KJet Queenstown Jet Boat Ride on the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Queenstown, New Zealand
- 1 hour (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Experience heart-racing fun on an exhilarating Queenstown jet-boat ride. The expert captain races across Lake Wakatipu, navigates tricky turns on the Kawarau River, and speeds through the shallow waters of the Shotover River. Grab hold of your seat as the jet boat makes 360-degree spins and fishtails on a rollercoaster ride over the water.
- Take in stunning views of the Remarkables mountain range
- Choose from multiple tours throughout the day to suit your schedule
- A family-friendly activity suitable for kids aged 2 and above
- See more in less time while traveling at high speeds on the water
What's Included
- 1-hour jet boat ride
- Driver/guide
- Life vests supplied
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- KJet QueenstownMain Town Pier, Marine Parade, Queenstown 9348, New Zealand
Please check in at the Main Town Pier 15 minutes before your scheduled Jet Boat departure.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Roar across Lake Wakatipu and down the Kawarau and Shotover rivers on a 1-hour adrenaline-pumping jet-boat adventure, departing from the main pier in central Queenstown. After you receive a life jacket and a safety briefing, hold on for the 27-mile (45-kilometer) jet-boat ride down some of New Zealand’s most scenic waterways.
First, zoom across pristine Lake Wakatipu and look up at the majestic Remarkables mountain range. From the mouth of the Kawarau River, glide past the Kawarau Dam and prepare for 360-degree spins before your driver expertly navigates the fast-moving currents of the narrow channels of the Shotover River, gaining speeds up to 59 miles (95 kilometers) per hour in shallow water.
First, zoom across pristine Lake Wakatipu and look up at the majestic Remarkables mountain range. From the mouth of the Kawarau River, glide past the Kawarau Dam and prepare for 360-degree spins before your driver expertly navigates the fast-moving currents of the narrow channels of the Shotover River, gaining speeds up to 59 miles (95 kilometers) per hour in shallow water.
1
Lake Wakatipu
2
Kawarau River
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KJet
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Minimum age is 2 years
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Please wear comfortable shoes, jacket and sun protection
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Caregivers are required to assist drivers with carrying any disabled passengers down the stairs and on to the Jet boat. When carrying larger numbers, at least one caregiver must travel on the boat.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 140 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Brandr_B
Great experience! Sam was an awesome driver and getting to explore the lake as well as 2 different rivers set this apart from other similar experiences. Highly recommend the KJet!
Reviews
4.7
based on 613 reviews
Noemi_S, Apr 2026
Fun excursion for when you’re “in the need for speed!” Even for a 67 & a 69 year old, this was a blast!
Beth_M, Mar 2026
This was absolutely worth every cent! We enjoyed it so much, I seriously considered another ticket for the next available ride. Do it!!!! My only issue is a problem with downloading the pictures but they are working with me on that and I appreciate that
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for the amazing review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the experience so much that you wanted to go again straight away!
We appreciate your patience with the photo download issue, and we’re glad the team has been able to assist. Thanks again for your understanding, and we hope to see you back for another ride soon!
Allison_D, Mar 2026
very fun way to explore to water around Queenstown!
boats depart from very central location.
Expect a bumpy but fun ride.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your great review! We’re glad you enjoyed exploring the waterways around Queenstown and found our central location convenient.
Jet boating can definitely be a bit bumpy at times — all part of the fun! We’re pleased to hear you had a good time out on the water.
Hope to see you back again soon!
Jonathan_N, Mar 2026
Excellent high speed fun! Watch the pilot very carefully for his spinning hand to signal a 360° boat spin. Or you could lose your camera! 😉
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thanks for the awesome review! We’re glad you enjoyed the high-speed fun and those signature 360° spins. Great tip about watching the driver’s signal, we don't want anyone losing their cameras!
Hope to see you back on the water for more splash’n’dash action soon.
Morgan_K, Mar 2026
So much fun! What a rush. And the views are spectacular! Would definitely do again and recommend to anyone..
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for the great review! We’re so glad you had such a fun, adrenaline-filled ride — it really is a rush out there on the rivers. It’s fantastic to hear you enjoyed the spectacular views as well.
Thanks for the recommendation, and we’d love to have you back for another spin anytime! 🚤✨
verity_r, Feb 2026
Have waterproofs - you will get wet ! 😊 well worth the money, you are well looked after and the scenery is beautiful
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for the fantastic review! We’re so glad you had a super fun time out on the water. Great tip about the waterproofs — a little splash is all part of the adventure! 😊 Wonderful to hear you felt well looked after and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you back for another ride soon! 🚤✨
Bev_L, Feb 2026
Make sure you take a hat and warm clothing. I got quite chilled even with warm clothing and rain jacket.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for your feedback! We always recommend bringing warm clothing, and a rain jacket to make sure you stay comfortable on the ride — even on sunny days, it can get a bit chilly out on the river.
We appreciate you riding with us and hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
tandgreese, Feb 2026
This was a fun activity, and one for which Queenstown is famous!
The spins were awesome, and the pilot was sure to warn us when they were about to occur.
The staff graciously moved up our reservation by one hour at our request.
