Riversurfing

One of the guides was beyond annoying. The other two were good. The annoying guy's name started with a P. Name might be Pavi. Trash mouth, questioning why we didn't get drunk in Queenstown and asking stupid questions to the guests while on the shuttle to the launch site. I would rate the overall tour higher but having to listen to him run his mouth was a big negative on the trip.

Highly recommended! We ended up with a very tiny group which made the experience even more unique. The guys were great fun and very attentive. Way better than rafting.

We were fortunate that there were just 4 of us in our group. Jack and Neil were fantastic guides. Thorough safety briefing and time to learn the techniques before heading off. All the gear supplied was perfect for keeping us safe and warm in the water. I would say that if you would definitely enjoy this activity if you are a confident, competent swimmer who doesn’t mind waves. Other options on offer for those not as confident. Quite different to rafting being an individual activity. Loved it, such a unique activity. Scenery was great. Rock jump fun too!

Took too long to get in the water - picked up at 14.00 but didn’t get into the water until 16.30 then exited at 17.15. It was a mixed ability group of 10 people and 3 guides so some people struggled more than others. All the guides were great but maybe controlled the participants too much and as a result we were congested and banging into each other most of the time. The brochure stated ‘up to 2 hours in the water and up to 12kms covered’. We were actually only in the water for 45 minutes and only covered 4.5kms. Apparently they used to do two loops of this section of the river whivj would have been a great option for those who wanted to do it. Sadly by the time people got used to the equipment and what to do it was all over. Definitely not worth $265 NZD sadly.

Really enjoyed the experience. Myself and two teenage kids enjoyed smashing through the rapids. A lot of bumping into other people in the group as the river guides you down - somewhat out of control. I liked the experience for this reason as you have to work with the power of the river. What some things to expect - you will spend more time travelling to the section of the river, getting suited up and doing multiple training activities than the actual activity itself. By the last rapid my kids were like ‘is that it?’. You can try to surf some of the rapids - as a reasonably confident body boarder I actually managed to surf a couple of times for just fleeting moments. The actual camp setup is quite basic with just a pit toilet and a tent change room for one, so come dressed in your swimmers and bring a big towel. Plenty of bugs around as well! There seemed to be a lot of guides on my trip and they have a strong focus on safety. If I could improve the day I wish I could have gone down the rapids a second time as the first time seemed to go so quickly.

While I may have been slightly under-prepared for the adrenaline fix that this adventure delivered, thanks to my husband who tactically omitted to brief me, it was a memorable activity that I am glad I went on. The whole team seemed to genuinely love their job and chatting with all the visitors as well as, crucially, being extremely safely conscious and supportive while in the river. It was physically demanding riding/ducking waves while kicking to keep on the right track so I would not recomend for anyone who was not feeling energetic. Having said that I am not super strong and managed (with help from our guides) to reach the destination in once piece so you do not need to be mega fit. This is as intense an interaction with a river as you can get (safely) I think which was pretty amazing. Our teens all loved it (and found it less challenging than their mum).

So much Fun ! We did not know what to expect… but fortunately the team is awesome, they clearely know what they do to keep you safe, have some fun and make this adventure memorable. Being comfortable in the water is clearly a plus. Would defenetly do it again if we get the chance ! Thank you Max, Pav, Neil and the photographer/driver (sorry i did not catch your name)

Why worry about falling in the river while white water rafting, when you can just start in the water riverboarding? This was a thrilling adventure and a lot of fun and the guides to a great job of explaining what to do and ensuring you practice the skills a bit before getting into the exciting class 3 rapids. I'd highly recommend if this sounds fun to you.

Went on the afternoon of Nov-8. Riverboarding seems easy, but is actually pretty challenging. I couldn’t control the board well, and was awkward with the flippers. Too many times, when I was about to hit the big rock or being pulled away by the current, the handsome safety guy, maybe with the name Pas…? (From England, with a charming accent, likes to call everyone ‘darling’, quite humorous) saved me. He’s really professional and experienced. He managed to pull 2-3 terrified ducklings at the same time. Crazy bicep power ;) Riverboarding is really an exciting activity causing adrenaline rush! More challenging than whitewater rafting.

So much fun! This was one of the best experiences I did in NZ! You do quite literally go down the river on a body board. There's a good explanation at the start of what you need to do, and you get a bit of practice in an eddy at the start. It is safe, but you need to be a pretty confident swimmer, mostly just to be sure you don't panic as when you do go down the white rapids you can get caught in whirlpools and you can feel a bit out of control. I would definitely recommend doing this though if you are comfortable in water! We went in October and it was a bit cold but really not bad. The pickup in Queenstown was prompt and took you straight there and back.