Mt Aspiring Jet Boat & Wilderness Walk, Wanaka

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.89 (276 reviews) 94% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pickLikely to sell out

1/11

Duration4h

GroupUp to 14

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Jet boat into glacier country, then walk to a waterfall most visitors never reach

A half-day jet boat and guided walk tour in Wanaka that takes you up the glacier-fed Matukituki River to the base of Mt Aspiring and its hanging glaciers, then on foot through ancient beech rainforest and high country to a remote waterfall. Wanaka River Journeys is the only operator that jet boats this far into Mount Aspiring National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage area. Small groups, local guides, shuttle transfer from Wanaka and all gear are included; minimum age is 4 years and the tour suits most fitness levels.

The Experience

You start with a scenic shuttle around Lake Wanaka into the Matukituki Valley, where towering peaks, hanging glaciers and waterfalls come into view. Then onto the river for a 50-minute jet boat ride up the glacier-fed Matukituki — across crystal-clear shallows and braided streams, with the jet boat's signature spins and quiet pauses in deep alpine pools. Your local guide shares the stories of the land as you travel, and there's no road that reaches this far into the wilderness.

The journey continues on foot: a 60-minute guided walk through ancient beech rainforest and high country station to a stunning waterfall, with photo stops along the way. This is the part most visitors to Wanaka never see. Then a final 50-minute jet boat run back down the river to the shuttle and back to town. The whole expedition takes roughly four hours, and families are welcome — children from age 4 can come along.

Life jackets, heated hand rails and footrests (in cold weather), wet weather gear and the shuttle transfer are all included, so you show up ready to go. Groups stay small — no more than ten people per booking — which means your guide can move at a pace that works and stop when something catches your eye. This is not a quick thrill ride; it's a half-day in the high country with someone who knows the river and the mountains.

What’s included

Shuttle transfer from Wanaka to the Matukituki Valley and back.
life jackets.
heated hand rails and footrests in cold weather.
wet weather gear.
local guide for the jet boat ride and the rainforest walk.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Wanaka River Journeys

Is this one for you?A half-day commitment means you can fit this into a free afternoon or a morning in Wanaka without losing the rest of your day — the shuttle, the jet boat and the walk are all arranged, so you don't build the logistics yourself. If you have only a few hours and want to reach the high country and the glaciers, this is the only way to get there.