Travelling through tiny river gorges in New Zealand, nearly brushing against steep rock cliffs, and skimming the surface of water channels that weave between the shingle banks of braided rivers are experiences that can only be had on a jet boat trip. Jet boating is year-round fun for people of all ages and fitness levels. Combine breathtaking Queenstown scenery, thrilling adventure, and the iconic New Zealand invention of the jet boat, and you have a jet boating in Queenstown adventure!
Top 4 Spots for Jet Boating in Queenstown
Here are the most prominent companies that provide jet boating in Queenstown for the hesitant adrenaline junky. Why is this activity perfect for those who prefer to avoid adventures that involve a lot of hyping-up? Jet boating is super exhilarating yet safe. You’re strapped in with a life jacket, in safe and qualified hands, and technically still in gravity’s grasp. So, if you’re looking to push the envelope of what you deem “safe” and “comfortable”, then jet boating in Queenstown is the perfect place to start making!
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1. Shotover Jet
If you want to see the fantastic Shotover Canyons, know that Shotover is the only establishment specialising in jet boating in Queenstown. Join them for the ultimate adrenaline-filled adventure, the most thrilling jet boat ride in the world (so they claim), to truly experience the Shotover Canyons, their beauty and power. It’s an experience combining flawless natural scenery with nonstop canyon action from beginning to end! It’s a unique marriage of beauty and power!
Shotover has a couple of packages that you can book, like the Shotover & Nomad Safari Combo. This package couples both in – and on-water activities and a custom 4WD off-road tour where you tour the abandoned gold mining area of the Arrow River with film locations from the “Lord of the Rings”. This entire adventure lasts 3 hours! You can also buy a family pass for two adults and two children, which could save you a couple of pennies!
However, the most exciting package on offer for jet boating in Queenstown is the Swing + Jet package from Shotover. Excitingly, Shotover has formed a coalition with Shotover Canyon Swing to give you the time of your life.
Firstly, you’ll start by swinging over the canyon river either solo or tandem; then, you’ll enjoy a speedboat ride of 25 minutes! If you have hesitant adrenaline junkies with you who are scared of heights, perhaps, that’s fine. They can tag along by booking the Spectator + Jet package! So, go ahead and book with Shotover Jet, the jetboating in Queenstown operative that departs almost every 15 minutes on busy days! Shotover Jet is located at 3 Arthurs Point Road in Arthurs Point and operates daily except Wednesdays from 9 am to 5 pm! Furthermore, out of the 3,873 Google reviews, Shotover has received a 4,8-star rating!
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2. KJet
Only KJet offers 45 km of jaw-dropping excitement, complete with 360-degree spins and lightning-fast speeds of up to 95 kph across three waterways, lake Wakatipu, the Kawarau River, and Shotover River, in the fastest and meanest Jet boats in the area. KJet is also the world’s first-ever jet boat company, making it the oldest and most experienced of all the companies providing jet boating in Queenstown.
With KJet, you can speed over Lake Wakatipu and down the renowned Kawarau and Shotover Rivers in one of the most breathtaking settings on earth, all in 60 minutes! KJet is the only company offering jet boating in Queenstown for a full hour, so be sure to book with them if you want a longer experience!
Like most companies offering jet boating in Queenstown, KJet also has an array of packages to book for an adrenaline-filled experience. You can save some pennies with one package by booking specific time slots. However, this is the least exciting package. Book the Kjet Boat Ride + Time Ripper package if you want fun. The Time Ripper is a 3D capsule room showcasing what lived under Lake Wakatipu’s surface 90 million years ago. It truly is a cinematic experience to wind down to after your thrilling 60-minute adventure on the water!
The most thrilling adventure lies in the Jet Boat + Helicopter Flight Package. This high-and-low combo will surely blow you out of the water! You start the journey with a thrilling jet boat adventure before you take to the skies on a fantastic Helicopter flight over Queenstown with Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters. This package lets you land on The Remarkables mountain range and enjoy the scenic views.
Kjet is located on the Main Town Pier, Marine Parade and operates every day, except Wednesdays, from 9 am to 7 pm! Out of 631 Google Reviews, KJet has received a 4.6-star rating. If it’s an adventure you’re after, Kjet is the perfect choice!
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3. Dart River Wilderness Jet Experience
Departing from Queenstown in the summer seasons of September through to April at 8:30 am and 1:00 pm, you can discover a world and adventure unlike anything else you’ve ever experienced. You can grab a free shuttle that leaves from Dart River Adventures’ booking office, located at 25 Shotover Street’s The Station Building. However, if you want a free shuttle service, you must be at the office at least 15 minutes before departure.
