Tackling the mighty Kaituna

Perched in a purple plastic kayak above a raging vortex of water I practise the crash position - thrust paddle forward, brace legs and lean forward.

Running through the drill is my final succinct "mental note to self" before I plunge 7m over Tutea Falls on the Kaituna River.

The thundering sound of the waterfall reverberates around the narrow fern-lined gorge.

And like the little blue tag dangling from a branch just before the water fall says "You're screwed now, there's no turning back".

Guide Graeme McGowan sitting in the rear of the tandem kayak manoeuvres the craft into position and yells at me to "paddle".

I grip the black fibreglass handle and the white blades dig into the surging water.

Suddenly we rocket over the falls.

I shut my eyes as water gushes up my nasal passages.

I remember to push forward but the force of the impact at the bottom of the rocket ride forces me back.

The next few split seconds are spent submerged in the boiling cauldron of white water.

The nose of the purple kayak pokes through the water and eventually my guide and I surface.

"Yeehaaa," I yell as we paddle away from the crashing wall of water.

A number of drops and waterfalls along the picturesque trip prepared me for the biggie.

The ride is short, sharp and spectacular including the Rapid of No Return, Helicopter Rapid, the Abyss and the Boiling Pot.

As former All Blacks coach John Mitchell always liked to point out, "it's all about the journey" - and in this case, with Rotorua company Kaituna Kayaks, the journey was spectacular.

Rafting the Kaituna is popular but taking a tandem kayak down is way more exhilarating.

Canadian cattle rancher Dan Reesor had never sat in a kayak before he tackled the Kaituna with Ken Mutton tucked in the back seat.

The 51-year-old was bubbling with enthusiasm as he stepped on to the bank near the end of the ride off Trout Pool Rd.

"That was like sitting in a sports car compared to riding in a bus," he said.

"I expected to ease into it and launch off a beach. But it was straight into it off the bank. And that's the beauty of this you just do it and it's fun."

Accomplished Rotorua kayaker Kenny Mutton has been paddling tandem boats down the Kaituna for 12 years and reckons anyone can make it down the grade five river.

Mutton, Kaituna Kayaks owner, has a lifetime of kayaking experience and has collected a bronze medal at the World Freestyle Championship and won competitions on the notorious Zambezei River.

"No previous kayaking experience is needed," the kayaking guru says. "You sit in the front of a specialised tandem white water kayak and have an expert guide in the back."

I agree.

You kayak the Kaituna river in style as if you personally have the skills of your expert guide.

And the advantage over rafting is you can carve in and out of eddies in full control.

I have to admit my major worry was ending upside down in the water. But some practise rolls soon after putting in and I have the Eskimo roll sorted. You simply lean forward and hug the boat and the guide rolls you up.

Tandem trips are also an excellent way to learn some kayaking skills yourself or to find out what it's all about.

I've done Tutea Falls now bring on the Huka Falls!

* Kaituna Kayaks are offering locals a $95 special deal on the tandem rides. For more information check out www.kaitunakayaks.com