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
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. 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
248 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Excellent adventure in Queenstown!
rifh,
Dec 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent experience. Guides are fun and safe. Great for friends to work as a team and experience a unique river activity.
.
Coastal51760164590,
Dec 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An amazing experience I would definitely recommend, I wouldn’t normally go out of my comfort zone but was so worth it.!!!
Awesome Rafting Trip
brittparkes,
Dec 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We did Shotover Rafting yesterday and it was epic! The guides were all really funny and made the drive down Skippers road awesome. Benji was our raft guide and was really fun while staying super professional. The rapids were awesome and hectic and you can tell all the guides really know what they're doing, so we felt safe and confident the whole time. Awesome trip!
Would really recommend if you love water
650joakims,
Dec 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Overall, a very nice experience! We were shuttled from downtown and back. Staff was really good (there were at least 8 of them). Happy, fun, helpful and good at giving instructions. On their own, they carry a lot of the positives for me for this experience! The drive to the rafting start location was extreme, along steep cliff walls with no safety barriers (literally instant death if you go off). So for those with fear of heights, this might actually be worth considering as a reason not to go for this particular rafting location. Myself, I found it exhilarating! The rafting was really fun, not the most extreme but for a newbie like me it was really nice. It's about two hours on the water, the views in the river canyon were incredible. The only downside to me was the rather rushed shower after the rafting was done, but it was a small enough inconvenience to not drop the score.
Great Activity
DayTrip26886172506,
Dec 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00One of the best activities I have done so far in NZ. The choppy river & the rowing was a good and fun challenge! I will definitely do it again when I come back to NZ. The instructor was great too!
Worth the experience!
sobe531,
Dec 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great staff and an emphasis on safety (for those who might be nervous about the experience). And a beautiful setting through the Shotover Valley.
Second time rafting with RealNZ, won't be the last!
B9035KGkatiet,
Dec 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was our second time using RealNZ to white water raft the Shotover River. This is an incredibly professional company. From booking to check-in to the facilities, equipment, and staff, everything is top-notch! We felt excited and prepared to handle the class 2, 3, 4, and 5 rapids. Our guides were friendly yet professional. The safety training is thorough. Once on the river, you go through drills with your guide to be prepared. They have great stories and information about the area. Another raft did end up flipping. It was scary to watch, but the staff flew into action. They recovered everyone quickly without any harm done. It made us even more confident in RealNZ and the guides. We will DEFINITELY be booking again on our next trip!
Amazing rafting experience
victoriabB6063VB,
Dec 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our rafting trip was honestly one of the highlights of our entire holiday. The river was super fun — a mix of calm stretches where we could enjoy the view and rapids that actually got our adrenaline going. The whole experience felt adventurous but never overwhelming, and the scenery around the river was stunning. And a big part of why it was so good was Nico, our guide. He explained everything clearly, kept the group calm, and made the whole ride way more fun. He read the river perfectly, knew exactly when to push us and when to let us enjoy the moment. Super friendly, super professional — couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Totally recommend rafting here and definitely ask for Nico!
10/10
Roam36584841736,
Dec 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely incredible experience! The Queenstown rapids were insane pure adrenaline from start to finish. Everything was so well organized, and the whole adventure felt safe but still super thrilling. A special shout-out to our guide Nico, who was honestly amazing. He made the entire trip unforgettable with his energy, humor, and professionalism. You can tell he really knows what he’s doing, and he made us feel confident and excited the whole way through. If you’re in Queenstown, this is a must-do. 100% recommended!
Excellent
Y1856LEeliask,
Dec 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing experience and with Nico much better!!!!! It was all about giving and we had an amazing time my friends and I. Ten out of ten.
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Operated by RealNZ