Queenstown Jet Boating

The Shotover Canyons jet boat ride is perfect for thrill-seekers, offering high-speed action, sharp turns, and epic 360° spins through narrow canyons.

Skim just inches from towering canyon walls at 90km/h as your expert driver navigates the twisting Shotover River, the only jet boat allowed in these canyons.

Speed through dramatic gorges and past towering rock formations, with the turquoise waters of the Kawarau River churning beneath you at exhilarating speeds.

Opt for round-trip transfers from Queenstown for a hassle-free experience. Just sit back, relax, and get ready for the ride of your life.

Fun fact: The Māori name for the Shotover River, Kimi-ākau, means ‘looking for the coast,’ a nod to early explorers searching for a route westward.

Experience the ultimate 60-minute jet boat ride, hitting speeds of up to 95kph on Queenstown’s epic rivers—perfect for thrill-seekers and families.

Blast around Queenstown’s scenic waterways on a thrilling 45km jet boat adventure packed with 360° spins and epic 360° alpine views.

With no height restrictions, child-sized life jackets, and a minimum age of just 2 years, KJet is the perfect activity for the whole family. Kids aged 2-4 ride free (child age is 5-14 years).

Departs every hour, on the hour, from Main Town Pier, just a short stroll from central accommodation.

Take on the Kawarau River with a mix of jet boating and whitewater rafting, ideal for both thrill-seekers and first-time rafters.

Race down the river at speeds up to 95 km/h, skimming past canyon walls and spinning through 360° turns.

Paddle through 8 km of whitewater, with grade 2–3 rapids (and grade 4 in high water), plus the chance to try a cliff jump.

Navigate the 400m Dog Leg rapid, the longest commercially rafted rapid in New Zealand, before drifting through scenic landscapes seen in movies.

Fun fact: Kawarau Bridge is nearby, the site of the world’s first commercial bungee jump in 1988.

Ride the Kawarau River’s grade 2-3 rapids on a beginner-friendly rafting trip, perfect for first-timers and those wanting a fun, scenic adventure.

Race your friends through the river’s wide channels, enjoy calm stretches for swimming, and tackle the thrilling 400-meter-long Dog Leg rapid.

Take in stunning Central Otago scenery as you paddle through rugged gorges, past vineyards, and along the famous filming sites of The Lord of the Rings.

Upgrade your adventure with a high-speed 25-minute jet boat ride, skimming across the water and pulling 360° spins before you hit the rapids.

Fun fact: The Kawarau River flows into the turquoise waters of Lake Dunstan and was historically used by Māori for travel, trade, and gathering food.

Raft the fast-moving waters of the Shotover River with an expert guide, tackling intense grade 3-5 rapids on this adrenaline-fueled adventure.

Travel by coach through the narrow, 22 km-long Skippers Canyon, where sheer cliffs drop to the winding Shotover River far below.

Ride through the 170m-long Oxenbridge Tunnel, carved during the gold rush, before bursting out into the churning whitewater of Cascade Rapid.

Paddle through surging rapids, surrounded by rugged schist cliffs and panoramic views of the Remarkables mountain range.

Fun fact: During the gold rush, the Shotover River was one of the world’s richest gold-bearing rivers, earning it the nickname "the richest river in the world!"

Experience the ultimate mix of adventure and scenery as you jet boat up the Dart River and paddle a Funyak through Mount Aspiring National Park’s wild beauty.

Glide through crystal-clear streams and hidden chasms in your Funyak, paddling past untouched landscapes teeming with native birds and lush beech forests.

Travel through the backcountry and see epic filming locations from The Lord of the Rings and X-Men, where Middle-earth and mutant battles came to life.

Worked up an appetite? Enjoy a delicious riverside picnic, and upgrade your experience with optional round-trip transfers from Queenstown.

Fun fact: Mount Aspiring, the park’s namesake, is often called the "Matterhorn of the South" for its towering, pyramid-like peak reaching 3,033 meters.

Experience the thrill of a 2-hour jet boat ride through the braided Dart River, covering up to 90 km of alpine scenery in Mount Aspiring National Park.

With dense forests as your backdrop, hear your expert guide share Māori legends and stories of their treks through this land to reach the sacred pounamu fields.

Speed over the Dart River’s braided channels, passing snow-capped peaks like Mount Cosmos and Nox while spotting rare blue ducks in crystal-clear waters.

Navigate past towering mountains and glacial valleys in UNESCO-listed Mount Aspiring National Park, a filming location for The Lord of the Rings and Narnia.

Fun fact: The Dart River is also called Te Awa Whakatipu, meaning "the river of whirlpools," named by Māori for its swirling currents and braided channels.