The Tongariro River rises in Tongariro National Park and flows north through Tūrangi before emptying into Lake Taupō. Fed by springs from the Tongariro National Park and Kaimanawa Ranges, the water is notably clean and clear, described as pristine and drinkable. The river is framed by native bush, volcanic hills, and rugged river boulders, giving it a distinctly central North Island volcanic plateau character. It is also widely regarded as New Zealand's most fished river, drawing anglers from around the world for brown and rainbow trout, so paddlers should be courteous to anglers and paddle on the opposite bank where possible.

Several distinct sections offer a range of difficulty. The Blue Pool section, running from below the Access 10 section down to the Turangi Bridge, is a mellow grade 2 run — wider, with less gradient than upstream sections, and very scenic. The Access 10 section, from below the Poutu intake to Blue Pool, covers roughly 13–15 kilometres of sustained, bouldery grade 3 to 3+ whitewater with more than fifty rapids in a pool-drop structure, bluff-wall moves, and trout-filled pools as run-outs. This section is considered one of the North Island's most iconic roadside whitewater trips and is suitable for developing class III paddlers as well as experienced boaters. A note of caution: following Cyclone Gabrielle, pine logs entered the second half of the Access 10 run; while many were cleared, remaining logs can shift in floods, and there are also active rockfall zones — paddlers should avoid lingering below unstable cliffs.

The Access 14 section, below the Rangipo Dam, is a steep, continuous grade 4 run that only flows on three scheduled dam-release days per year. This section is considered the premier grade 4 whitewater experience in New Zealand and is suitable only for experienced paddlers.

The put-in for the Access 10 section is below the Poutu intake, and the take-out options include Red Hut, located beside State Highway 1, or Blue Pool, reached via a gravel road approximately 2.3 kilometres from SH1 just past the Poutu Stream bridge, about 6 kilometres south of Tūrangi. Shuttles can be arranged, and there is reportedly sufficient traffic for hitching. The Tongariro Rafting Centre is located at 133 Atirau Road, Tūrangi, which serves as a departure point for commercial trips. Tūrangi itself, with a population of around 3,500, provides a practical base for paddlers, with drive times of approximately 35 minutes from Taupō and 90 minutes from Rotorua.