9 Queenstown Rafting Trips for a Free Day

1.Family Adventures Rafting and Sightseeing Trip in Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 339 reviews · from $185Our pick

Take a roughly five-hour family rafting trip from Queenstown into Skippers Canyon. Your guide leads you down the Shotover River’s class I and II rapids, with gold-mining stories along the way. Children from age three can join, and you do not need to be confident in the water. Transport, rafting gear, and snacks are included; photos are available to buy.

“I'm going twice! Professional staff. *Listen to your ramblings. *They take a lot of photos. *They let you do weird things (I jumped in the river) *Awesome, scary trip in and out. Very very tame rapids...even 3 year old scaredy kids do it. I had tore up my legs the day before and could barely walk and literally took myself to hospital afterwards and STILL This is the best thing to do in Queenstown if you just want a relaxing little thrill. THIS IS FOR YOU! STOP CRYING AND DO IT.”

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2.Queenstown Shotover River White Water Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 309 reviews · from $154

From central Queenstown, ride the winding Skippers Canyon Road to the Shotover River, gear up and paddle with a guide through rapids such as Jaws and Toilet. The route ends with a run through the 170-metre Oxenbridge Tunnel and Cascade Rapid. Transport, equipment, hot showers and digital photos are included. Water levels can change the route.

“Our guide Morgan was very friendly and knowledgeable and made the experience that much better. The rapids were not as large as I had anticipated due to water flow but that can not be controlled and i enjoyed the more mellow cruise with my kids anyway”

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3.Shotover River Whitewater Rafting Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 234 reviews · from $175

From Queenstown, ride a coach through narrow Skippers Canyon to the Shotover River, then raft with a guide through grade 3 to 5 rapids, the 550-foot Oxenbridge Tunnel, and Cascade Rapid. The 4.5-hour trip includes gear, safety instruction, transfers, hot showers, and digital photos. River conditions can change the route.

“Great Guides with a lot of knowledge about the rapids. Fun activity as a solo traveler but also as a group. Very well organized!”

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4.Queenstown Kawarau River Rafting and Jet Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 158 reviews · from $197

Ride a jet boat from Queenstown toward the Kawarau River rafting put-in, then paddle grade 2 to 3 rapids with a guide. The 4.5-hour trip includes wetsuit gear, safety instruction, an optional rock jump, and the 400-meter Dog Leg rapid. You must be able to swim and weigh between 40 and 120 kilograms.

“Went with some friends on Easter break and it was a great time! Only downside was one of our friends’ boyfriend was over the weight limit when we checked in at the store for our shuttle, however there were people who met us on site who looked likely to have been over the limit as well which was upsetting. However, Jess was a lot of fun and the pictures Will took turned out great! The wetsuits kept us surprisingly warm and overall it was good.”

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5.Kawarau River Rafting and Jet Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 145 reviews · 4h 30m · from $190

Ride a jet boat from Queenstown to the Kawarau River, then raft 8 kilometers of rapids with an experienced guide. Expect calm stretches for swimming, a 400-meter run through Dog Leg rapid, and an optional cliff jump. The 4.5-hour outing suits confident swimmers age 13 and older, with wetsuits and safety gear provided.

“Excellent and friendly staff that gave us confidence to complete the ride ,the safety instructions were also excellent.”

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6.Shotover River Rafting Trip from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 115 reviews · from $190

From central Queenstown, a coach carries you along Skippers Canyon Road to the Shotover River for a guided half-day rafting trip. After a safety briefing and practice, paddle six challenging rapids, including Aftershock and Pinball, then pass through the dark Oxenbridge Tunnel. Wetsuit, helmet and other gear are provided. You must be a confident swimmer and meet the weight limits.

“The rafting & rapids were great fun & the scenery was magnificent. Very professional & funny guides & I felt our safety was in good hands.”

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7.Shotover River Whitewater Rafting Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 72 reviews · 4 hours · from $178

Join an English-speaking guide for a four-hour Shotover River rafting trip from Arthurs Point. After a safety briefing and gear-up, paddle six grade 4-5 rapids, including the 170-meter Oxenbridge Tunnel. Calm stretches offer time to take in the canyon or swim. Guides who have led trips include Jess, Raju, and Muzz (Maria).

“What a highlight! Don’t hesitate. The organisation. The river. All A+. Benj was a brilliant guide. Loved the whole thing.”

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8.Kawarau River Whitewater Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 18 reviews · from $140Best value

Take a four-hour outing from central Queenstown to raft 8 kilometers of the Kawarau River, with about an hour on the water. Guides outfit you for grade 2 to 3 rapids, a 400-meter finale called Dog Leg, and optional swimming or cliff jumping when conditions allow. The trip includes bus transfers, hot showers, and digital photos.

“The guides were all great, very friendly and really knew what they were doing. The river is beautiful. Kudos to RealNZ because they email you pictures of the trip for free! I would 100% recommend this!”

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9.Shotover River Rafting & Skippers Canyon Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 5 hours · from $178

Travel from Queenstown through historic Skippers Canyon, then gear up for a gentle rafting trip on the Shotover River. You’ll hear gold rush stories, pass mining relics and steep canyon walls, and reach the Lord of the Rings filming spot known as the Ford of Bruinen. The five-hour outing includes a guide, rafting gear, and snacks.

“I enjoyed the tour. As a newbie I felt like it’s the right way to immerse yourself in this kind of activities. The guides were amazing, the driver was out of this world and the activity was super fun.”

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