Dart River Adventures stands out from all other companies specialising in jet boating in Queenstown because they are open seven days a week from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Fancy a Sunday speed stroll along the glacier-fed Dart River? Then this is the company for you! The ultimate, authentic half-day Wilderness Jet boat trip transports you down the glacier-fed, braided Dart River on an incredible excursion.
We will take you deep into Mount Aspiring National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Area, where you can enjoy the rare mix of breathtaking landscapes and an adrenaline ride. Your guides add their genuine touch by telling you tales of the region’s rich history, the Greenstone route, and well-known Māori legends, giving you ample opportunity to engage with the locals and enjoy the surroundings.
Every excursion is different because of the ever-changing surroundings. Returning for a second journey may mean exploring an entirely new world due to daily and seasonal variations in flora and fauna, bush colour, river structure and colour, water clarity, birds, wildlife, and snow level. So, if this sounds like music to your ears, book one of Dart River Adventures’s many packages!
4. Skippers Canyon Jet
Out of the 325 Google reviews, Skippers Canyon Jet has earned an astounding 4,8 stars! This tour operation is located on Skippers Road in Queenstown, and what makes Skippers Canyon Jet Boating in Queenstown unique is that getting to the boat takes up half of the adventure! You’ll be taken on an exhilarating guided tour of Skippers Canyon, followed by a thrilling jet boat rides down the Shotover River’s most striking gorges.
With a sequence of 360-degree spins, maintain high excitement as you skim past massive rock faces and historic gold dredges. Discover a region not far from Queenstown steeped in the history of gold mining and with a breathtaking landscape. Queenstown’s must-do jet boat excursion is the Skippers Canyon Jet, especially since this adventure lasts between 2.5 and 3 hours!
You will be introduced to some of the filming locations of Lord of the Rings, weave between some of the narrowest canyons on the Shotover River, and experience the town’s history in the most spectacular way possible! Let me rephrase: Skippers Canyon Jet is the only jet boat excursion that allows you to see old gold mine artefacts still in the river and Lord of the Rings settings. They also operate during winter months. However, bookings are more subject to change during this season.
The trips depart from the bus stop on the Camp St side of the Station Building, and it is advisable to arrive at least 15 minutes before departure. During the winter months (May – September), Skipper’s Canyon Jet operates from 9 am to 1 pm, and during the summer months (October – April, they work from 8:30 am, 12 pm, and 3:30 pm. So, book your winter and summer jet boating in the Queenstown excursion through them for the ultimate adrenaline adventure!
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Why Jet Boating in Queenstown is So Popular
Jet boating adventures offer the chance to explore several breathtaking wilderness rivers. The Dart River winds through magnificent alpine scenery and Lord of the Rings filming locations as it travels deep into Mount Aspiring National Park. This place offers a one-of-a-kind jet boat journey that combines breathtaking scenery, Maori culture, and excitement. The amazing Shotover Canyons are on full display as you swerve through the valleys on pure adrenaline and crystal-clear waters.
It’s something that everyone should try when they find themselves in Queenstown, New Zealand! When you book with Shotover Jet, however, you can expect to speed over 10 cm of water, perform 360-degree spins, and take in breathtaking vistas as you go over the well-known Shotover River in the heart of the Shotover Canyons. It’s an unreplaceable whitewater experience, as they are the only firm allowed to operate in these canyons. These jet boats can go up to 95 kilometres per hour and are capable of spins equivalent to the seashell spins at a theme park; they’re just way more fun!
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Fancy a Bit of Jet Boating in Queenstown?
If you’re craving adventure and adrenaline, jet boating in Queenstown is the way to go! From fun in the sun to splashes of delight, if you’re ready to inject a dose of adrenaline into your Queenstown adventure, why not indulge in the thrill of jet boating? With its breathtaking scenery and heart-pounding speeds, jet boating offers an unforgettable experience for thrill-seekers and nature lovers.
Whether you’re racing through narrow canyons or skimming across crystal-clear waters, Queenstown’s jet boating tours promise excitement at every turn. So, pack your sense of adventure and prepare to make memories that will last a lifetime. Fancy a bit of jet boating in Queenstown? Take advantage of the opportunity to add this exhilarating activity to your itinerary and take your Queenstown experience to new heights!
