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 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. Please note for safety we have minimum weight restriction of 40 kg and maximum weight of 120 kg to participate
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
All necessary gear provided: Full wetsuit, rafting clothing and safety equipment
Food and drinks
Options
Shotover Raft
Shotover River: Shotover River Whitewater Rafting (grade 3-5) with 4WD adventure through Skippers Canyon
Reviews
273 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Bloody epic!
CarlyJayne1708,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was the second time I’ve done this rafting trip with these guys and it did not disappoint! We had an absolute blast and can’t fault the professionalism and energy of the crew - despite how many times a week they would do this same trip, they made it awesome for all of us. Our guide Benji was a legend and made the trip safe, fun and full of adventure, he was also very knowledgeable about the history of the area. Thank you again! Carly & Jesse :-)
Beautiful, fun, and not too scary
juliettarossa,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Well run operation that clearly takes safety seriously. Our guide Benji was super. The bus ride there has amazing views but you're very high up on a dirt road and frankly that was scarier than the rapids.
Trip down memory lane
christiana144,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Me & one of my friends did the same tour almost 20 yrs ago for the first time and the river has changed since then (think rockfalls etc). It is still an awesome ride. The trip is well organised and the team is very professional.
Best start to 2026!
R1176OQrossh,,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide Dane was great! Really talkative and knowledgeable on the river, had an awesome time and can't recommend highly enough
Fast paced and packed with thrills and laughter!
Roam57532296914,,Jan 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had the best experience with the team at Real NZ! Highly recommend the rafting experience to anyone wanting to enjoy great scenery, high thrills and team spirit. Matt who was our rafting guide is great at what he does and has a way of bringing a group together and keeping the experience light-filled and high energy as well! Thanks for navigating our team through the waters Matt! We’ll be back to take this experience on again when in NZ next.
Perfect start to 2026!!
TheLaughberts,,Jan 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our family of four (two in our 50s and two in our 20s) went rafting on New Year's Day and it was the perfect way to start 2026! Our guide, Dane, was both knowledgeable and experienced, sharing interesting facts about the area through the calmer sections of the river and expertly navigating the more thrilling sections. We've all been rafting before and this trip still exceeded our expectations! Thank you for an amazing afternoon!!
Best guides and so much fun!
Explorer34606863148,,Dec 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had the most amazing time with our guide Maria! She was so great at calming our nerves and coaching us through the rapids. All the guides are so knowledgeable and make the experience unforgettable. Highly recommend!!
Fast fantastic brilliant staff informative
kimsK2667MB,,Dec 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The Rafting was fantastic from start to finish Jess our guide was amazing we had a brilliant time the rapids were great, we would recommend this trip to anyone and everyone what a fabulous way to start 2026 safety was paramount
Awesome experience. Loved it!
damiannG7672TT,,Dec 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My 15 year old son and I absolutely loved the whitewater rafting on the Shotover River. Our guide was Gabe. Extremely knowledgeable and experienced with great direction on the river. The whole set up is very professional and the staff are super friendly and courteous. There were two safety kayakers keeping a close eye on everyone in case someone fell off. Even though it was a cold day and it rained a little, the two thick wetsuits kept us warm enough. They've thought of everything for the tour, down to the nice hot shower at the end of the rafting. Definitely worth every cent.
Great white water rafting experience
Relax18338500267,,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing white water rafting experience. Everything was well organized and felt safe. Our guide, Gabe, was amazing! He was very friendly, knowledgeable and professional! He explained everything clearly and made the trip exciting and enjoyable. The rafting itself was a lot of fun. Also the scenery along the way was beautiful! It was an unforgettable experience that we would definitely recommend!
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Operated by RealNZ