Queenstown Shark Ride: 80kph Lake Thrills

Control how wild your shark ride gets, from mild dives to full aerial launches

The Queenstown Shark Ride is a 15-minute activity on Lake Wakatipu where you pilot a semi-submersible Seabreacher X watercraft with a professional driver who customizes the experience to your thrill preference. You'll reach speeds of 80kph on the surface and 40kph underwater, execute dives and aerial jumps, and bank the 18-foot vessel at 90-degree angles while looking through fighter-grade glass. The ride departs from central Queenstown's Earnslaw Park lakefront.

The experience

You've got a free afternoon in Queenstown and want something that doesn't involve hiking or sitting still. The Seabreacher X is the world's first commercial semi-submersible shark watercraft, and it operates from the central lakefront at Earnslaw Park: no long drive, no waiting for a group to assemble. You sit in a state-of-the-art cockpit with a professional pilot who reads your comfort level and builds the ride around it. Want mild? You get smooth dives and controlled turns. Want wild? The pilot will roll the vessel to 90 degrees, launch all 18 feet of it out of the water, and carve tight doughnuts across Lake Wakatipu while the G-forces press you into your seat.

The ride lasts 15 minutes, which is long enough to feel the full range of what the shark can do: surface speed hits 80kph, underwater dives run at 40kph, and the low center of gravity means every maneuver hits harder than you'd expect. You look out through fighter-grade glass the whole time, so you watch the sky disappear as the pilot descends into a dive, then breach and launch skyward in one motion. A safety briefing and lifejacket come with the booking. Check in at the kiosk at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time. If you want photos or video of the ride, those are available for purchase after you're back on the dock.

What’s included

• One-on-one experience with a professional pilot who customizes the ride to your thrill level.
• safety briefing and lifejacket.
• glass cockpit views of Lake Wakatipu.
• high-speed runs reaching 80kph on the surface and 40kph underwater.
• dives, aerial jumps and tight banking maneuvers across the lake.
• check-in at the central Queenstown lakefront kiosk at Earnslaw Park.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day12 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 15:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (17 and older) · Child (6 to 16 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Watersports Limited

Is this one for you?The ride is 15 minutes of continuous action, no downtime between maneuvers, so it suits someone who wants intensity packed into a short window rather than a long, paced experience. The pilot controls the G-forces and speed, so you don't need any prior water sports experience or swimming ability. You sit in the cockpit while the professional handles the watercraft.

Traveler reviews

4.60★★★★★★★★★★

30 verified traveler reviews

5 ★24

4 ★3

3 ★0

2 ★3

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 16 years). Children under 6 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.

What's the Seabreacher X and how does it move differently from a regular speedboat?

The Seabreacher X is a semi-submersible watercraft that dives underwater and breaches the surface, launching its entire 18-foot hull into the air. It reaches 80kph on the water and 40kph submerged, and can roll to 90-degree angles and execute tight turns: moves a standard boat cannot perform. The fighter-grade glass cockpit lets you see the water and sky shift as the pilot maneuvers.

Can I control how intense the ride is, or does the pilot decide?

The pilot tailors the experience to your preference. You can request a mild ride with smooth dives and controlled turns, or ask for the full intensity with aerial launches, steep rolls and high-speed maneuvers. The pilot reads your comfort level and adjusts in real time.

Where does the shark ride depart from in Queenstown?

The Seabreacher X operates from central Queenstown's lakefront at Earnslaw Park, so there's no transfer required. You check in at the booking kiosk right there and walk to the water.

What happens if I'm nervous about going underwater or doing aerial jumps?

You tell the pilot your comfort level during the safety briefing, and they build the ride around it. Mild dives and controlled maneuvers are part of the standard experience. You don't have to request the extreme moves. A lifejacket is provided and worn throughout.

Is there an age limit for the shark ride?

Children are welcome from age 6. The ride is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and the pilot adjusts the intensity based on who's in the cockpit.