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The Matukituki River run into Mount Aspiring National Park is one of those South Island experiences that stacks up every way you look at it. It's not just the jet boating thrills, though the 360 spins and inches-from-the-bank river work are genuinely good. You also get a proper walk through native bush, glacier views, and guides who clearly know and love this country deeply. The history and Maori mythology woven into the commentary lifts it well above a standard jet boat ride.
This is a family-run operation and it shows. Reviewers consistently single out the guides by name, which tells you something. The knowledge runs deep, from ancient Maori history through to the geology of the valley, and it lands naturally rather than feeling like a rehearsed script. The scenery does the heavy lifting too. Rob Roy Glacier, Mount Aspiring looming above, the mist-filtered native bush at the top of the valley. It all adds up.
If the helicopter option is on offer, most people who take it reckon it's worth it. Worth considering if the budget stretches. Promo code RANKERS gets you 10% off, which is a decent saving on what is already a full day's worth of experience.
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Details
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Organisation |
Wanaka River JourneysCommercial organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township |
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Business Times |
Summer (1 October – 30 April): departures daily at 9:45am and 12:45pm. Winter (May – September): daily departure at 12:45pm. Packrafting trips depart at 8:15am. Departures originate outside the Wanaka i-SITE. |
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Promo Code 10% Off |
Use discount code RANKERS with Wanaka River Journeys and 10% off. |
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Reviews
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Great trip.
Tanja -
Fantastic cultural and scenic experience!
Brit_Chick -
Fantastic!
actiongirl -
Great guide, great tour.
Walter Buschta -
Absolutely F A N T A S T I C...
Marilyn
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Pretty tame and lame.
And terrible customer service. If you want a thrilling jetboat ride, better use Shotover in Queenstown. This was more like a botany lecture.
Also, I did a favor for the company when they asked me to bring my group at a different time. So I did. But when I asked the company to refund money for 1 person in our group of 4 (who fell ill) they just blew me off.
You can find a much better outfitter than these guys.
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Small group, felt like a personal experience, friendly, local and knowledgeable staff.
Loved the jetboat, walk through Hobbit forest to waterfall, amazing scenery, view of the Glacier and mountains.
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This 3 hour trip takes you way up a glacial valley, away from wanaka towards NZ's beautiful Mt Aspiring, by jet boat via the Matukituki valley.
Knowledgable guides recount a story of the land and the people who have populated it since records began.
At the upper reaches of the Valley you can see Rob Roy Glacier as it groans and breaks, and a walk through the native bush transports you into a fine misted world of minutiae that carpets our bush floors - it is breathtakingly beautiful.
If you are lucky enough to take in the heli option it is well worth it. Now that is gobsmacking!
Its a trip you will never forget, and are privileged to share.
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A fantastic trip into remote New Zealand with a great insight to local mythology and history of the surrounding areas.
This will be the trip everybody talks about when their New Zealand holiday is mentioned
Added to this was the great jet boat ride and wonderful vistas that all made for a very memorable day in a beautiful place. Highly recommended for Kiwis and tourists alike.
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Fantastic!
It enriches your soul just being in the vacinty of Sue and Brent. Well worth it especially on a cold winters day. :-)
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I did this trip three years ago and thought seriously about doing it again on my recent trip to New Zealand.
The exhilaration of jet-boating was only part of the pleasure; the outstanding beauty of the landscape, the walk through the forest, the gulls nesting along the shingle banks, the extensive knowledge of Brent and Sue and above all their obvious love for what they do, all added up to a truly memorable experience. Don't miss it.
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Best part of our trip!
Calvin was our guide and he was amazing. This is a family run operation and we heard that all the guides are great. Calvin is a wonderful story teller and an amazingly professional driver. We have never met anyone quite like him. The scenery was just great. The jet boat goes in inches of water... inches from land and boulders… through narrow rapids... We felt totally safe with Calvin but the adrenalin flowed! At one point we had 2 horses run alongside us - magnificent. We highly recommend this trip.
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My wife and two daughters (13 + 11 years) spent a fabulous and exciting day with Brett (my wife thinks this was his name!!!), who was very friendly, humourous, and she said "had a lovely nature!" Meanwhile
I was fly fishing with a guide up the stunning Makarora River. They loved it... the highlight of a thrill packed holiday for them: views of Mount Aspiring...Lords of the Rings territory, and 360 degree spins!
They would recommend this to anyone!! Mint!! Written onn behalf of my wife Anne-Marie Robertshaw: Durham. England
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Very informative, waterproof and safety wear provided.
