Kawarau River Tours and Activities

Experience heart-racing fun on an exhilarating Queenstown jet-boat ride. The expert captain races across Lake Wakatipu, navigates tricky turns on the Kawarau River and speeds through the milky waters of the Shotover River. Grab hold of your seat as the jet boat makes 360-degree spins and fishtails on a rollercoaster ride over the water.

Explore Lake Wakatipu by boat on a 1.5-hour cruise from Queenstown. As you travel to the end of the lake, you can see stunning lakeside homes, a variety of bird life, Kawarau Dam, and the magnificent scenery that surrounds Queenstown. Get unobstructed views from the sundeck or stay warm in the heated cabin, and have the option to purchase drinks from the onboard bar.

Spend an afternoon tasting New Zealand wines and taking in the scenery of Central Otago on a half-day tour from Queenstown. Your guide takes you to three wineries for tastings and a wine cave tour, with sightseeing at Lord of the Rings film sites and other top attractions along the way. Includes wine tastings, afternoon tea, and hotel pickup and drop-off.

Enjoy an off-road adventure in the wild of New Zealand on this half-day Wakatipu Basin 4-wheel drive tour from Queenstown. Cruise along off-road routes toward the Remarkables mountain range — widely used in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Admire panoramic views over Deer Park Heights and the Kawarau Gorge, and then head onward to the historic gold-mining settlement of Arrowtown. Traverse bumpy river crossings along the Arrow River, and pan for gold on the riverbank. Then gaze over the Wakatipu Basin from Coronet Peak en route back to Queenstown.

Go Orange offers you an electric ride. Filled with speed, thrills and even more of those famous 360 degree spins. Hold on as we race faster than ever before down Lake Wakatipu and onto the beautifully scenic Kawarau River. Be sure to hold on to your hats as we navigate under bridges at speed and skim the river edges with precision. Great for families, we can take as young as two years old. Our experience is champion in the jet boat game and we can’t wait to give you the ride of your life.

Get to know Queenstown's highlights, history, culture, and scenery on this half-day tour. With a small group limited to just 11 people or fewer, travel in a minivan to locales such as Lake Hayes, Arrowtown, Lord of the Rings locations, a Honey farm and do cheese tasting. Pickup and drop-off in central Queenstown included.

If you like to combine sightseeing with extreme adventure, this jet boat ride on Lake Wakatipu and the Kawarau River is for you. Skim over the surface of the water at up to 59 miles per hour and lean into 360-degree spins. If you remember to look at the view, you’ll be impressed by the snow-capped mountains and river canyons you zip through. A fun family-friendly activity.

Cycle alongside the Arrow and Kawarau rivers during a half-day bike excursion. You’re transferred from Queenstown for an easy off-road mountain bike ride that covers approx. 9 miles (15 km) over flat terrain. Take advantage of a detailed trail map and a support vehicle available while you ride independently. Cross several suspension bridges including the Kawarau Bridge, famous for its bungy jumping, and enjoy wine tasting at Gibbston Valley Winery. Hotel pickup available for morning tours only.

Combining two of Queenstowns most iconic activities, this trip is second to none! Starting on the Go Orange Jet Boat, you'll get to experience those famous 360 degree spins and speed. Discover the Kawarau River and its pristine wilderness as we race you down the river to your next mode of transport. Then jump straight into a raft with the Go Orange Rafting team to complete the last section of river, where the Jet Boats fear to go. Spend your morning or afternoon paddling through the historic Kawarau gorge, famous for its gold mining, wineries and it’s stint in The Lord of the Rings franchise. Paddle and swim your way through grade 2-3 whitewater rapids with a brand new cliff jumping section added for the adventure junkies (optional). Complete your journey by tackling the famous 400m Dog Leg rapid – the longest commercially rafted rapid in New Zealand. Then head back to Rafting Base for a hot shower.

The most exhilarating and unique way to tour the region with nothing in the way to impede your view - all on the back of a 3-seater cruising trike! This tour is designed to showcase some of the region’s historic pubs and more. Central Otago boasts stunning landscapes, vineyards, and historic buildings from the gold rush era. This tour takes you over the Crown Range, through the Kawarau Valley and Cromwell Basin passing by some of the regions stunning vistas with photo opportunities at some lookouts along the way.

There’s so many reasons to choose Queenstown Highlights. See Queenstown’s 5 best sights and activities in one very affordable fun packed morning. Group sizes are small, vehicles are luxurious, friendly local driver-guides plus hotel pick ups all ensure that Queenstown Highlights is the best tour on offer. Family friendly option.

The Skippers Road is a historic route we travel via 4WD. Built during the gold rush we drive high above the Kawerau River giving you a historic context of what life was like for the original settlers of Skippers Canyon, sharing stories, tales and showing you relics from the past.