Private Tour
Queenstown Shotover River White Water Rafting
Overview
Available languages
4 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Join our Queenstown Rafting team on the iconic Shotover River for a whitewater rapid adventure. Your adventure begins with a short transfer from Queenstown to the Rafting Base, where you'll be fitted with wetsuit, rafting clothing and safety gear.
From there, enjoy a 40-minute drive along the historic Skippers Canyon Road, renowned for its breathtaking scenery and reputation as one of New Zealand's most dangerous roads. Once you arrive at Deep Creek, you'll start on the upper section of the Shotover River,
where our world class guides will help you practise paddling techniques.
As you move into the lower canyon, the excitement builds with rapids like After Shock, Jaws, Toilet, and Sequel. The highlight of the journey comes as you plunge into the darkness of the 170-metre-long
Oxenbridge Tunnel before bursting into Cascade Rapid for a thrilling finish. After a short walk back to the Rafting Base, you can warm up with hot showers before returning to Queenstown.
Additional Info
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Must be able to swim
Rafting while pregnant is prohibited
Rafting with any heart condition is prohibited
Minimum weight 40kg
Maximum weight 120kg
Minimum age is 13 years. Children aged between 13 and 15 years must be accompanied by a guardian
All travelers between the age of 16 and 17 years require a waiver to be signed by a guardian if they are unaccompanied
You must bring a swimsuit and towel
Rapids vary with water levels. Shotover route usually includes class 3-5 rapids, depending on conditions
Digital photos included to remember your adventure!
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Safety briefing: comprehensive instructions to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience
Post-rafting comfort: Hot showers at Rafting Base
Scenic 4WD Transfer: Travel along the iconic Skippers Canyon Road to your starting point
Whitewater rapid adventure: Navigate the thrilling rapids of the Shotover River
Return transport: Shuttle bus from our Queenstown store to the Rafting Base and back
Photos included: complimentary digital photos sent directly to you after your experience
All necessary gear provided: Full wetsuit, rafting clothing and safety equipment
Food and drinks
What To Expect
Your adventure begins with a short transfer from Queenstown to the Rafting Base, where you'll be fitted with a wetsuit, life jacket, spray jacket, and helmet. From there, enjoy a 40-minute drive along the historic Skippers Canyon Road, renowned for its breathtaking scenery and reputation as one of New Zealand's most dangerous roads. Once you arrive at Deep Creek, you'll start on the upper section of the Shotover River, where your guide will help you practise paddling techniques. As you move into the lower canyon, the excitement builds with rapids like After Shock, Jaws, Toilet, and Sequel. The highlight of the journey comes as you plunge into the darkness of the 170-metre-long Oxenbridge Tunnel before bursting into Cascade Rapid for a thrilling finish. After a short walk back to the Rafting Base, you can warm up with hot showers before returning to Queenstown. Enjoy complimentary digital photos sent directly to you after your experience! Please note for safety we have minimum weight restriction of 40 kg and maximum weight of 120 kg to participate
Options
Shotover Raft
Shotover River: Shotover River Whitewater Rafting (grade 3-5) with 4WD adventure through Skippers Canyon
Reviews
227 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
very intense but the...
Daniel J,
Nov 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00very intense but the guides made it beginner friendly. the trip out and the rafting itself were super fun and informative. Guy was an awesome instructor and led us to victory
An exciting afternoon on the wet and wild side.
SkyPilot68,
Nov 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We really enjoyed every aspect of this adventure. The Skippers Road that took us to the launch site was epic. The guides were all great fun and very thorough with safety. Thanks to Jacob for getting us wet, but not too wet! The rafting was perfect- just enough challenge to make it thrilling whilst feeling pretty safe most of the time. A perfect afternoon all round.
Best adrenaline rush in Queenstown!
813lyndsays,
Oct 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Such a cool and unique experience! Very thrilling if you’re comfortable on water and rapids. The guides made it so fun extra shoutout to Jacob he was the best! Can’t recommend it enough
Exhilarating and Unforgettable Experience!
Richard P,
Apr 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an absolutely amazing experience! Adrenaline was flowing, especially when you went through the rapids! The scenery is spectacular also, which is an added bonus. All the team involved in the whitewater rafting are clearly experts at what they do, and your safety is of paramount importance to them, and nothing is left to chance. I want to thank Mark from the U.S. who was my raft instructor/expert personally. His expertise, experience, and local knowledge made my experience much more memorable! Thank you so much to Mark and all the team involved in the whitewater rafting!
Absolutely amazing!
Sunshine436024,
Apr 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The entire experience was absolutely incredible! My friends and I had the best time, and a huge part of that was thanks to our amazing raft instructor, Riley. He made sure we were safe, had fun, and enjoyed every moment on the water!
Pro experience start to...
avery l,
Apr 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Pro experience start to finish. Get you on and get it going. Driver had us smiling the whole time. Really a fun experience.
3-5 grade white water rafting. Great experience
5 star chikita,
Apr 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Very well organised experience. I would recommend adding in to your list or things to bring/apply bug spray as we were absolutely hounded by small mosquitoe like insects during the briefing. I was initially abit scared about the 3-5 grade experience but found it not as scary as I thought. Maybe as the river wasn’t that high? I’m not sure. None of us came unexpectedly out of our boat but quite a number did from other boats and one girl lost half a tooth being clipped in the face by an oar. Pays to listens to your guide’s instructions for the best experience. I’d recommend it if you want something fun and water based to do in beautiful Queenstown. The shot over jet looks awesome too.
Awesome
Road57278230616,
Apr 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our trip was absolutely amazing! Zane was an excellent guide who kept us safe and had a great sense of humour. We loved every minute of it and it was the highlight of our Queenstown stay.
Exhilarating Experience on the Shotover River!
Tourist48706745623,
Apr 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Exhilarating Experience on the Shotover River! Rafting on the Shotover River was absolutely exhilarating! The scenery through the canyon is stunning, and the rapids are thrilling from start to finish. It’s the perfect mix of adrenaline and natural beauty. The guides were outstanding – knowledgeable, fun, and made sure everyone felt safe and confident. The highlight was definitely the ride through the narrow, rocky passages – heart-pounding and unforgettable. A must-do adventure in Queenstown!
Deliverances the thrills
W5300GPdavidb,
Apr 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was the most fun you could have sitting down. Even the road trip to the starting point (driven by Dylan, who did an expert job) was exciting along a tight, precipitous track. The rafting starts out easy on gentle rapids where you practise paddling. In April, the water was cold (about 7 degrees), but the gear keeps you warm. There is a section of river called the 'swimming pool' so I hopped into the water and swam with the raft. The water was beautiful, so jump in if you're reading this. Our guide, Gabe, was a really cool guy who told us about all the rapids. We got stuck 'surfing' in the churn of the "Rock Garden" rapids. The Real NZ team are true pros though, and our raft was winched out. Getting stuck was one of the trip's highlights; the water gushes over you and you feel pumped. All of the main rapids were great fun (although they passed too quickly for my liking). Do not go on this trip if you hate getting wet. The tunnel section was unique, as this is one of only two white water tunnels on Planet Earth. What struck me about the trip was the professionalism of the Real NZ team. They use a rescue kayak, piloted by an Icelandic guy who loves the water. They position guides on the rocks ahead of, and behind the rafts in case a raft gets in trouble. They know the river inside out, and they genuinely want you to have a great time. Honestly, you can bungee jump for a 10 second thrill, or go rafting for thrill after thrill. The scenery is beautiful, the river is pretty wild, and the anticipation builds along the trip. Two thumbs up!
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Operated by RealNZ