The only drawback was that the water was pretty choppy, so the jet boat kept slamming down on the water over and over - so often that it became uncomfortable.
And just an FYI - if you want to travel close to the canyon walls, you need to take the jet boat ride that departs from a different part of the Shotover River (further from downtown Queenstown).
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We’re glad you had fun, enjoyed the spins, and that our team could help by moving your booking to an earlier departure.
Conditions on the lake can sometimes be choppy depending on the weather and wind — it’s all part of boating in natural conditions, and our jet boats are specifically designed to handle them safely while keeping the ride thrilling.
While we don’t operate in the canyons, we still get up nice and close to the edges of the braided lower section of the Shotover River.
Thanks again for riding with us, and we hope to welcome you back soon!
Neil_K, Feb 2026
It's a fun ride up the river, and I enjoyed it. But it is not the famous Shotover canyon ride that I was expecting. Hindsight tells me that i should have booked a different trip - I assumed all "jetboat" rides on the Shotover river were the same, but this one does not go into the canyon, whereas some other rides do. If you are apprehensive about a jetboat ride being too extreme, this is probably a good one to go on - lots of spray, fun, spins, good-humored captain, while feeling safe. Also convenient that it leaves directly from downtown wharf.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad to hear you had fun on the ride and enjoyed the spins, spray, and the driver's humour — as well as the convenience of departing right from the downtown wharf.
Our trips run on the lower shallow and braided section of the Shotover River, not the canyons, which still gets you up close to the riverbanks while offering a safe, scenic and thrilling experience. Many guests enjoy this section for its variety, accessibility, and breathtaking views.
Thanks again for riding with us, and we hope to welcome you back in the future!
Brandr_B, Feb 2026
Great experience! Sam was an awesome driver and getting to explore the lake as well as 2 different rivers set this apart from other similar experiences. Highly recommend the KJet!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for the great review! We’re so glad you enjoyed exploring the lake and both rivers — it really does make for a unique experience. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to Sam; he’ll be thrilled to hear them.
Thanks for the recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back again soon!
Diane_C, Jan 2026
Great fun experience, great way to see most of the rivers, lots of donut turns, waves and big splashes. Be prepared to get wet,very wet!! This is no log flume experience. Totally soaked from head down ,too much really when you're spending the day in Queenstown, so only reason for losing 1 star. I'd recommend sitting in centre seats if you want to avoid a total soaking. Anton our driver was great though ,good on safety 👏
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for your detailed review! We’re glad you had great fun and enjoyed seeing the rivers and the 360s! Windy conditions can mean getting wetter than usual, we always recommend waterproof layers if you wish to stay as dry as possible. It’s also great to hear Anton looked after everyone and prioritised safety. Thanks again for the feedback, and we hope you enjoyed your time in Queenstown.
Justin_T, Jan 2026
A nice leisurely boat ride with some strangers. If you like speed and boats then do this. The driver enjoys doing 360s.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for your review! We’re glad you enjoyed getting out on the water. While the ride does include scenic cruising, it’s definitely designed to add excitement with speed and plenty of 360s! We appreciate your feedback and hope you enjoyed the experience overall.
Jennifer_M, Jan 2026
This is a fun ride! If you like speed and spins you will enjoy! Enjoy the views along the route! You will get wet so be ready!!!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for the great review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the speed, spins, and scenery. And yes — getting wet is all part of the fun, so your tip for future guests is spot on! We hope to see you back on the water again soon.
Michael_H, Jan 2026
Great fun experience great knowledge from the guides, scenery was really good, would be good for people that don't like the high adrenalin
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for your review! We’re glad you enjoyed the fun, the scenery, and the guides’ knowledge. It’s great to hear that the ride can also be enjoyable for those who prefer a slightly gentler experience. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you back on the water again!
Liliana_V, Jan 2026
We had a super fun ride with Anton today!! He swirled us and splashed us and thrilled us with spins! It was awesome. We highly recommend this boat ride!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for the awesome review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a fun and thrilling ride with Anton, and that the spins and splashes made it memorable. We really appreciate the recommendation and hope to welcome you back on the water again soon!
Wayne_M, Jan 2026
Bring jacket and sunglasses to enjoy a blink free experience. The boats are very fast and fun to be in.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thanks for your review! We’re glad you enjoyed the fast and fun ride. Great tip on bringing a jacket and sunglasses, it definitely helps make the experience even more comfortable and enjoyable. We hope to see you back on the water again soon!
Asha_N, Jan 2026
This is fun and easy to mid activity for most age groups. You will love the high speed boat rid and the spins in between. The spins arent too scary and you can easily hold on to the bars. A must do activity in Queenstown
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi Asha, Thank you for the great review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the high-speed ride, the spins, and that it’s fun for all age groups. We really appreciate the recommendation — a must-do adventure in Queenstown indeed!
Andy_H, Jan 2026
It was sooo good! I probably had my best time here in South Island! It was fun to have a beautiful view while doing such an exciting activity!!! Wear the waterproof coat if possible.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi Andy, Thanks so much for your awesome review! We’re thrilled to hear KJet was your best experience so far in Queenstown. It’s great to know you enjoyed the views and the excitement — and excellent tip about the waterproof coat! We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon.
