei River — and it's the kind of place that's hard to describe until you've been there. So we'll just say: come and see. Day trips and multi-day packages are available for rafting, horse trekking, and e-biking. Full meal service from Miranda's kitchen. 🔗 Browse accommodation here - https://rivervalley.co.nz/accommodation/

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tama P — TripAdvisor, December 2025 "Outstanding care (Manaaki) demonstrated by the River Valley team. Went over ...
02/08/2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tama P — TripAdvisor, December 2025 "Outstanding care (Manaaki) demonstrated by the River Valley team. Went over and above expectations to manage 20 rafters, 30 accommodated guests, and 70 function attendees. Food (Kai) was sublime. River Valley cooks have not failed in the five visits I have taken there. River Valley delivered a champagne performance on a kombucha invoice."

"A champagne performance on a kombucha invoice." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We might put that on a sign. Tama and his group brought 70 people to River Valley — rafters, overnight guests, and function attendees — and somehow it all worked. That's the kind of event we love: big enough to be a real occasion, small enough that everyone gets looked after properly. If you're planning a large gathering — function, reunion, end-of-year event — River Valley Lodge is worth a conversation. 🔗 Follow here - https://rivervalley.co.nz/gatherings/ -for our gatherings and events page, or get in touch directly.

30/07/2026

Rare sighting on the river yesterday 👀
A pair of whio (blue duck) — one of the world's rarest waterfowl
They only live in clean, fast-flowing water
Right outside River Valley Lodge 🦆💙

✨ Did you know? River Valley now has four generations of guides on the river. The rafting operation started in 1982. Br...
30/07/2026

✨ Did you know?

River Valley now has four generations of guides on the river. The rafting operation started in 1982. Brian has been guiding since 1986. Janey and Tom — the third generation — are fully guiding and working toward ownership of the business. Max, their cousin, also guides. And now Isla and Keeva, the youngest members of the family, have begun guiding on the easier sections of the Rangitikei. Four generations on the same river. That kind of depth doesn't happen by accident — it happens when a family genuinely loves what they do and the place they do it. 🌊

It's one of the things that makes River Valley unlike anywhere else in New Zealand.

Special sighting on the river yesterday — a pair of whio (blue duck) right outside River Valley Lodge, on the Rangitikei...
29/07/2026

Special sighting on the river yesterday — a pair of whio (blue duck) right outside River Valley Lodge, on the Rangitikei River.

Whio are one of the rarest waterfowl in the world, and they'll only nest along clean, fast-flowing rivers. Having a breeding pair this close to the lodge says a lot about the health of this river — and it's exactly why conservation has been part of what we do for over a decade.

Our team runs trap lines covering 20km of the Rangitikei, and some of our traps were supplied directly by the Ruahine Whio Protection Trust — volunteers who spend their spare time in the Ruahines trapping predators to give birds like these a chance.

Read more about our conservation work here: https://rivervalley.co.nz/conservation/

Looking for somewhere genuinely different for your next team retreat? River Valley Lodge is 32km from Taihape, in the R...
28/07/2026

Looking for somewhere genuinely different for your next team retreat?

River Valley Lodge is 32km from Taihape, in the Rangitikei District — far enough from the office to mean something, close enough to be practical. We have two meeting rooms available for hire, accommodation from bunk rooms to ensuite Riverside Suites, and a kitchen that takes group catering seriously.

Activities can be built into the programme: Grade 5 or scenic rafting, horse trekking, e-biking, or a slower day exploring the river on foot. Or do nothing — the setting does enough on its own. Corporate bookings are available mid-autumn through to mid-spring — the period when the Lodge has capacity and corporate clients prefer to get away.

Christmas functions are also popular in the lead-up to the holidays, and the Lodge is well set up for an end-of-year celebration. Get in touch early to secure your preferred dates. Get in touch to discuss your dates and requirements. 📩

Address

266 Mangahoata Road
Taihape
4792

Telephone

+6463881444

Website

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