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Shotover Jet guides

Practical, up-to-date guides to riding the Shotover River jet boat from Queenstown: what it costs, how it compares with KJet and the Dart River, what to wear, riding with kids, and whether it is worth it.

Shotover Jet Price 2026: Tickets, Family Pass & TransportAdult, child and family fares, and whether Viator costs more.Read the guide →Shotover Jet vs KJet 2026: Canyons or Lake & Rivers?Canyon walls for 25 minutes, or an hour on the lake and rivers?Read the guide →What to Wear on the Shotover Jet: Jackets, Glasses & Winter TipsWind, spray and cold: dress for 90 km/h.Read the guide →Shotover Jet with Kids 2026: Age, Height Limit & Family TipsHeight rules, child fares and how scary it really is.Read the guide →Queenstown Jet Boat Rides 2026: Shotover, KJet, Dart River ComparedFive ways to jet boat Queenstown, from 10 minutes to a full day.Read the guide →Is the Shotover Jet Worth It? 2026 Verdict: Thrill, Safety & ValueWhat riders love, what they complain about, and who should skip it.Read the guide →

Tickets

Popular Queenstown jet boat rides

Booked through Viator with instant confirmation and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

KJet: Lake Wakatipu & Kawarau River Longest ride ★ 4.71 hour623 reviewsFree cancellation

KJet: Lake Wakatipu & Kawarau River
Town pier45 kmAge 2+

An hour from the downtown pier across Lake Wakatipu and down the Kawarau and lower Shotover rivers. Longer and gentler, but it does not enter the Shotover canyons.

What's included
  • 60-minute, 45 km jet boat ride with 360 degree spins
  • Lake Wakatipu, the Kawarau River and the lower Shotover River
  • Departs the Main Town Pier in central Queenstown
  • Life jackets and a safety briefing
  • Minimum age 2; wheelchair users can ride with caregivers
From$86per person Reserve
Shotover Jet: Canyon Jet Boat Ride The canyon ride ★ 4.825 minutes2,869 reviewsFree cancellation

Shotover Jet: Canyon Jet Boat Ride
Canyons90 km/hShuttle option

The original Shotover Jet: 25 minutes through the narrow Shotover canyons at up to 90 km/h, with 360 degree spins. It is the only operator allowed into the canyons.

What's included
  • 25-minute jet boat ride through the Shotover River canyons
  • Life jacket, safety briefing and a neck warmer on cold days
  • Optional return shuttle from The Station Building in central Queenstown
  • Free parking, lockers and toilets at the Arthurs Point river base
  • Children 5 to 15 at child rates; riders must be at least 1 metre tall
From$118per person Reserve
Dart River Jet Boat Wilderness Safari Most scenic ★ 4.84 hours603 reviewsFree cancellation

Dart River Jet Boat Wilderness Safari
UNESCO parkGuidedTransfers

A half day in Mt Aspiring National Park: a scenic drive to Glenorchy, then a guided jet boat run on the braided, glacier-fed Dart River below snowy peaks. Scenery first, thrills second.

What's included
  • Jet boat ride on the Dart River inside Mt Aspiring National Park
  • Guide commentary on Maori history, wildlife and film locations
  • Optional return coach from The Station Building, Queenstown
  • Life jackets and spray jackets provided
  • Minimum age 3 and 1 metre tall
From$190per person Reserve

Plan your date before you go

Twenty-five minutes through the Shotover canyons at up to 90 km/h, with an optional town shuttle and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Check dates for the Shotover Jet canyon ride