Queenstown Kawarau River Rafting and Jet Boat
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Queenstown, New Zealand
- 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
What's Included
- Use of hot showers
- Wetsuit, rafting clothing and all other equipment provided
- Extensive safety instructions and paddling techniques
- Jet Boat ride to the rafting put-in point
- SnacksFood and drinks
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- RealNZ Queenstown Visitor CentreRealNZ Visitor Centre 88 Beach Street, CBD, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
Check-in is required at least 20 minute prior to your departure time.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
1
Kawarau River
2
Lake Wakatipu
3
Queenstown
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Must be able to swim
- Rafting while pregnant is prohibited
- Rafting with any heart condition is prohibited
- Minimum weight 40kg
- Maximum weight 120kg
- Minimum age is 13 years. Children aged between 13 and 15 years must be accompanied by a guardian
- All travellers between the age of 16 and 17 years require a waiver to be signed by a guardian if they are unaccompanied
- You must bring a swimsuit and towel
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 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
Anthony_O
What an absolutely awesome experience! We did the Kawarau River rafting and jet boat with our family, ranging in age from 15 through to adult children, and it was a hit with everyone.
The experience was thrilling without being intimidating, making it perfect for families with teens and adults alike. The water was exciting, the scenery was stunning, and the whole adventure was incredibly well run. Our guide was outstanding—fun, knowledgeable, and made everyone feel safe and confident while keeping the energy high.
From start to finish, the team were professional, friendly, and clearly passionate about what they do. It felt like a really well-organised operation that genuinely cares about giving people a great experience.
A fantastic company, an unforgettable adventure, and a real highlight of our Queenstown trip. Highly recommend for families looking for something fun, exciting, and memorable!
Reviews
4.9
based on 180 reviews
Sharon_B, Mar 2026
Very good rafting guide (Cai). Nice folks. Beautiful blue-colored water and several opportunities to swim. Wet suit, jacket and booties kept me warm and equipment was in very good condition. Clear safety instructions on how to paddle and ride in the raft.
Jet boat to the rafting launch site was fun.
Lyn_R, Mar 2026
We were originally scheduled for a jet boat ride and rafting tour, but since that option didn’t make, the company shifted us to a different rafting trip on the Shotover River. There was about a $40 price difference, which was promptly refunded, so we appreciated the transparency and adjustment.
Overall, the rafting trip itself was very good. Our guide was knowledgeable, fun, and made the experience enjoyable. We were provided with all the necessary gear, and there were six of us in the boat plus the guide, which felt like a good group size. My personal goal for the trip was simply not to fall out of the boat — mission accomplished!
The river was rated around Class III–IV, and the trip lasted about 1.5 to 2 hours, with several exciting rapids mixed with calmer pools in between.
The only reason I didn’t give this experience five stars was the quality of the photos provided afterward. Since you can’t take your own cameras on the rafting trip, the company photos are the only way to document the experience. Unfortunately, the images were low quality and limited, making it difficult to capture the memory of the trip.
I would definitely recommend this rafting experience, but I’d also encourage the company to improve the photo quality and offer more photo opportunities so guests can better remember the adventure.
Jordan_P, Feb 2026
So much fun! A great way to cover both rafting and the shotover boat ride in the same experience. We loved it
Ashleigh_C, Feb 2026
Super fun and well instructed! All the staff are super friendly, informative and make sure you’re having fun the whole way through
Maximilian_B, Feb 2026
Very well organized, fun guides, good rental equipment, and overall exciting experience! 100% recommended
Tomer_G, Feb 2026
Awesome trip. From the check in, transportation, debriefing, equipment to the jet boat and the rafting, everything was well organised, very professional and with a lot of humour. The jet boat was fun and Dan gave us some 360 and showed a tip from the boat abilities. In the rafting part, the river was amazing and Josh, our guide, took us safely through swimming, rock jumping and rapids crossing with a lot of funny and interesting talks in between. It was perfect! Everyone in the family loved it😎
Jose_H, Feb 2026
We had an amazing experience, all the guides were awesome, the river was gorgeous and we had so much fun!
Humeira_B, Jan 2026
I have been on river rafting experiences before but this was the best! The guides Nelly Harry and Jacob were amazing! Friendly and wanted us to have an exciting experience without compromising safety. First time I was able to get off the raft and experience a rapid .
Anthony_O, Jan 2026
What an absolutely awesome experience! We did the Kawarau River rafting and jet boat with our family, ranging in age from 15 through to adult children, and it was a hit with everyone.
The experience was thrilling without being intimidating, making it perfect for families with teens and adults alike. The water was exciting, the scenery was stunning, and the whole adventure was incredibly well run. Our guide was outstanding—fun, knowledgeable, and made everyone feel safe and confident while keeping the energy high.
From start to finish, the team were professional, friendly, and clearly passionate about what they do. It felt like a really well-organised operation that genuinely cares about giving people a great experience.
A fantastic company, an unforgettable adventure, and a real highlight of our Queenstown trip. Highly recommend for families looking for something fun, exciting, and memorable!
