Twenty-five minutes at up to 90 km/h through the narrow schist canyons of the Shotover
River, with 360 degree spins. Which ride really goes into the canyons, and how to plan it.
Where each ride really goesCanyons, lake or open river, spelled out
Real rider ratingsLive Viator & Tripadvisor figures
Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, on every ride here
Secure checkout on ViatorMobile ticket, instant confirmation
Tickets
Choose your Shotover jet boat ride
The Shotover Jet canyon ride, in the centre. Beside it, the two jet boats people weigh it
against: KJet's hour on the lake and rivers from the town pier, and the Dart River wilderness run from Glenorchy.
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
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
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
Every Queenstown jet boat spins and splashes. The difference that matters is where it goes:
only one enters the narrow Shotover canyons, the others run on the lake and open rivers.
Shotover Jet charges children 15 and under about half the adult fare, and under-5s ride free
with a paying adult. KJet takes children from age 2. Every ride here cancels free up to 24 hours ahead.
Why it's different
One operator, one set of canyons: the rest run on open water.
The Shotover River, Kimiākau in Māori, cuts a narrow gorge through grey schist at Arthurs Point,
ten minutes from Queenstown. Since 1987, Shotover Jet has held the exclusive concession to run jet
boats through these canyons. The drivers skim the boat within metres of the rock walls, drift through
shallow braids and throw in full 360 degree spins, all in about 25 minutes.
That matters when you book, because several other Queenstown rides carry "Shotover" in their listing
titles. KJet, for example, is a good hour-long ride across Lake Wakatipu and down the Kawarau, and it does
reach the wider lower Shotover, but it does not enter the canyons. Riders who expected the canyon
ride say so in their reviews. If canyon walls are what you came for, there is only one boat to book.
1965
The year the first jet boat ran the Shotover. Owned by
Ngāi Tahu since 2004, it has carried more than 4.6 million passengers.
Twin V8 enginesUp to 90 km/h360 degree spins14 riders a boat
The canyon run: the boats pass within metres of the schist walls.
01
How long is it?
About 25 minutes on the water. Allow an hour if you drive, about 1 hour 45 minutes with the shuttle.
02
Will I get wet?
A little spray on the spins. The real chill is wind at 90 km/h, so wear a windproof layer.
03
Can kids ride?
Yes, with no minimum age, but riders must be 1 metre tall, or 1.2 metres when the river is high.
04
Who should skip it?
Anyone pregnant or with back, neck or heart problems. KJet or the Dart River are gentler.
The ride
How a Shotover Jet ride unfolds
Departures every 30 minutes from 9:30 AM to 4 PM, seven days a week. This is the order of things with the town shuttle.
01
Check in
At The Station Building in central Queenstown for the shuttle, or at the Arthurs Point river base if you drive.
45 or 30 min before
02
Gear up
A life jacket, a quick safety briefing and a neck warmer on cold days. Lockers are free at the base.
10 minutes
03
The canyons
Rock walls within metres, shallow braids, bridges overhead and full 360 degree spins at up to 90 km/h.
About 25 minutes
04
Back to town
The return shuttle leaves about 15 minutes after you land; drivers can head straight on to Arrowtown.
Getting there, tickets and ages, the rules and what to wear: one tab each.
Shuttle: choose the option with return transport and check in 45 minutes before your boat inside The Station Building (Camp and Shotover Streets).
Driving: the river base is at 3 Arthurs Point Road, about 10 minutes from town, with free parking. Check in 30 minutes before.
The return shuttle leaves about 15 minutes after the ride; allow about 1 hour 45 minutes in all.
Boats run every 30 minutes from 9:30 AM to 4 PM, every day except Christmas Day.
On Viator the ride is from $118 per adult; the operator's own fare is NZ$199, so the price is the same in practice.
Adults are 16 and over; children 5 to 15 pay child rates (NZ$109 direct); under-5s ride free with a paying adult.
A direct family pass for two adults and two children is NZ$507.
Viator lets you cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before.
Minimum height 1 metre, raised to 1.2 metres when the river is high; no minimum age.
No weight limit, but you must fit a life jacket and get in and out of the boat unaided.
Not allowed in pregnancy; not advised with back, neck or heart problems. Tell staff about any condition.
Phones and cameras stay secured in a pocket; head-strap action cameras only.
Up to 14 riders per boat, and every child under 16 rides with an adult.
A windproof or waterproof jacket: at 90 km/h the wind chill is the main thing you feel.
Sunglasses, year-round, to keep spray and wind out of your eyes.
