Queenstown: Jet Boat Ride on Kawarau & Shotover Rivers

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.71 (622 reviews) 83% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/11

Duration1h

GroupUp to 140

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Jet boat spins, river spray and wild laughter in Queenstown

You’ll feel your heart race as you blast across Lake Wakatipu and spin down the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers with a local driver at the helm. Expect cold spray on your face, wild laughter from your group, and those moments where Queenstown’s scenery blurs past at nearly 95kph. It’s an hour of pure energy — you might still be grinning hours later.

Step-by-step itinerary

High speed jet boat ride in Queenstown

Check in 15 minutes before departure
Depart from Main Town Pier
Zoom across Lake Wakatipu
Spin 360 degrees on Kawarau River
Navigate shallow Shotover River waters
Enjoy 60 minutes of adrenaline ride

The Experience

I almost lost my nerve at the Main Town Pier when I saw that yellow jet boat bobbing on Lake Wakatipu — it looked way too small to be going that fast. Our driver, Matt (he just grinned and told us to call him “Macca”), handed out life vests with this casual “you’ll need it” wink. The lake air smelled sharp and cold, but the sun was out, so I figured it couldn’t be that bad. Turns out, I was wrong — in a good way.

The first spin hit before I could even brace myself. Water sprayed up into my face and someone behind me shrieked — not sure if it was excitement or terror (maybe both). Macca shouted over the engine noise about how we’d cover 45km between the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers in just an hour. It’s weird how you can feel the riverbed scraping underneath when the water’s only five centimeters deep — kind of like flying low but with a bit more panic. There’s this moment where everything blurs: wind in your teeth, hands gripping tight, mountains flashing by on either side. Didn’t expect to laugh so much.

At one point we slowed down and Macca pointed out a spot where he said locals sometimes swim in summer (can’t imagine jumping in after that icy spray). He joked about Kiwis being “part penguin,” which made everyone relax a bit before he cranked up the speed again. The Shotover River is narrower and twistier than I thought — you get these quick flashes of gold-colored rocks and willow trees bending over the water. My jacket was soaked by then but honestly, I didn’t care anymore.

I still think about that last 360 spin near the end — half thrill, half chaos. When we pulled back up to Queenstown’s pier, my heart was pounding so hard I could barely hear anything else for a minute or two. If you’re looking for something to shake you awake (and you don’t mind getting drenched), this jet boat ride is pretty much perfect for it.

What’s included

Your hour-long adventure includes a skilled local driver-guide who handles all navigation across Lake Wakatipu plus both rivers, safety gear like life vests for everyone onboard, and hassle-free departures right from central Queenstown’s Main Town Pier every hour on the hour.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by KJet Queenstown