Dart River Canoe and Jet Boat Experience from Queenstown
Overview
Available languages
8 hours 15 minutes
Mobile ticket
Discover the untamed beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mount Aspiring National Park on this full-day Dart River 'funyak' (inflatable canoe) and jet boat tour from Queenstown! Travel by coach to Glenorchy, where your adventure begins, and then hop aboard a jet boat and ride up the picturesque Dart River. Speeding through a landscape of outstanding natural beauty, your tour passes the 'Middle-earth' countryside that featured in the popular 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy. In a secluded stretch of the river, swap the boat for your own easy-to-handle funyak and then paddle behind your attentive guide before stopping for a picnic lunch in the great outdoors!
No previous canoeing experience is required on this tour, and your guide will paddle at a leisurely pace to suit the group.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Minimum height is 3.3 feet (1 meter)
Minimum age is 5 years
Please dress appropriately: bring swimwear, a towel and warm clothes
Please bring sunscreen and insect repellent
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Jet boat ride
Canoe tour
Professional guide
Picnic lunch
Round-trip transport from Queenstown (select from Queenstown option)
Use of equipment: lifejacket, wetsuits and booties, fleece, dry bag
Soft drinks, tea and coffee
Gratuities
What To Expect
Discover an untouched world and connect with nature on this action-packed full day journey deep into the heart of Mt Aspiring National Park. If you do only one activity in Queenstown. This is it. Experience the exhilaration of a jet boat ride combined with a leisurely downstream float in our easy to use Funyaks (inflatable kayaks), a unique way to explore hidden side streams and a dramatic chasm inaccessible by other means. Enjoy the peace and tranquility of this untouched world at your own pace and enjoy a picnic lunch before heading through Paradise on a 4WD bus journey back to Glenorchy. *No experience required A unique journey combining kayaking with jet boating, nature, and adventure. Includes lunch! An hour of wilderness jet boating and spectacular scenery across the braided, glacier-fed Dart River to your Funyak launch site Professional, friendly guides take you on an inspiring adventure as you gently drift back downstream in your own Funyak. Explore hidden side-streams, rockpools and a dramatic chasm. Learn about the Pounamu (Greenstone) that made the Dart River a key trading route for our Nga-i Tahu ancestors, the early Ma-ori of the area.
Options
Funyaks from Glenorchy
Duration: 6 hours
Self-drive to Glenorchy: Self-drive to Glenorchy: Please check-in at our Glenorchy base 15 minutes prior to your booking time (at 9.15am).
Funyaks from Queenstown
Duration: 8 hours
Including return transport: IMPORTANT: Return transport, check-in inside the Station Building, Queenstown, 1 hour 15 minutes prior (at 8.15am).
Pickup included
Reviews
326 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Funyaks is not to be missed
KarenSander,
Oct 31, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Just do it! I was reluctant thinking I wasn’t fit enough but it was the best day ever. Nikki our jet boat driver was very experienced and made our ride out to the start of our funyaks journey exciting, stopping along the way to give us interesting information. We met our guides Brandon and Rob and after a short brief we were in our way down stream to our lunch spot. Lunch was delicious. After lunch we entered the chasm which was the best experience of the day apart from everything else. I cannot recommend this day highly enough. And if you are a Lord of The Rings fan you will like it even more. 10/10. Thank you Mac our bus driver, Nikki, Rob and Brandon.
Didnt met expectations
Omer O,
Oct 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00-The flow of the dart river and its level were high. So we didnt enter the Chasem - what I was waited for, also we had been tight up as a raft instead of indeviduall cannoe option - this diminished the hype from the adventuere. - Food for vegeterian is so-so. - Some of the guides was not very nice - we felt like we owe them something . The Jet boat was also very mild ... The positive points are that at least they gave us a chance to decide wether we want to change or cancel and receive a refund in real time. But pitty that they didnt offer a rebook voucher on top of the partial experience. I think that was a better idea if they had think about it.
Fun ,fun, fun in a safe environment.
lynj306,
Oct 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Best fun we've had in years. So well organised and the guides Matt and Rob were fabulous. Ages from 11 to 80 and all had a great experience not to mention the stunning scenery. Highly recommend this experience to anyone, especially if you love peace and tranquility.
It was a great experience.
阳 张,
Oct 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience, kayaking is very recommended, every guide is very responsible, it's great to get up close to dart river, thanks again to Rob, he's very patient to teach us how to drive, novices don't have to worry at all
Above and beyond experience
ianv651,
Sep 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fantastic experience from start to finish. Scenery, weather, coupled with caring and helpful staff who were very professional in what they did made for a memorable experience.
Amazing adventure with great staff and scenery.
erics901,
Sep 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00One of the best adventure experiences I’ve had with my wife. We are both over 60 and whilst I am reasonably active and fit with a sense of adventure, my wife is not as fit and mobile, and consequently is not very adventurous. She was only doing this because friends recommended it but was very apprehensive about doing it particularly as the weather forecast was for a cold, windy and wet day. From start to finish, Dart River Adventures was very professional and all staff tried to put my wife at ease. Particular thanks to Jarrod, Georgia and Michelle. Their communication, organisation, friendliness, enthusiasm, support and above all else making us feel safe was second to none. And at no time did we really feel cold with all the warm and water proof gear that was provided. Each part of the experience from jet boating to canoeing on the Dart River and in the beautiful chasm, lunch (including home cooked items) and even the bus trip back to the office through a working farm, with wonderful scenery made for a truly wonderful experience. Most highly recommended.
Rain or Shine
Duane C,
Sep 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The crew was very accommodating and friendly! Amazing scenery and experience! We were given the opportunity to reschedule because of rain in the forcast but we wanted to continue on and the crew took us in the rain! Very unique experience for those who love the outdoors and don’t mind putting a little work in!
Worth every cent! Most amazing tour with the best guides.
littlelaney27,
Aug 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00AMAZING tour!! So stunningly beautiful. Guides Rob and John were great, informative and fun. We had (another) John as our jetboat driver, who had great knowledge of the area. The paddle is very easy to do; you basically just float down the river. The lunch was delicious too. Only one small suggestion, tea/coffee would be lovely with the lunch or when we get off the jet boat.
A fantastic way to spend a day!
600granta,
Aug 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An amazing and unique experience. The guides are awesome and you get to see some incredible sights. A great day out was had.
Stunning and Fun
Amanda P,
Aug 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00What an amazing experience! I love seeing the spectacular views of the mountains and river. Seriously my favorite activity I did in New Zealand! Love love love! And great guides too! Shout out to Rob!
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Operated by Dart River Adventures