Trip right up the Matukituki River to below the glacier.
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The ride on a jetboat was exciting, and worth it.
You have a very good guide which tells you a lot. And of course very beautiful views!
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Pretty tame and lame.
And terrible customer service. If you want a thrilling jetboat ride, better use Shotover in Queenstown. This was more like a botany lecture.
Also, I did a favor for the company when they asked me to bring my group at a different time. So I did. But when I asked the company to refund money for 1 person in our group of 4 (who fell ill) they just blew me off.
You can find a much better outfitter than these guys.
-
Small group, felt like a personal experience, friendly, local and knowledgeable staff.
Loved the jetboat, walk through Hobbit forest to waterfall, amazing scenery, view of the Glacier and mountains.
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Very informative, waterproof and safety wear provided.
Trip right up the Matukituki River to below the glacier.
-
My wife and two daughters (13 + 11 years) spent a fabulous and exciting day with Brett (my wife thinks this was his name!!!), who was very friendly, humourous, and she said "had a lovely nature!" Meanwhile
I was fly fishing with a guide up the stunning Makarora River. They loved it... the highlight of a thrill packed holiday for them: views of Mount Aspiring...Lords of the Rings territory, and 360 degree spins!
They would recommend this to anyone!! Mint!! Written onn behalf of my wife Anne-Marie Robertshaw: Durham. England
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The ride on a jetboat was exciting, and worth it.
You have a very good guide which tells you a lot. And of course very beautiful views!
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Best part of our trip!
Calvin was our guide and he was amazing. This is a family run operation and we heard that all the guides are great. Calvin is a wonderful story teller and an amazingly professional driver. We have never met anyone quite like him. The scenery was just great. The jet boat goes in inches of water... inches from land and boulders… through narrow rapids... We felt totally safe with Calvin but the adrenalin flowed! At one point we had 2 horses run alongside us - magnificent. We highly recommend this trip.
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I did this trip three years ago and thought seriously about doing it again on my recent trip to New Zealand.
The exhilaration of jet-boating was only part of the pleasure; the outstanding beauty of the landscape, the walk through the forest, the gulls nesting along the shingle banks, the extensive knowledge of Brent and Sue and above all their obvious love for what they do, all added up to a truly memorable experience. Don't miss it.
-
Fantastic!
It enriches your soul just being in the vacinty of Sue and Brent. Well worth it especially on a cold winters day. :-)
-
-
A fantastic trip into remote New Zealand with a great insight to local mythology and history of the surrounding areas.
This will be the trip everybody talks about when their New Zealand holiday is mentioned
Added to this was the great jet boat ride and wonderful vistas that all made for a very memorable day in a beautiful place. Highly recommended for Kiwis and tourists alike.
-
This 3 hour trip takes you way up a glacial valley, away from wanaka towards NZ's beautiful Mt Aspiring, by jet boat via the Matukituki valley.
Knowledgable guides recount a story of the land and the people who have populated it since records began.
At the upper reaches of the Valley you can see Rob Roy Glacier as it groans and breaks, and a walk through the native bush transports you into a fine misted world of minutiae that carpets our bush floors - it is breathtakingly beautiful.
If you are lucky enough to take in the heli option it is well worth it. Now that is gobsmacking!
Its a trip you will never forget, and are privileged to share.
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This is a wow experience that is an absolute must do.
From the outset this journey is one of those extraordinary life time experiences. The 20 minute road trip from Wanaka out to the Matukituki river is an experience in itself as you traverse around parts of Lake Wanaka through some of the best areas of the lake. Then there is the majic of the river, the history lesson from the jet boat driver both ancient Maori history and more modern history, the glacial views and the panoramic views of Mount Aspiring, the walk into the native bush where you see ancient moss matting and a crystal clear stream with its beautiful waterfalls. All this thrown in with a fantastic jet boat ride to boot where you experience all the usual thrills associated with jet boating the South Island rivers. Here you get the mandatory jet boat ride with the added bonus of viewing the natural mountainous and river beauty that has been created by mother nature. I will do it again on my next trip to Wanaka
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Absolutely F A N T A S T I C...
the views of Mt Aspiring are simply magnificent. The staff were very friendly and curteous and their impressive knowledge of the area is, very informative. A+++++ Recommendation.
(just watch out for those river bank natives...haha Lol)
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Jet boast up scenic river with views of Mt Aspiring.
Wonderful guide with real knowledge & Maori stories.
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Great trip.
Excitement of a jetboat trip with amazing views.
2 hours on the water. Driver has great knowledge of area.