The 15 Best New Zealand River Cruises

1.Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Ride in Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,540 reviews · from $113Our pick

Race through the Shotover River’s narrow canyons on a 25-minute jet boat ride with high-speed turns, white-water rapids, and 360-degree spins. Drivers such as Peter, Joe, Paul, and Matt add local stories and humor. A complimentary Queenstown shuttle is available, and groups stay small.

“Best boat ride ever, Crew was amazing and friendly. Had the best time with my family and it will definitely be one for the books.”

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2.Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River White Water Rafting & Free Sauna

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,952 reviews · from $83

Raft the Kaituna River near Rotorua with guides such as George, Luca, Elise, and Tor. Expect a full safety briefing, native forest, three waterfalls, Grade 5 action, and the famous Tutea Falls drop. Gear and a post-rafting sauna are included. Hotel transfers cost extra.

“Incredible rafting experience that you won’t get elsewhere! Great rapids and excellent rafting guides. 100% recommend if you want to white-water raft on the North Island.”

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3.Shotover River and Kawarau River Jet Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,682 reviews · 1 hour · from $89

Join KJet at Queenstown’s Main Town Pier for a fast, splashy ride across Lake Wakatipu, the Kawarau River, and the Shotover River. Your English-speaking driver may be Puni, Sam, Reuben, Charles, or another KJet pilot. Expect speeds up to 95 km/h, sharp turns, and repeated 360-degree spins.

“Very fun activity in just an hour. Guide was excellent and kept us entertained with splashes and spins. Water was beautiful blue.”

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4.Waikato River Jet Boat Ride from Taupo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,441 reviews · from $89

Take a 35-minute jet boat ride from Rotokawa on the Waikato River. You will shoot through a narrow canyon, surf the Nga Awa Purua rapids, and spin across clear water while guides such as Jacob and Shannon share local stories. Expect spray, speed, and a safe, family-friendly thrill.

“It was about as much fun as you can have in half an hour. Our pilot Jacob was highly skilled and entertaining both as a jet boat pilot and guide. My whole family loved it.”

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5.Rafting Rotorua: Kaituna River White Water Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,274 reviews · 2h 30m · from $83

Join Kaitiaki Adventures for a 150-minute Kaituna River rafting trip with guides such as Aoife, Jack, Ben, and Kyle. Expect 14 rapids, three waterfalls, a 7-metre drop at Tutea Falls, Māori cultural insight, river gear, and optional hotel transport from Rotorua.

“This was the most fun rafting I’ve ever had!! My guides were so awesome (Nixie and Ben) and it was such a good time and very thrilling. Felt very safe during the entire ride. Highly recommend this experience if near Rotorua!”

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6.Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,203 reviews · 25 - 90 minutes · from $107

You’ll race through the Shotover Canyons with Shotover Jet, the only operator permitted in this section of the river. Expect a 25-minute ride, close rock passes, rapids, and sharp 360-degree spins. Drivers such as Paul, Matt, Joe, and Missy add commentary on local geology, Maori culture, and river history.

“This was just a great experience, very thrilling and felt like a long time on the boat. Our jet boat driver Will was very expert and gave us good insights into the boat and the history of the river. Thank you for a great experience!”

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7.KJet Queenstown Jet Boat Ride on the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 590 reviews · from $92

Ride KJet for one fast, wet hour across Lake Wakatipu, the Kawarau River, and the Shotover River. Expect mountain views, shallow-water speed, sharp turns, and 360-degree spins led by drivers such as Puni, Ben, Jack, Anton, and Reuben.

“This was our first experience on a Shotover and it was awesomely thrilling. The staffs were great and helpful. The jet driver Puni was skilled and made our trip fun and exciting. Special thanks to Puni who made sure I got my beanie back which I had forgotten on the jet.”

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8.Dart River Jet Boat and Wilderness Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 531 reviews · from $190

Travel from Queenstown to Glenorchy, then ride a jet boat 45 kilometers along the glacier-fed Dart River. Your guide may include spins, river lore, Māori culture, and film-location scenery. Jordan, John, Pedro, Dean, and other drivers are praised for friendly, careful commentary.

