Queenstown Kawarau River Rafting and Jet Boat
Description
Combining two of Queenstown's most iconic activities, this trip is second to none! Starting on the Queenstown Jet Boat, you'll get to experience those famous 360 degree spins and speed. Discover the Kawarau River and its pristine wilderness as we race you down the river to your next mode of transport. Then jump straight into a raft to complete the last section of river, where the Jet Boats fear to go. Spend your morning or afternoon paddling through the historic Kawarau gorge, famous for its gold mining, wineries and it’s stint in The Lord of the Rings franchise. Paddle and swim your way through grade 2-3 whitewater rapids with a brand new cliff jumping section added for the adventure junkies (optional). Complete your journey by tackling the famous 400m Dog Leg rapid – the longest commercially rafted rapid in New Zealand. Then head back to Rafting Base for a hot shower.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Must be able to swim
- Rafting while pregnant is prohibited
- Rafting with any heart condition is prohibited
- Minimum weight 40kg
- Maximum weight 120kg
- Minimum age is 13 years. Children aged between 13 and 15 years must be accompanied by a guardian
- All travellers between the age of 16 and 17 years require a waiver to be signed by a guardian if they are unaccompanied
- You must bring a swimsuit and towel
- • Participation in rafting activities involves a degree of risk and the rafting operator cannot absolutely guarantee participants' safety. Detailed whitewater rafting risk disclosures are available on the RealNZ website.
Reviews(180)
Amazing trip. Our guides Finn, Matt and Rajou were great. Felt super safe and had so much fun including river swimming, rock jumping and mastering big rapid sections. The jet boat ride to the start of the rafting was a great add on.
We traveled from Europe to New Zealand, our rafting trip, which we booked for 2:00 PM, was canceled upon arrival by the company, saying they didn't have enough guides. They told us to come another time! We were very disappointed, I do not recommend this company!!!
Absolutely fabulous! Great fun! Very professional outfit with lots of laughs along the way. Harry’s stories kept us amused and Morgan’s excellent raft guiding skills kept us engaged and safe, and ensured we had an amazing time!
The double-play of the jet boat AND the river raft was perfect!!!!!!!!! Our driver on the jet boat was BADASS!!!!!!!
Did Kawarau with Sia and had such a blast we came right back to do Shotover. Lucky enough to have Sia again and Olly as our guides. If you’re in Queenstown rafting with this team is a must!
My wife and I reserved a white water rafting trip near Queenstown with RealNZ earlier this week. Just an hour before we to report for our tour today, we received a phone call saying the trip was cancelled owing to too few people having signed up. The person who called offered no apology and no option besides a refund or a tour the next day which he said would probably also be cancelled. I was stunned that a large and supposedly reputable company would behave so poorly. While cancelling was within their rights by contract, informing us so close to the departure time and offering no apology is simply bad business practice. Before booking, please be aware that this is the way they do business.
Very good rafting guide (Cai). Nice folks. Beautiful blue-colored water and several opportunities to swim. Wet suit, jacket and booties kept me warm and equipment was in very good condition. Clear safety instructions on how to paddle and ride in the raft. Jet boat to the rafting launch site was fun.
The rafting was so fun - jumped in the water several times - natural cold plunge! Our guides Kai and Raju were awesome. Can’t wait to come back and do it again!
Francie and Sia we’re amazing
Amelia, Jesse, Finn, and Harry were a top notch crew who ensured we had a righteous good time! Whole experience was timely, well communicated and full of good humor. Had a great time and look forward to booking the gnarlier experience on the next go.
