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
1,427 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
An utterly thrilling ride!
IrishEyes4444,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A thrilling and unforgettable experience for my teenage son & I! Taylah was incredibly skilled and shared lots of very interesting local knowledge. Highly recommend and we will definitely return! My hard to impress teen gave it 10/10 😃
Forever family memories created !!!
A4844WNjoshb,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolute sensational experience for my family !!!! The experience was second to none in terms of engaging in the thrills & spills together as a unit !! Staff were top notch !! The set up was super professional !! Fantastic operation !!! A++++++ Second to none
Worth every penny and more!
MichelleM10349,,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely loved it, especially the males in our family (photo says it all, we are the back row)! If you are looking for fast and thrilling then this is the activity for you! Shannon our driver was exceptional, friendly, informative and funny! Photo package was worth the buy too! Very friendly staff!
Waikato River Jet Boat
oluwashayoa,,Dec 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was one of the best highlight of our trip to Auckland.We all enjoyed it.I was a bit nervous initially but when I went through some of the previous reviews ,it gave me a bit of courage. The experience was mind blowing and we all loved it. Driving over 250km to the place was worth all the trouble.I strongly recommend this to any one visiting Auckland
Fantastic
NorthStar17839474829,,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an absolute blast with Taupō Rapid Jets! From start to finish, the experience was thrilling, fun, and extremely well run. The jet boat ride was fast, exciting, and full of adrenaline, with plenty of spins that had everyone laughing. Our driver Taylah was very friendly, and made us feel safe the entire time while keeping the energy high and the experience entertaining. She shared interesting information about the river and surrounding area, which was a great bonus. This is a must-do activity when visiting Taupō.
Good family
454brettt,,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The staff are lovely and fully committed to giving a first class experience. I got lost trying to find them on foot, and they came and picked me up. The ride was exhilarating and we still had fun despite terrible weather.
thrilling family adventure
sheyd2015,,Dec 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Such a fun and thrilling family adventure! Super exciting and was appropriate for both our 8 year old and 73 year old family members. Everyone said it was our favorite activity we did on our trip!
Thrilling family fun
Shey D,,Dec 28, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was one of the best experiences we had on our vacation! We had an 8 year old and 73 year olds with us and I was a bit nervous if it would be ok for them but it was great and we all had such a fun experience. Thrilling and crazy fun but also safe and professional.
Taupo Rapids Jet Boat Experience
Stulie1,,Dec 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This trip was so much fun! We went with a large family group of varying ages and we all loved the speed/twists/turns! I would highly recommend this activity.
Rapids Jet ride
stephanielR5157CS,,Dec 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Awesome ride thanks! Something fun to do as a family. Kids loved it! Was cool to learn a few things about the Waikato river we didn’t know.
From NZ$145.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
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