Safety, Fitness & What to Expect
Thinking about giving packrafting a go? You’re not the first to wonder if it’s safe, if you’re fit enough, or if it’s something you’ll actually enjoy. These are all good questions — and worth asking. Here are some straight-up answers to help you figure out if packrafting is right for you.
Do I need to know how to swim? / What if I can’t swim?
Yes, you do need to be able to swim. You don’t need to be fast or strong, but you must be comfortable floating and keeping calm in the water. Even on easy rivers, there’s always a chance of a swim. If you panic in water, packrafting isn’t safe for you.
Bottom line: If you can’t swim, packrafting is not suitable.
How fit do I need to be? / What fitness level is required?
Think “day in the hills” fit. If you can walk a few hours on uneven ground with a pack, you’ll be fine. You don’t need big muscles or special training, but a base level of cardio and mobility makes the day far more enjoyable.
Bottom line: A moderate hiking level of fitness is enough.
Is packrafting dangerous? / Is it safe?
Like any outdoor adventure, there are risks. That’s why you come with professional guides. We’ve spent years developing systems and training to keep people safe, and our beginner trips are designed to build confidence without unnecessary risk.
Bottom line: There are risks, but with guides and beginner trips, it’s safe for novices.
Can I do this trip if I’m older? / Can I do this at 65?
Absolutely. We’ve had adventurous 8-year-olds and sprightly 75-year-olds join us. It’s less about age and more about your fitness, mobility, and appetite for adventure. We also have videos showing exactly what a day looks like, so you can decide if it’s right for you.
Bottom line: Age is not the barrier — fitness and attitude matter more.
What if I’m scared of rapids? / I don’t like rapids — can I still go?
That’s totally normal. Packrafts are light, so if a rapid feels too much, you can always walk around it. But if rapids don’t appeal at all, then whitewater trips aren’t for you. Instead, we recommend our calm, scenic flatwater options like License to Chill.
Bottom line: If rapids scare you, choose our flatwater trips, not whitewater ones.
What training should I do before coming? / Do I need paddling experience?
Most of our trips are designed for novices — no paddling experience required. The only exceptions are our training courses and expeditions, which are clearly graded from intro, to intermediate, to advanced. Unless you’ve signed up for one of those, you can just show up ready to give it a go.
If you’re unsure, check out our articles on beginner, intermediate, and advanced packrafting (coming soon).
Bottom line: No training needed for most trips — only courses/expeditions require experience.
Can I do this if I’m pregnant? / Is packrafting safe during pregnancy?
Every pregnancy is different, so this is a question for your doctor. Rivers always carry some risk, and those risks are higher on whitewater. That means our rapid-based trips aren’t recommended. For something gentler, our License to Chill trip might be worth asking your doctor about.
Bottom line: Whitewater trips aren’t suitable if you’re pregnant; calm-water trips may be possible with your doctor’s advice.
What rescue training do your guides have? / How qualified are your guides?
It starts with hiring — for every guide we take on, we turn away scores of applicants. New Zealand has high standards for river guiding, and we build on that. All our guides hold Whitewater Rescue Technician–Pro qualifications from Rescue 3 International, plus advanced medical training such as Wilderness First Responder, Wilderness EMT, or Pre-Hospital Emergency Care.
This season, we’re also putting them through the Rescue 3 Water Safety for Expedition Leaders course. Our guides are our biggest asset — both in how our trips run and compared to many other outfitters.
Bottom line: Guides are highly trained in both rescue and medical response.
What if someone in our group has mobility challenges? / Can wheelchair users come packrafting?
We’ve worked hard to make packrafting more accessible, and some of our products are suitable for wheelchair users and folks with mobility issues. You’ll always know more about your own needs than we do, but we’ve got videos, photos, and information to help you see what’s involved.
We also have double packrafts, which can be great tools for creative solutions. The easiest thing is to get in touch so we can figure out what tweaks might help, or which trip is the best fit.
Bottom line: Possible with the right trip and adjustments — contact us to discuss.
What happens if someone gets motion sick? / Can you get seasick in a packraft?
We’ve never had anyone get motion sick on a packraft — though we do get asked about it a lot. Packrafts move with the river but don’t usually trigger seasickness like boats on open water. If it ever did affect you, none of our trips are overly committing. You can always stop paddling, hop out, and transition back into hiking mode.
Bottom line: Motion sickness hasn’t happened yet, and it’s easy to stop paddling if needed.
What’s your safety record? / How safe is packrafting with you?
The safety record for packrafting in general is excellent, and ours reflects that. We take safety seriously — as does the wider adventure tourism industry in New Zealand. The country has very high standards, including rigorous external audits of our safety systems.
We’re proud of the culture we’ve built around river running, our systems, and our guides. Beyond our own trips, we’ve been hired to train emergency services, search and rescue, and military groups in New Zealand, and to review other operators’ safety plans.
Bottom line: Excellent safety record, audited systems, and trusted to train others in safety.
Do you have insurance coverage? / Are you insured?
Yes. We carry comprehensive operator insurance and meet all the New Zealand safety and licensing requirements for adventure tourism.
Bottom line: Yes, fully insured and licensed.
So… is packrafting right for me?
If you can swim, are reasonably fit, and have an appetite for adventure, then yes — packrafting could be your new favourite thing. If you can’t swim, are pregnant (and want rapids), or have significant mobility challenges, then it’s probably not the right choice.
We design our trips to deliver lasting memories — and in some cases, life-changing experiences. That might come from a truly profound, once-in-a-lifetime expedition, or simply from learning a new skill you’ll carry forever. But here’s the truth: to reach the profound, you need to pass through the uncomfortable. If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.
If your idea of adventure involves plush pillows and a cadre of servants to carry your gear and cater to your every whim… we’re probably not the company for you. But if you’re excited by wet feet, the odd curveball from nature, and the chance to stretch your comfort zone — then we’re here to help.
👉 Ready to see what it’s all about? Check out our trips here.
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