Dart River Jet Boat & Canoe Tour Queenstown
A jet boat sprint up a glacier river, then a gentle paddle back down through hidden canyons
The Dart River jet boat and funyak canoe experience is a full-day activity from Queenstown combining an hour of high-speed jet boating up a braided, glacier-fed river with a leisurely downstream paddle in an inflatable canoe, set in Mount Aspiring National Park. A professional guide leads the canoe leg at a pace the group sets. No previous paddling experience is required. The day includes round-trip coach transport from Queenstown to Glenorchy, all safety gear and paddling equipment, and a picnic lunch in the outdoors. Children from age 5 can join when accompanied by a paying adult.
Options for this experience
2 optionsWhat’s included
- Jet boat ride up the Dart River.
- funyak (inflatable canoe) paddle downstream with professional guide.
- picnic lunch in the outdoors.
- round-trip coach transport from Queenstown (on the Queenstown departure option).
- all safety and paddling gear including lifejacket, wetsuit, booties, fleece and dry bag.
- soft drinks, tea and coffee throughout the day.
Times
- Every day 09:30
Before you book
Operated by Dart River Adventures
Prices and times updated today
Traveler reviews
The experience
How do you see a river landscape that jet boats can't reach and that hiking trails don't access? You paddle it. After a coach ride to Glenorchy and an exhilarating hour speeding up the Dart River in a jet boat (passing the braided channels and glacier-fed water that stood in for Middle-earth in the Lord of the Rings films), you trade the boat for a funyak, an easy-to-handle inflatable canoe. Your guide then leads you downstream at a pace the group chooses, drifting through hidden side streams, past rockpools and into a dramatic chasm the jet boat cannot navigate. The whole paddle is unhurried. No paddling skill is expected, and the guide stays attentive to the group's rhythm.
Lunch arrives mid-day at a secluded spot along the river: a picnic in the outdoors rather than a rushed meal stop. After paddling and eating, a 4WD bus carries you back through Paradise (the actual place name) to Glenorchy and then to Queenstown. The full day runs about eight hours from pickup to drop-off. You wear a lifejacket, wetsuit and booties for the water work. The operator supplies all of it, along with a fleece, dry bag and any soft drinks or tea and coffee you want during the day.
The Dart River was a key trading route for Ngāi Tahu ancestors because of the Pounamu, greenstone, found in its bed. Your guide shares that history as you float. The landscape itself is the draw: braided channels, beech forest, steep canyon walls and the glacier-fed water that changes color with the light. Bring sunscreen and insect repellent, swimwear, a towel and warm clothes. The river is cold even in summer.
Is this one for you?Book from Queenstown if you're starting your day there and want coach transport included. Book from Glenorchy if you're already nearby and prefer to drive yourself.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
Can I do this if I've never paddled a canoe before?
Yes. No previous canoeing experience is required on this tour. Your guide will paddle at a leisurely pace to suit the group, and the funyak is designed to be easy to handle. Children from age 5 can join when accompanied by a paying adult.
What's the difference between the Queenstown and Glenorchy departure options?
You can book the tour starting from Queenstown with round-trip coach pickup included, or start from Glenorchy if you're already there or prefer to arrange your own transport to that point. Both options follow the same itinerary once the jet boat departs.
What happens during the jet boat part of the day?
The jet boat ride lasts about an hour and travels up the braided, glacier-fed Dart River to the point where you'll switch to the funyak. You'll pass through the landscape that featured in the Lord of the Rings films, moving fast enough to feel the speed but slow enough to see the canyon walls, beech forest and glacier-fed channels around you.
What's included in the picnic lunch?
The tour includes a picnic lunch served outdoors at a secluded spot along the river during the paddling leg. Soft drinks, tea and coffee are also provided throughout the day.
What gear do I need to bring, and what does the operator supply?
Bring swimwear, a towel, warm clothes, sunscreen and insect repellent. The operator supplies the lifejacket, wetsuit, booties, fleece and dry bag you'll wear and use on the water, plus any soft drinks, tea or coffee during the day.
How long is the full day, and what's the age minimum?
The experience runs about eight hours from pickup in Queenstown to drop-off, including the coach ride, jet boat, canoe paddle, lunch and the return journey. Children must be at least 5 years old and accompanied by a paying adult.
Dart River Jet Boat & Canoe Tour Queenstown
8h 15m · EN
from NZ$ 511.80 per person
≈ US$ 294 in your currency
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