Theresa_C, Jan 2026
Booking, waivers, information was easily accessible on line. The Real NZ sent everything that was needed from waivers to confirmation. We felt well prepared and when we arrived, we were suited, and oriented for safety and off to jet boat in no time. We met the others after our jet boat and it was a blast. The only sad part is the pictures they took didn’t have any pictures of the rapids or boats going through them
Scott_S, Jan 2026
Wonderful rafting experience with bonus jet boat ride. Nice mix of float and rapids on the raft. Very well organized and felt safe. Guide Matt was great and keep it fun the entire time. River is spectacular
Kassandra_K, Nov 2025
I was nervous, but after the first rapid I wanted to do it all day! Our guide Mark was absolutely outstanding, so friendly and knowledgeable!
Fred_S, Mar 2025
What a great day!! The guides were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and fun. We started with an amazing jet boat ride on the river and then fun white water rafting. Everyone on staff was super helpful and friendly
anne_f, Mar 2025
The jet boating was fun, not scary fun though! The rafting was very enjoyable but because the water level was low the rapids were smallish. The guides did a good job making it fun anyway
AnnieBluhm, Mar 2025
The speed boat was lots of fun - high energy and unique. Rafting was also a blast, manageable rapids, always felt safe. Guides were super friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend Gabe! Would absolutely book again.
Leigh_K, Mar 2025
We really enjoyed this experience! The river was beautiful and they took some great photos (which was great since we didn't have cameras on the boat). We were outfitted with wetsuits and got the opportunity to jump in and swim in a few places and then do the cliff jumping. A beautiful day and lots of fun. We'd only been river rafting once before but they told us what we needed to know and it was a pretty easy raft ride! Definitely recommend!
Chiara_B, Feb 2025
We had the best time in the sunshine with our guides. They are knowledgeable and kept spirits high, always making sure everyone felt comfortable and safe. Can’t recommend enough!
Charlotte_J, Feb 2025
This was not as exciting as expected. Perhaps it was the water level of summer. Also, there is a lot of driving between sites.
Finnian_D, Feb 2025
Excellent. Would recommend to anyone going to Queenstown. Great guides - Jacob was great out on the water!
Philip_N, Feb 2025
Excellent adventure and great staff. A great way to experience nature in Queenstown; highly recommended.
Mark_P, Feb 2025
What a great day! Started with an exciting jet boat ride to our rafting start. Guides were super personable and fun. Had many opportunities to go for a swim while battling the rapids. Strongly recommend if you are looking for a mini adventure.
Rob_C, Jan 2025
Great knowledgable guides with awesome personalities.
Saftey is key while still enjoying the experience
Thanks team
Jan_S, Jan 2025
While I loved the rafting and even enjoyed the jet boating, I can't give more than "average" stars for this trip. I would love any rafting, but I was disappointed in a couple things.
My guide had no personality, while the other two (Dan and Guy) were funny and outgoing. Maybe mine just had a bad day.
Also the biggest draw this company has is the free photos! What a plus. However, there were no photos of anyone jumping off the 3 meter rock. I had specifically asked too. The pre trip group photos of two groups were in the shade, so they were bad quality. Lastly, there were rapids photos from only one side of the boat rather than getting some in a different rapid on the other side. So if you didn't sit on the left side you got no rapids photos. To top it off, my guide told one teenage boy to go sit in the front, so he blocked everyone anyway. The teenager was looking ill the entire time after that.
On the plus side... Good equipment, efficient distribution of it. Nice bus driver, George. Good facility in the base camp. Safety was top notch. Fun despite some drawbacks.
Would do it again, but ask for a different guide!
Also, don't believe the hot shower story at the end of the tour. None of the women had more than barely warm water.
Roz_H, Jan 2025
This trip was brilliant. My 2 teenage sons loved swimming in the river , jumping off the rocks and chilling in the sun. Our guide Danny was awesome and made us feel confident and safe ❤️ the scenery was spectacular.
Hendrik_M, Jan 2025
Jet boat trip was excellent, lots of fun. Very benign and relaxed river rafting, suitable for families. Guides were excellent. Lots of opportunities to jump in the water as it is mostly just drifting down the river.
Cloe_R, Dec 2024
This experience was super fun and a good mix of thrills and adventure for all the family. Zane our rafting guide was brilliant and he made sure we not only had a laugh and fun but also that we were safe at all times.
Donn_L, Dec 2024
Guy was our guide on this wonderful and exhilarating adventure. Although we had rafted before, he educated us on a variety of techniques that we had never learned before. Most of the river we navigated was very tame, but he had us fully prepared for the 400 yards of excitement that we experienced near the end.
Melissa_R, Dec 2024
Great experience, very good for the adrenaline seeker and the last rapid was definitely a bit scary but we survived. Bear in mind you must be a competent swimmer as our instructor made us get into the water before the first rapid to ensure we were prepared just incase. Great instructors that are all very skilled at their job. Shoutout to Iko, Jacob, Libby and our driver George!
rae, Dec 2024
Fantastic views and an exciting experience. They do make you get off the raft and get in the water which was unexpected so be prepared for that part.
roy8820, Nov 2024
Exhilarating day on the water! We had a blast on the jet boat and even more fun rafting. I only wish we could've gone down more rapids as I now have the rafting bug! All the guides and drivers were awesome.
From $191.91
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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