9 White Water Rafting in Queenstown That Repay the Detour

1.Family Adventures Rafting and Sightseeing Trip in Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 339 reviews · from $185Our pick

Meet at Marmolada Cafe for a five-hour bus-and-raft trip into Skippers Canyon. Guides such as Georgia, Josh, Mark, Holly, Luke, Simon, and Claudia lead you through easy Shotover River rapids, with safety gear, snacks, cliff jumps, and swimming opportunities. It suits children from age three and requires no water confidence.

“our boys 3 and 4 loved the experience. We had such a great time. I was worried about the coldness but it was great with the wetsuits. Definatly highly recommend doing this with small kids.”

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2.Queenstown Shotover River White Water Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 309 reviews · from $154

Ride from Queenstown to Deep Creek along Skippers Canyon Road, then paddle the Shotover River through grade 3 to 5 rapids, including After Shock, Jaws, Toilet, Sequel, and the 170-metre Oxenbridge Tunnel. Guides such as Morgan, Benji, Jess, Guy, Harry, and Erin lead the rafting, with gear, photos, transport, and hot showers included.

“All the rafting guides were friendly and helpful which made our rafting experience loads of fun. Definitely recommend them.”

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3.Shotover River Whitewater Rafting Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 234 reviews · from $175

Travel by coach through cliff-hugging Skippers Canyon, suit up at the rafting base, then paddle 16 kilometers of the Shotover River. Expect calm stretches, grade 3 to 5 rapids, the 550-foot Oxenbridge Tunnel, and Cascade Rapid. Guides such as Jess, Morgan, and Benji are praised for clear instruction and calm safety leadership. Hot showers and digital photos are included.

“My daughter and I had an excellent morning white water rafting. The whole event was very professionally organised and safety was always a priority. Our guide was very confident and communicated extremely well, which I now realise is of paramount importance for this activity. I can thoroughly recommend this, I will now be looking to go white water rafting again and hope for a similarly great experience ! Thank you.”

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4.Queenstown Kawarau River Rafting and Jet Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 158 reviews · from $197

Pair a fast jet boat ride with a guided Kawarau River rafting trip. You’ll race through canyon country, paddle grade 2 to 3 rapids, swim in the river, and choose an optional cliff jump. Guides such as Gabe, Matt, Mark, and Danny have helped make this a friendly, well-run half-day adventure for families and first-time rafters.

“What a great day!! The guides were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and fun. We started with an amazing jet boat ride on the river and then fun white water rafting. Everyone on staff was super helpful and friendly”

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5.Kawarau River Rafting and Jet Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 145 reviews · 4h 30m · from $190

Start with a 25-minute jet boat ride at up to 95 km/h, including 360-degree spins, then raft 8 km of the Kawarau River through grade 2 to 3 rapids. Guides such as Morgan, Jess, Nico, and Josh lead the way, with swimming, flat-water races, and optional cliff jumping along the route.

“Excellent guide and we had so much fun on the raft! Would recommend to anyone visiting the area Would say a drinking fountain at the river would be a nice addition after the rafting experience”

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6.Shotover River Whitewater Rafting Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 72 reviews · 4 hours · from $178

Join Challenge Rafting for a four-hour Shotover River trip through Skippers Canyon. Your guide, such as Jess, Raju, Kai, or Muzz, teaches paddle skills before six rapids, a 170-meter tunnel, calm water, and a possible swim. Wetsuits, transport, equipment, a hot shower, and photography services are included.

“Great fun shooting the Shotover River rapids with fellow rafters. Guide was fun and friendly. Beautiful scenery from bus along Skippers Canyon and from raft down Shotover river. Cooled off with a swim in a safe section of river that the guide suggested. Highly recommend this activity.”

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7.White Water Surfing Along the Kawarau River

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 30 reviews · 4h 30m · from $164

Serious Fun Riverboarding takes you from Queenstown to the Kawarau River for up to 12km of bodyboarding through grade 2 to 3 rapids. Expect standing-wave surfing, whirlpools, underwater currents, a possible cliff jump, and 1 to 1.5 hours in the water. Guides speak English, and groups are limited to 10.

“The crew were epic!! Did this 17 years ago when I was 21 on a contiki had a ball then and had a ball today!! Can’t wait for my own kids to be at least 8 years old and experience this with them!! Cheers guys Swifty 🤘”

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8.Kawarau River Whitewater Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 18 reviews · from $140Best value

Spend four hours rafting 8 kilometers of the Kawarau River with RealNZ, including transfers, gear, safety training, and hot showers. You’ll handle grade 2 to 3 rapids, finish with the 400-meter Dog Leg, and may swim or try an optional cliff jump. Guide Emma has earned special praise for her calm, friendly leadership.

“The guides were all great, very friendly and really knew what they were doing. The river is beautiful. Kudos to RealNZ because they email you pictures of the trip for free! I would 100% recommend this!”

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9.Shotover River Rafting & Skippers Canyon Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 5 hours · from $178

You’ll ride into Skippers Canyon, gear up in a wetsuit, and raft gentle Grade 1 and 2 rapids on the Shotover River. A live English-speaking guide leads the five-hour trip, which includes snacks, gold-mining relics, canyon views, and a stop at the Lord of the Rings filming location, the Ford of Bruinen.

“Informative and our guides made it fun and entertaining!”

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