“This was an amazing thrill ride experience. Pedro our driver and guide for the trip was very knowledgeable and passionate about the surroundings we were in and passing through explaining all the views to us. It was such a fun trip and all our fellow passengers were excited about the whole experience. This is an opportunity not to miss.”

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9.Kaituna Cascades – Grade 5 Wairoa River near Tauranga

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 437 reviews · from $117

Join Kaituna Cascades for a demanding half-day rafting run on the Wairoa River near Tauranga. You’ll face Mothers Nightmare, The Rollercoaster, a 3-metre waterfall, Grade 3 and 4 rapids, and an optional 5-metre cliff jump. Guides such as Jasper, Josh, Pablo, Cole, and Bal lead small groups with clear safety briefings.

“Phenomenal guides, and crazy white water. Not for the faint of heart. This crew knows their business and take it very seriously!”

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10.Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River Rafting Experience-Free Sauna

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 401 reviews · 2 hours · from $74Best value

Head 20 minutes from Rotorua to the Kaituna River for a beginner-friendly rafting trip through 14 rapids and three waterfalls, including a 7-meter drop. Guides such as Lucas, Jack, Peach, and Justin provide clear instruction, with swimming, jumping, optional photos, and a free sauna afterward.

“Our family of four had a great time guide Lucas was exceptional. My son’s 16 and 10 had a blast.”

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11.Kaituna River White Water Rafting from Rotorua

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 388 reviews · from $84

Join River Rats for a three-hour Kaituna River rafting trip from Rotorua. After a 15 to 20-minute safety session, you paddle through a fern-lined gorge and over Tutea Falls, the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall. Guides such as Dave, Amy, Zack, and Neville have earned warm praise for calm instruction and strong safety.

“This was an amazing experience. The rafting is a very well set up and run tour with excellent safety briefings by well drilled staff who ran the trip very professionally and provided all the necessary kit. Being on the river and experiencing the natural environment close up was awe inspiring.”

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12.Dart River Canoe and Jet Boat Experience from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 342 reviews · from $273

Travel from Queenstown to Glenorchy, then speed 30 kilometers up the Dart River by jet boat before paddling a funyak through side streams, rock pools, and a clear-water chasm. Guides such as Nikki, Rob, Jordan, and Ella have led trips, with lunch and all river gear supplied.

“This was a very active and fun day. The scenery is amazing. The jet boat is very fun and not early as scary as I thought it would be. Our driver was very experienced and we felt very safe. The guides for the funyak were super helpful and made that part very fun too. I was surprised how long the funyak part was - it was very pleasant.”

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13.Kaituna River and Tutea Falls Whitewater Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 324 reviews · 2 hours · from $80

Meet Kaituna Cascades Rafting 20 minutes from Rotorua for a guided Grade 5 run through warm canyon water, 14 rapids, and Tutea Falls. You get full safety training and winter gear, with guides such as Malcolm, Josh, Alex, and Bal known for calm, playful instruction. No rafting experience is needed.

“My wife and I went white water rafting for the first time and had so much fun. We felt very safe and really appreciated the thorough safety briefing beforehand. Jarrod was fantastic and made it an amazing experience for us. Such a beautiful spot as well — a must-do when you’re in Rotorua!”

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14.Queenstown Shotover River White Water Rafting

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

Travel from Queenstown to Deep Creek by shuttle and 4WD, then paddle the Shotover River through grade 3 to 5 rapids, including Jaws, Toilet, Sequel, and the 170-metre Oxenbridge Tunnel. Guides such as Morgan, Jess, Benji, and Erin lead the private rafting activity. Hot showers and digital photos are included.

“We had a great time! Guide was experienced and knowledgeable. It was fun and well organized. Would recommend!”

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15.Small Group Jet Boat Adventure on the Clutha River from Wanaka

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 302 reviews · from $98

Join Pat and the Go Jets Wanaka team for a 90-minute Clutha River adventure from Albert Town. Expect fast runs, 360-degree spins, sharp turns, mountain views, photo stops, and stories about the river’s gold-mining past. Groups are capped at nine, with transport available from Wanaka.

“Amazing Ride! We enjoyed the Jet boat ride with Pat, he is so knowledgeable and he absoblutely loves nature! Explaning to us about the Clutha river, activities around the river, history and so much more! And not forgetting the twists and turns Read more”

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