Queenstown Rafting Tours: 11 to Book

1.Family Adventures Rafting and Sightseeing Trip in Queenstown

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

From Marmolada Cafe, you’ll ride into Skippers Canyon, hear about Central Otago’s gold-mining past, gear up, and raft class I and II rapids on the Shotover River. Guides such as Georgia, Josh, Mark, and Holly keep the day safe and lively. Kids from age three can join, and water confidence is not required.

“Mark is equal parts professional and hilarious. Mark and Georgie were calm and confident, allowing our family to fully enjoy our experience knowing everything was taken care of efficiently and with a smile. The ability to entertain and inforRead more”

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2.Queenstown Shotover River White Water Rafting

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

Trade Queenstown for a half-day run through Shotover Canyon. You will ride Skippers Canyon Road, practise with a guide such as Morgan, Jess, or Benji, then tackle grade 3 to 5 rapids and the 170-metre Oxenbridge Tunnel. Gear, transport, photos, and hot showers are included.

“Tuition and safety were brilliant. Chat and banter excellent. Experience great. Good half day out including the scary drive out there. Would recommend.”

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3.Shotover River Whitewater Rafting Adventure

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

Travel through Skippers Canyon by coach, suit up with guides such as Jess, Morgan, or Benji, then raft 16 kilometers of the Shotover River. Expect calm stretches, grade 3 to 5 rapids, the dark Oxenbridge Tunnel, Cascade Rapid, hot showers, and digital photos afterward.

“Such an enjoyable trip! Our guide, Jess, was friendly and informative. Would recommend :)”

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4.Queenstown Kawarau River Rafting and Jet Boat

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

Start in Queenstown with a fast jet-boat ride through the Kawarau River, then paddle grade 2 to 3 rapids in a raft. You can swim and try an optional rock jump before tackling the 400-meter Dog Leg rapid. Guides such as Gabe, Guy, Mark, and Danny are known for keeping the trip safe and fun.

“This experience was super fun and a good mix of thrills and adventure for all the family. Zane our rafting guide was brilliant and he made sure we not only had a laugh and fun but also that we were safe at all times.”

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5.Kawarau River Rafting and Jet Boat Ride

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

Join RealNZ for a 4.5-hour Kawarau River adventure with a 25-minute jet boat ride, eight kilometers of grade 2 to 3 rafting, optional cliff jumping, and time to swim. Guides such as Morgan, Jess, Nico, and Josh are known for clear safety briefings and good humor.

“Guy, our guide, Jacob, and Morgan were fab! Great banter, we felt safe the entire time, and the experience itself was something we will forever remember!”

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6.Shotover River Rafting Trip from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 115 reviews · from $190

Meet at 88 Beach Street for a five-hour Shotover River adventure. After the dramatic coach ride through Skippers Canyon, you’ll learn rafting skills, tackle six rapids, pass through the Oxenbridge Tunnel, and finish with hot showers. Equipment and transfers are included.

“Amazing and friendly guides, along side an exciting river with great views. This experience exceeded my expectations”

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7.Shotover River Whitewater Rafting Trip

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

Join Challenge Rafting for a four-hour Shotover River trip with guides such as Jess, Raju, Benj, and Kai. You will ride through six rapids, paddle into the 170-meter Oxenbridge Tunnel, swim in a calm section, and return to Queenstown after a hot shower.

“Out of 10 Rafting:10 fantastic as you can see Mark was perfect Para gliding 9.5 Bike from Arrowtown:9 Shotover: 8 Kayaking: 8 Earnslaw:8 Luge: 8.5 Therefore every activity excellent. Rafting required skill, energy expended, safety , slowing and rock walk all gontributed to enjoyment. Mark was an ideal leader”

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8.Queenstown Kawarau River Whitewater Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · from $148

Join RealNZ for a 4.5-hour introduction to whitewater rafting on Queenstown’s Kawarau River. You’ll get transport, wetsuit, safety training, and a guide-led run through grade 2 to 3 rapids, with swimming, raft races, optional cliff jumping, and the 400-meter Dog Leg rapid.

“Awesome experience for 1st time rafters ! Would like to thank Instructor Mark and RealNZ team for their excellent support/service ! Appreciate it !”

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9.White Water Surfing Along the Kawarau River

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

Join Serious Fun Riverboarding for a four-and-a-half-hour Kawarau River adventure. You’ll bodyboard up to 12km through grade 2 to 3 rapids, surf standing waves, ride whirlpools, and enjoy a cliff jump, with guides, gear, transport, snacks, and about 1 to 1.5 hours in the water.

“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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10.Kawarau River Whitewater Rafting

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

You’ll raft 8 kilometers of the Kawarau River with an English-speaking guide, tackle the 400-meter Dog Leg rapid, and pause for swimming or optional cliff jumping. The four-hour trip includes town transfers, all gear, hot showers, and free digital photos.

“The rafting itself was good so far. The organization can be improved. We were stuck in a broken bus in the middle of the highway. It took a long time before a replacement bus was ordered. The communication was not really good. And although we were innocent of the delay, time pressure was put on us when we showered/changed. (Free) photos were taken, but almost exclusively of the same boat(s). We only provided a single group photo for download.”

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11.Shotover River Rafting & Skippers Canyon Tour

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

Join Family Adventures for a five-hour Queenstown outing combining a scenic Skippers Canyon drive with gentle Grade 1 and 2 Shotover River rapids. You get wetsuit gear, snacks, an English-speaking guide, and a stop at the Lord of the Rings filming spot, Ford of Bruinen.

“I enjoyed the tour. As a newbie I felt like it’s the right way to immerse yourself in this kind of activities. The guides were amazing, the driver was out of this world and the activity was super fun.”

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