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
272 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Epic, tick this unique NZ experience box.
justinsY2434BE,,Dec 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our awesome guide Matt took us down the picturesque and epic shotover river. 100% would do this again. Super pro and just the right amount of peril!
A thrill ride.
glennmitchelluke,,Dec 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Took my boys down shotover and we all raved about it. Benji was an awesome guide and we felt safe the whole time but also had a thrill ride. Great communication from the company and all equipment was in great condition.
Great rafting with Nico
780lu sam,,Dec 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great time rafting with Nico. He was extremely knowledgeable and made us feel safe the whole time. The rafting was fun - will definitely be in my next NZ holiday plans.
jet boat + river rafting
Trek58813176523,,Dec 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent from start to finish, we took the duo (jet boat + rafting). Staff super friendly and helpful especially Kai and Benjie (I can only remember these two names :). Thanks for the wonderful experience, highly recommended
A Real NZ experience (no pun intended)
Daniel R,,Dec 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A must do adrenaline rush while visiting Queenstown! This was a great trip out, the team were brilliant - big thanks to our rafting guide (Kai) who’s leadership and communication with the team throughout the run was top tier, the Aussie humour was second to none (we won’t hold that accent against him) credit to all the team for offering such a good experience! Heading up Skippers pass to begin the run was a brilliant and unexpected part of the journey. Thanks team 🤙🏻
A perfect afternoon
Daydream33895780667,,Dec 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00IT was a realy great experience ans adventure. Nico was a awesome and very Cook Guide. Sunny weather, rough water and humerous 2 hours in the boat ... perfect day.
Worth the trip
PmacP284,,Dec 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00From the minute we arrived we were treated like family. All the guides and front office staff were friendly. They answered all of our questions and concerns. Once on the river, the guides made sure we were safe. I recommend Real NZ.
Unforgettable whitewater rafting experience.
Roam35331929203,,Dec 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Unbelievable experience. Went with my 2 kids; 13 and 14 and they had the time of their life. Would highly recommend. The guides are amazing and made us feel comfortable the entire time.
Shotover Rafting 🌟💫✨
bennya40,,Dec 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00🇪🇸 Review en Español Mi primer rafting en la vida y tenía que ser nada más y nada menos que en Nueva Zelanda, en el mítico Shotover River. Y sinceramente… me dejó sin palabras. Desde el minuto uno supe que no era una simple actividad turística, sino una experiencia salvaje, auténtica y profundamente emocionante. El entorno es brutal: cañones gigantes, agua poderosa, naturaleza pura en su máxima expresión. La adrenalina empieza incluso antes de subir a la balsa. Y aquí entra Matt, nuestro guía, una auténtica leyenda. No solo nos guió por el río con seguridad y maestría, sino que con sus historias, su energía y su humor consiguió que conectáramos aún más con este país increíble. Gracias a él, no solo navegamos el Shotover… lo sentimos. Risas, relatos, adrenalina y un ambiente brutal que hizo que el tiempo volara. Quiero agradecer de corazón a todo el staff y al equipo de Real NZ, desde el inicio hasta el final. Profesionalidad, cercanía, buen rollo y una organización impecable. Te hacen sentir seguro, acompañado y con ganas de darlo todo. Y como pequeña anécdota inolvidable: durante el trayecto, entre risas y emoción, mi canción “Never Giving Up” se hizo un poco famosa 😄🎶. Acabó sonando, comentándose y formando parte del momento. Fue mágico, espontáneo y muy yo. Entre agua salvaje, carcajadas, historias y pura aventura, puedo decirlo claro: 👉 Shotover Rafting con Real NZ es 100000% recomendable. Una de esas experiencias que no solo recuerdas… sientes para siempre. 🇬🇧 Review in English My first-ever rafting experience, and it happened in New Zealand, on the legendary Shotover River — honestly, it left me completely speechless. From the very beginning, I knew this wasn’t just a tourist attraction. It was a raw, powerful, and unforgettable adventure. The scenery is absolutely insane: massive canyons, roaring water, and pure wild nature at its best. The adrenaline starts even before you hit the river. And then there’s Matt, our guide — an absolute legend. Not only did he guide us safely and confidently through the rapids, but through his stories, energy, and humor, he made us feel deeply connected to this incredible country. Thanks to him, we didn’t just raft the Shotover… we experienced it on a whole different level. Laughter, storytelling, adrenaline, and an amazing group vibe. Huge thanks to the entire Real NZ staff and team, from start to finish. Professional, friendly, and incredibly well organized. They make you feel safe, welcomed, and ready to fully enjoy the adventure. And a small unforgettable anecdote: during the ride, between laughs and excitement, my song “Never Giving Up” became a bit famous 😄🎶. It somehow turned into part of the journey — spontaneous, fun, and unforgettable. Between wild water, big laughs, great stories, and pure adventure, I can say it loud and clear: 👉 Shotover Rafting with Real NZ is 100000% recommended. One of those experiences you don’t just remember — you feel it forever.
Fun experience
Bonnie141968,,Dec 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very nice river to raft on, we had some really good rapids. Staff organises everything very well. Safety first, we never felt unsafe thanks to our great captain Finn
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Operated by RealNZ