Isabel_A, Dec 2025
Too many people squashed into boat. A row that should seat 5 had 6 squashed in. Given the price of this experience it was a little disappointing to be sitting awkwardly. The driver and the boat trip was fun, amazing the turns and spins the boat can make.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi Isabel, thank you for your feedback! We’re glad you enjoyed the turns, spins, and overall ride. Just to clarify, our boats are designed to seat 6 passengers per row, and being snug in your seat is intentional — it keeps everyone safely secured during the spins and high-speed maneuvers. We appreciate you sharing your experience and hope the thrills and scenery made it a memorable adventure!
Anjali_M, Dec 2025
It was a great mix of adventure with sight seeing of beautiful Queenstown. I felt very safe during our trip. My daughter simply loved the boat ride. I highly recommend this activity if you are in QT.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled you and your daughter enjoyed the mix of adventure and sightseeing, and that you felt safe throughout the ride. We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Queenstown for another KJet adventure!
Ranganath_M, Dec 2025
Lived to our expectation— very skilled drivers and safe— a thrilling experience but not so easy to buy pictures and videos as the QR code given was very confusing
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your review! We’re really pleased to hear the experience lived up to your expectations and that you found our drivers skilled and the ride thrilling yet safe. We appreciate your feedback about the QR code for photos and videos — we’re sorry that part was confusing and will pass this on to the media team so we can improve the process. Thanks again for sharing your experience, and we hope to welcome you back again in the future.
Tatum_R, Dec 2025
This was super fun and our driver Ben was great. One thing is I felt this advertising made it seem like it was through the canyon (like the Shotover boat), but it wasn’t. I was pretty disappointed about that so keep in mind when booking. Overall, it was pretty fun though.
kelleyenglund, Dec 2025
This was a fun way to see Queenstown’s scenery! We had beautiful weather, and didn’t get very wet. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thanks for your review! We’re glad you enjoyed seeing Queenstown’s stunning scenery and had great weather on your ride. It’s wonderful to hear you’d recommend KJet — we hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
Nico_S, Dec 2025
The skipper/driver was really friendly and customer serviced based. Had a good humour and did amazing 360 degree spins around trees and pylons.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for the great review! We’re delighted to hear you were impressed and that our driver made the experience so enjoyable with great humour and customer service. Those 360° spins around the trees and pylons are always a highlight! We really appreciate your feedback and hope to see you back again soon.
Fathiah_A, Dec 2025
An awesome experience travelling down the river in a fast boat. Driver was friendly. Will pre empt us when he is about to do the stunts. It was thrilling and fun.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your review! We’re glad you enjoyed the fast ride, the thrills, and knowing what was coming with the spins. Great to hear you found it fun and exciting — hope to see you back again!
Madel_C, Nov 2025
It was a fun ride but the only disappointment we had was that we didn't see our faces in the picture taken by them.. only the first row passengers got the beet shots!.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the ride, but we’re sorry to learn you were disappointed with the photos. Due to the camera angles on board, the front rows sometimes appear clearer in the images, especially during spins or when there’s spray.
We appreciate you letting us know, and we’ll pass this feedback on to our team as we’re always looking for ways to improve the experience for everyone on board. We hope we can welcome you back for an even better trip next time!
Danielle_A, Oct 2025
Driver was very good. Funny but still kept us well informed of what was to come. Was very thrilling but not as scary as I thought it would be.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Danielle, thanks for your review! We’re glad your driver kept you informed and entertained, and that you enjoyed the thrill without it being too scary. We hope to welcome you back for another ride soon!
Olivia_E, Oct 2025
We had Jack as our driver today & he made the experience so much fun! Definitely worth adding this activity to your itinerary!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Olivia, thanks for the great review! We’re so glad Jack made your ride so much fun, we’ll be sure to pass on the shout-out! Awesome to hear you’d recommend adding us to the itinerary. Hope to see you again soon!
Jon_D, Oct 2025
Easy ticketing, good organisation to get us on the water and then a great 1 hour ride up the lake and on the two rivers. Well looked after by the driver with a ride filled with twists, spins and speed. Loved it.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Jon, thank you for the great review! We’re so glad you found the ticketing and boarding process nice and easy, and that you enjoyed the full hour on the lake and rivers. It’s wonderful to hear the twists, spins and speed made it a ride to remember, and that our driver took great care of you. We loved having you on board!
Maxson_T, Oct 2025
The one we did wasn’t great, we saw the pictures in their website of the jet boat going through narrow rivers, huge rocks and shallow waters but the one we got was nothing compare to the adversitied. Waste of money. This was just a normal speed boat through the open river nothing special
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Maxson,
Thank you for taking the time to review us. We're sorry to hear the trip didn’t meet your expectations. Recent spring rainfall has caused the rivers to run much higher than usual, which unfortunately is beyond our control. We hope you enjoyed your time in Queenstown.
Many thanks, KJet.
From $89.04
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KJet Queenstown Jet Boat Ride on the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers
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