Best Jet Boating Tours in Queenstown

As the adventure capital of the world and the home of the jet boat, Queenstown and its rivers draw thrill-seeking travellers from all over the world. And if you’ve been itching to get your adrenaline pumping on a jet boat ride, Queenstown offers several jet boating tours for all types of adventure seekers. To get the best jet boating Queenstown experience, read on!

If an NZ jet boat ride is on your Queenstown bucket list this summer, you’ll be happy to hear that jet boat tours are a family-friendly activity. However, many operators require you to be 1-1.2m to get on board. To stay safe, you’ll have to wear safety gear including a life jacket. There’s a jet boat tour for just about any budget, with costs ranging from around $60-180 per person. Although each tour company provides waterproof jackets, be prepared to get wet while you’re taking in the epic views at high speeds!

With so many jet boating tours operating on Lake Whakatipu Waimāori (Wakatipu), the Kawarau River, the Shotover River, and beyond, of course it can be hard to choose! Depending on whether you’re interested in thrilling spins, seeing stunning scenery and waterfalls, or finding a family-friendly operator, we’ll help you find a tour to suit you.

For a thrilling jet boat ride through some of the narrowest canyons of New Zealand, the Shotover Jet boat could be for you. With high-speed spins and exciting twists and turns through the Shotover River canyon, you’re in for an unforgettable time! What makes this experience even more special is that Shotover Jet is the only operator that has access to Shotover canyons.

Location: Shuttle departs from The Station Building in Queenstown

Tour time: 25-minute tour

Prices: Start from $139 per Adult & $77 per Child

Discover the historic Kawarau and Shotover Rivers on the KJet Queenstown jet boats. Driving at speeds up to 95 kilometres per hour, hop on board for an exciting trip across Lake Wakatipu and then race through the sparkling water of Queenstown’s main rivers. KJet’s claim to fame is that they are the world’s first commercial Jet boat company, offering fun and scenic rides on Queenstown’s waterways since 1958!

Location: Departs from Queenstown Main Town Pier or Frankton Marina

Tour time: 60-minute tour

Prices: Start from $129 per Adult & $69 per Child

This awesome canyon jet boating experience takes you through Skippers Canyon and the Shotover River on an hour-long exhilarating adventure. Check out LOTR locations and enjoy plenty of photo ops before returning to land. Getting to the boat is half the adventure! Your experience with Skippers Canyon Jet also includes a spectacular guided tour of Skippers Canyon via tour bus where you will discover a land rich in gold mining history that was once known as “the richest river in the world”. Rental car companies won’t allow their vehicles on this narrow, unsealed road so this tour really is an unmissable experience that will also allow you to view some extraordinary NZ backcountry first-hand.

Location: Shuttle departs from The Station Building in Queenstown

Tour time: 3-hour tour

Prices: Start from $189 per Adult & $89 per Child

Explore the incredible Mt. Aspiring National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Area, on this sightseeing adventure! With unrivalled National Park access, the Dart River Wilderness Jet covers up to 90km of the Dart River’s beautiful scenery on a standard trip making the Wilderness Jet Experience the longest jet boat ride in the region. This tour is set at a more relaxed pace when compared with others in the Queenstown area which allows for plenty of time to connect with your surroundings and take in the scenery, while your guides share stories of the area’s rich history, the Greenstone trail and renowned Māori legends.

Location: Shuttle departs from The Station Building

Tour time: 2-hour tour

Prices: Start from $279 per Adult & $185 per Child

Experience 360-degree spins, high speeds, and thrills as you jet across Lake Wakatipu and onto the Kawarau River on this amazing jet boating experience. The experienced drivers of the RealNZ boats are no strangers to fun and will get you up close and personal with the lake’s edge, skimming past trees and any obstacles in the way whilst hitting top speeds of nearly 100 kilometres per hour on the open water!

Location: Departs from Steamer Wharf, Queenstown

Tour time: 25-minute or 60-minute tours

Prices: Start from $99 per Adult & $49 per Child

Once your Queenstown jet boat adventure is over, check out the New Zealand scenery at the Skyline Gondola, then try the Luge before taking a coffee break at the Stratosfare Restaurant. Craving some pizza after a big day of adventuring? Hit the town to check out Queenstown’s best pizza places. Planning another exciting holiday? Why not check out Queenstown’s best white water rafting spots? For more helpful travel tips for your next journey, from Milford Sound to the Bay of Islands, browse our blog.