SOUTHERN LAKES / THE EXPERIENCE
Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Ride in Queenstown
BEFORE YOU GO
Your day, at a glance.
- Duration
- 24 min
- Group size
- Up to 14 people
- Guide
- English
- Ages
- 5 and over
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Our take
This is the ride most people picture when they think of a Queenstown jet boat. The Shotover Jet runs 25 minutes through the narrow Shotover canyons at Arthurs Point, with up to 14 people a boat, and it's the only ride on our Queenstown jet boat comparison that goes into those canyons. It has close to 2,900 reviews averaging around 4.8, and it's our pick for a first jet boat ride.
The catch is the clock. With the free shuttle you check in at the Station Building on Duke Street 45 minutes before your ride, and Dane and Stacey and Sam and Nick both nearly missed it. Allow about 1.5 hours door to door. Ride photos are sold separately at the base, and Sam and Nick were told handheld cameras aren't allowed on board. The listing also shows hotel pickup and food as included, which the shuttle setup doesn't bear out, so plan on neither. Ericka Reder found the rapids rougher than the spins.
Good for
- Anyone with a free hour or two who wants the canyon walls up close
- Families with children over 1 m tall, riding with an adult
Think twice if
- You have back trouble, a heart condition or are pregnant; the listing rules those out
- You want a longer ride from the waterfront; KJet runs an hour from the town pier
Written by Southern Lakes Tours from the listing, traveller reviews and the videos behind our comparison pages. Checked November 2026. How we review tours.
From the operator
Prepare yourself for the ultimate jet boating experience with Shotover Jet - the unique, breathtaking white water ride and adrenaline rush you’ll never forget!
From the listing by Shotover Jet Ltd on Viator.
What's included
- Exclusive access to the Shotover River canyons
- Professional and highly skilled jet boat driver
- Full 360° spins and high-speed manoeuvres
- Informative commentary and local stories throughout the experience
- Safety briefing and all required safety equipment (life jackets)
- 25-minute high-speed jet boat ride on the Shotover River
Not included
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting point
Please check-in 30 minutes prior to your departure time at our river base in Arthurs Point. The river base is approximately 10 minutes drive from Queenstown CBD.
Our check-in area is located inside the Station Building in the Queenstown CBD. Please see our friendly team to check-in for your shuttle transfer (45 minutes prior to the boat time).
Checking in
- Please check-in 30-minutes prior to your jet boat departure time at our river base, 3 Arthurs
Point Road, Arthurs Point, Queenstown.
- Complimentary shuttle for selected boat departures - seats are limited so reservations
are essential. Please check-in 45 minutes prior to your jet boat time at our desk inside the
Station Building, Queenstown.
Where it ends
Please check-in 30 minutes prior to your departure time at our river base in Arthurs Point. The river base is approximately 10 minutes drive from Queenstown CBD.
Your Viator voucher confirms the exact spot and time.
Good to know
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Children must be at least 3 feet (1 meter) in height; dependent on water conditions, the operator reserves the right to increase the minimum height to 4 feet (1.2 meters)
- Lifejackets are provided
- Please allow 1.5 hours for return trip from Queenstown if taking shuttle bus
- Locker facilities available for personal belongings
- Check-in is 30 min prior to jet boat ride departure if self-driving to the river base
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
How refunds and weather cancellations work is on our booking help page.
How it compares
We compare this tour with the other options on our things to do in queenstown page, with what each one includes and where it leaves from. How we choose tours.
KEEP YOUR OPTIONS OPEN
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