In winter: a hat, gloves and warm layers. Neck warmers are handed out free.
Clothes you do not mind getting a little spray on; sit in the centre seats for the driest ride.
Included25-minute canyon rideRock walls, shallow braids and spins at up to 90 km/h.
IncludedLife jacket and briefingPlus a neck warmer when it's cold; riders mention heated hand rails too.
FreeParking and lockersAt the Arthurs Point river base, with toilets and viewing areas.
OptionReturn shuttleFrom The Station Building in town; pick the transport option when booking.
FreeUnder-5sRide free with a paying adult, if they are 1 metre tall.
PausedPhoto and video packagesTemporarily unavailable while the operator upgrades its system.
Where the ride starts
Shotover Jet river base
Shotover Jet, Arthurs Point
3 Arthurs Point Road, Arthurs Point, Queenstown 9371, New Zealand
The river base sits beside the Shotover at Arthurs Point, about 10 minutes' drive north of central
Queenstown on the road to Coronet Peak and Arrowtown. If you booked the transport option, you do not need
to find it: check in at The Station Building on Duke Street in town, 45 minutes before your boat, and the
shuttle takes you there and back.
Free parking, lockers, toilets and a shop
Check in 30 minutes before if you drive
Riders who cannot board unaided need two support riders
At first, I was really nervous because I was worried I might get thrown out of the boat, especially when it started turning! Once I found my bearings I could relax, and by the end I was even confident enough to put my arms up while the boat was turning!
★★★★★
Great activity for the whole family. We were a group of 10, ages 11 to 50, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed this activity.
★★★★★
The locality is great with a mix of canyons, bridges and river flats. The driver takes the boat incredibly close to the canyon walls and it is thrilling. Highly recommend.
★★★★★
It was really fun! Would do it again, definitely worth the money. It was a little cold the day we went but the heated handle bars definitely helped.
★★★★★
Must do experience. So much excitement and great adrenaline with a little history thrown in. I would compare it to F1 on the water.
★★★★★
Such a fun activity, and it ran seamlessly from check-in at The Station in Queenstown to our return shuttle bus drop off. We felt safe at all times. Highly recommend!
★★★★★
Absolutely incredible experience, well worth the price. There's really nothing like it! Our driver was so fun and charming, making the experience that much better.
★★★★★
My face was sore from smiling! This was so fun and had incredible views. I would 100% do it again.
★★★★★
Great experience! Getting to explore the lake as well as two different rivers set this apart from other similar experiences.
Still want more?
See the canyon from above
Same river, very different adrenaline: a cliff-top platform, a harness and a free fall
into a giant swing over the Shotover.
Shotover Canyon Swing
★ 4.9 · 166 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes
Want the canyon from above instead? The Shotover Canyon Swing launches you from a cliff-edge platform 109 metres above the Shotover River into a huge pendulum arc, solo or tandem, in one of dozens of jump styles. Pickup and drop-off from central Queenstown are included, and the crew make first-timers feel at home.
The Shotover Jet is Queenstown's most famous thrill ride and one of the oldest commercial jet
boat rides in the world. Here is what the ride is really like, what it costs, how it differs from the other
jet boats in town, and how to make the most of 25 fast minutes.
What the ride is, and what it isn't
The Shotover Jet runs from a river base at Arthurs Point, where the Shotover River squeezes through a
narrow schist gorge. The boats are custom-built, with twin V8 engines driving water jets instead of
propellers, which lets them run in very shallow water, turn almost on the spot and stop fast. The driver
takes you up and down the canyons for about 25 minutes, brushing past rock walls, under the Arthurs Point
bridge and across shallow gravel braids, and spins the boat through full 360 degree turns along the way.
It is not a sightseeing cruise: it is a short, intense ride, with a little history thrown in.
The Shotover canyons are narrow enough that the walls feel within touching distance.
What it really costs
On Viator the ride is from $118 per adult in 2026. The operator's own fares are NZ$199 per adult and NZ$109
per child aged 15 and under, with a NZ$507 family pass for two adults and two children, and under-5s ride
free. At current exchange rates the adult prices are the same either way; booking on Viator gets you a
US-dollar price and free cancellation up to 24 hours before, while the family pass is a direct-only deal.
The shuttle from town is an option on the booking, and parking at the river base is free.
The honest small print: the most common complaint is not the ride but its length:
25 minutes goes very fast. The second is expectations: several Queenstown jet boats use "Shotover" in their
listings, but only Shotover Jet goes through the canyons. And if you cancel inside 24 hours, you do not get
your money back, even with a good reason.
