Waikato River Jet Boat Ride from Taupo
Overview
Available languages
35 minutes
Mobile ticket
Enjoy a 35 minute Jet Boat ride on the Waikato River. The high-speed ride is guaranteed to get your adrenaline pumping. Shoot through canyons, spin on crystal clear waters and surf the foaming tail of the awesome Nga Awapurua Rapids. You have several tour times to choose from throughout the day and can be shared with maximum 11 people per boat.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Minimum age is 5 years or 1 meter tall
Family Pass includes 2 Adults and 2 Children
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Shoot through a narrow canyon, be exhilarated by spins on crystal clear waters, spot a trout and surf the pressure waves of the awesome Nga Awa Purua rapids. Take time to view the amazing surrounds of Aratiatia Scenic Reserve, and learn about the wildlife and history of the area. Our 35 minute blast guarantees an adrenaline rush!
What‘s Included
Parking and Bathroom Facilities Available
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Fitted Life Jackets provided
Experienced Professional Guide
Souvenir photos (for purchase for NZ$45)
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Options
Waikato River Jet Boat Ride
Option 1: 35min Jet boat experience. Speeding off at 80km/h you will encounter two sets of fantastic white water Rapids. These will show you the narrowest part of the Waikato River.
Reviews
1,460 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
What a ride
Scenic40168789211,Apr 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is an amazing jet boat ride through some of the most stunning scenery you will ever see.. our boat driver was informative about certain points along the river and knew exactly how to get the most out of the boat and the river.. weather permitting you will not be disappointed with this experience..
Absolutely amazing!
Sightseer33321991923,Apr 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely amazing. Definitely recommend it.
Tanyah was an awesome driver. Fun ride
Anu S,Apr 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great ride quite a lot of rapids and quite fun. Even if you’ve done Shotover this is different and quite fun.
So good!!
Go16514369530,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Taylah and the team were wonderful and really made my day. What a job to have travel along the river everyday. Thank you for a wonderful experiance.
Incredible jet boat experience
OnAir68103,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My experience at these jet boats was amazing!!! Driver Taylah was a great driver, taught us so much about the river’s history, and made everyone in the boat feel safe and have fun!!!!
If you only have time for one jet boat ride in Taupo, do this one!
Neil R,Mar 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00An absolute blast! Thanks to Taylah for her expert driving and giving us such a great experience - jet boating on the rapids is certainly thrilling and different from the more conventional ‘flat and shallow’ runs we’ve done elsewhere. We did the Huka Falls Jet too and if you only have time for one of them, Rapids Jet gets our vote!
WELL WORTH IT! SO MUCH FUN!
Road568393,Mar 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Taylah our boat driver was amazing. She delivered an awesome safety brief, was very informative & navigated the river rapids with ease. This experience was incredible value, so much fun & our Irish friends absolutely loved it!
Waikato River Jet Rapid ride
E6393BNjuliab,Mar 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I took the Rapid Jet boat ride on the Waikato River from Taupō, and it was absolutely exhilarating from start to finish. Our boat captain, Shannon, was excellent. He delivered a thorough safety briefing with just the right balance of humour and seriousness, which immediately put everyone at ease. During the ride he paused at points along the river to share interesting historical snippets about the Waikato River, along with trivia about films that have been shot in the area. It added a really nice layer of context to the experience rather than it being just a thrill ride. Shannon’s skill in manoeuvring the boat was impressive, especially when navigating the rapids and spinning the boat around. We ran the rapids several times and everyone on board had huge smiles the whole way through. Amanda, the photographer, was fantastic as well. She captured some brilliant action shots of the ride and was a charming presence when we returned. Clearly a very skilled photographer who knows exactly how to capture the excitement of the experience. Overall, it was a superb experience — thrilling, well run, informative, and great fun. I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Taupō looking for a memorable adventure on the river.
A must do!
V152ESdavids,Mar 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00One of the best and most fun things I've ever done. Exhilarating, fun, breathtaking. Our driver Shannon was fantastic- funny, informative and amazingly skilful. Seriously, if you're in the area,just do it!
Best jet boat ride!
Guide57945759756,Feb 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely fantastic time! Lots of fun! Best jet boat ride ever! Great team! Thank you so much.
From NZ$145.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
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