Brandwave

River Valley vs Ultimate Descents Aotearoa:Which is more popular in New Zealand?

In October 2026, River Valley had more branded searches than Ultimate Descents Aotearoa among white water rafting operators in New Zealand. River Valley had about 890 branded searches, while Ultimate Descents Aotearoa had 70. River Valley made up 12.8% of all white water rafting operator searches we track, and Ultimate Descents Aotearoa accounted for 1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about white water rafting operators, Ultimate Descents Aotearoa appeared in two of the four answers and River Valley in none.

Among white water rafting operators in New Zealand in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

River Valley, about 13 searches for every 1 for Ultimate Descents Aotearoa

River Valley 890 searchesUltimate Descents Aotearoa 70 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Ultimate Descents Aotearoa, mentioned in 2 of 4 answers, River Valley in 0

Ultimate Descents Aotearoa in 2 of 4River Valley in 0 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

Ultimate Descents Aotearoa, the only one of the two named

Ultimate Descents Aotearoa first in 2River Valley never named

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Top white water rafting operators in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Ultimate Descents Aotearoa was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. River Valley did not appear in any of the four answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Rotorua Rafting1st
  2. Kaituna Cascades2nd
  3. Rafting New Zealand3rd
  4. Ultimate Descents Aotearoa4th
  5. Queenstown Rafting5th
  6. River Valley–
  7. River Rats–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Rotorua Rafting3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Kaituna Cascades3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Rafting New Zealand2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Ultimate Descents Aotearoa2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Queenstown Rafting1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • River Valley0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • River Rats0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about white water rafting operators

4 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Is River Valley or Ultimate Descents Aotearoa more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for River Valley and Ultimate Descents Aotearoa by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven white water rafting operators we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

River Valley and Ultimate Descents Aotearoa among white water rafting operators in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for River Valley, Ultimate Descents Aotearoa. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthRotorua RaftingRiver ValleyQueenstown RaftingKaituna CascadesRafting New ZealandRiver RatsUltimate Descents Aotearoa
Nov 202562.7%10.2%12%8.7%2.9%2.1%1.3%
Dec 202566.1%7.3%12.2%9%2.5%1.5%1.3%
Jan 202664.1%7.8%11.8%11%2.4%1.8%1.1%
Feb 202660.9%7.5%9.5%16.8%2.3%1.7%1.2%
Mar 202662.6%10.2%11.8%8.4%2.9%2.5%1.5%
Apr 202659.9%10.7%11.5%10.3%2.7%3%1.8%
May 202660%12.1%7.8%10.5%2.2%5.6%1.8%
Jun 202657.1%17%7.5%9.5%3.2%4.6%1.2%
Jul 202659.3%15.9%7.7%8.6%4.1%3.5%0.88%
Aug 202660.4%13.3%9.6%7.6%3.4%5.4%0.25%
Sep 202664%11.8%8.4%8.4%3%3.9%0.64%
Oct 202665.1%12.8%8.5%7.9%2.4%2.2%1%

How has branded search for River Valley and Ultimate Descents Aotearoa changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand white water rafting operators in October 2026?

2 changes

  1. In October 2026, River Valley gained share of searches among white water rafting operators in New Zealand, from 11.8% to 12.8%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Ultimate Descents Aotearoa in New Zealand fell 50% over 12 measured months, from 140 to 70 in October 2026.

How are River Valley’s and Ultimate Descents Aotearoa’s branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using River Valley’s and Ultimate Descents Aotearoa’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

River Valley

3 branded search terms

  • river valley
  • river valley lodge
  • river valley rafting

Ultimate Descents Aotearoa

1 branded search term

  • ultimate descents aotearoa

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among white water rafting operators

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