Shotover Jet or another jet boat?
Choose by what you want from the water. Shotover Jet is the canyon thrill: short, close to the
rocks and famous for a reason. KJet leaves from the Main Town Pier and gives you a full hour and
45 km across Lake Wakatipu, down the Kawarau and onto the lower Shotover, with mountain views and a gentler
feel; it takes children from age 2. The Dart River jet boat is a half day out to Glenorchy and Mt
Aspiring National Park, where the scenery is the star. For a quick, cheap ride from the waterfront, the
30-minute lake and Kawarau jet boat is the budget pick.
Lake-and-river rides leave from the Queenstown waterfront and cover more distance, but not the canyons.
Making the most of your ride
Book a middle-of-the-day departure if you want sun in the canyon, or the first boat at 9:30 AM for the
quietest check-in. Wear a windproof jacket and sunglasses whatever the season, and add a hat and gloves in
winter. Sit in the centre if you want to stay dry, and on the outside if you want the spray. If you have a
car, drive to Arthurs Point: it saves time on the shuttle and puts you on the road to Arrowtown and Coronet
Peak afterwards. And keep an eye on the driver's hand: when it circles, a spin is coming.
Upstream, the Shotover winds through Skippers Canyon, the heart of the 1860s gold rush.
Straight answers to what riders ask most about the Shotover Jet.
How much does the Shotover Jet cost?
On Viator the Shotover Jet is from $118 per adult in 2026. The operator's own prices are NZ$199 per adult, NZ$109 per child (15 and under) and NZ$507 for a family of two adults and two children, so the Viator price is essentially the same fare in US dollars. Under-5s ride free with a paying adult. See the price guide.
How long is the Shotover Jet ride?
The ride itself lasts about 25 minutes. With check-in and the optional shuttle from Queenstown, allow about 1 hour 45 minutes in total; if you drive to the river base, about an hour.
Is the Shotover Jet the only jet boat in the Shotover canyons?
Yes. Shotover Jet has held the exclusive concession to operate in the Shotover River canyons since 1987. Other rides sold with "Shotover" in the name, such as KJet, run on Lake Wakatipu, the Kawarau River and the wider lower Shotover, not through the narrow canyons. Shotover Jet vs KJet.
How fast does the Shotover Jet go?
Up to 90 km/h (about 56 mph). The custom-built boats have twin V8 engines and carry up to 14 passengers plus the driver, who spins them through full 360 degree turns and passes within metres of the canyon walls.
Where does the Shotover Jet leave from?
From the river base at 3 Arthurs Point Road, Arthurs Point, about 10 minutes' drive from central Queenstown. Check in 30 minutes before departure there, or 45 minutes before at The Station Building in town if you take the shuttle. See the map.
Is there an age limit or height limit on the Shotover Jet?
There is no minimum age, but every rider must be at least 1 metre tall, and the operator can raise that to 1.2 metres when the river is high. Children under 16 pay child rates and must ride with an adult. See Shotover Jet with kids.
Do you get wet on the Shotover Jet?
A little. Expect spray on the spins, not a soaking; the centre seats get the least. The bigger issue is wind chill at 90 km/h, so wear a windproof jacket and sunglasses. Read what to wear.
Is the Shotover Jet scary?
It is thrilling rather than frightening for most people: the boat runs fast and close to the rocks, but the moves are practised and you hold a rail the whole time. Reviewers who started nervous often finish with their arms in the air. It is not suitable in pregnancy or with back, neck or heart problems. Is it worth it?
Does the Shotover Jet run in winter or rain?
Yes. It operates every day of the year except Christmas Day, in light rain and in winter. Heavy rain and a high river can cancel trips; on Viator you can cancel free up to 24 hours before.
Is the Shotover Jet worth it?
For most visitors, yes: it is rated 4.8 from 2,869 reviews, and no other ride goes through the canyons. The main complaint is that 25 minutes flies by. If you want a longer, calmer ride, KJet runs for an hour; for scenery, choose the Dart River.
Can I cancel my Shotover Jet booking?
On Viator you can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations inside 24 hours are not refunded, so cancel early if your plans change.
Can I take my phone or a camera on the Shotover Jet?
Small cameras and phones must stay secured in a pocket while the boat moves. Head-strap action cameras such as a GoPro are allowed. The operator's own photo and video packages are temporarily unavailable while it upgrades the system.
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Longest ride
★ 4.71 hour623 reviewsFree cancellation
