Queenstown White Water Rafting Tours

Adventure Awaits on the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers

Queenstown white water rafting tours are a top choice for travellers looking to experience New Zealand’s most exciting rivers. The Shotover River is fast, narrow, and full of sharp turns with names like ‘Mother’, ‘Toilet’, and ‘Squeeze’. The final stretch runs through the Oxenbridge Tunnel before bursting into the Cascade Rapid, ending the ride on a high.

For a more relaxed pace, the Kawarau River is ideal for beginners or families. It starts with a jet boat ride and ends with the fun-filled Dog Leg Rapid. Along the way, you’ll pass dramatic scenery featured in film and spot the historic Kawarau Bungy Bridge. It’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors without needing experience.

Rafters paddle hard through white water, with waves crashing over the raft’s front edge.

A blue inflatable raft is tethered on a slope beside the Kawarau River, as a group of rafters receives instructions from a guide.

A rafting guide sits in a raft explaining paddle safety to a group in red helmets on the riverbank.

Two rafts tackle a big rapid simultaneously, creating waves and foam in every direction.

Rafters cheer with paddles in the air as they celebrate a successful run down the Kawarau River.

Rafters glide calmly through a turquoise section of the Kawarau River beneath a bright blue sky.

Two rafts charge into a frothy rapid side by side, with paddlers bracing and splashing through the water.

Two blue rafts float through a gentle section of the Kawarau River, framed by lush green hills.

Several blue rafts travel downstream along a turquoise river flanked by steep canyon walls.

A rafting guide gives a safety briefing to a group of rafters gathered around a blue inflatable raft.

A winding road leads into Skippers Canyon, with a river running below and rugged mountains surrounding.

Rafters in helmets and life vests prepare for their Shotover river journey beside inflatable blue rafts.

A raft navigates through narrow whitewater rapids in a rocky canyon on the Shotover River.

Explore Queenstown’s Rivers by Raft

The Shotover River offers more than just action. This route follows paths once used by gold miners during Queenstown’s gold rush, creating a rafting journey that blends history with adventure. Arrivals can be by road or helicopter, and each trip is packed with natural beauty and excitement.

Kawarau River tours offer a gentler ride with wide views and open water, making it a great match for groups with mixed confidence levels. It’s still exciting but easier to navigate, showcasing the balance Queenstown strikes between stunning scenery and world-class adventure.