Kawarau River Queenstown Rafting
Real NZ
4.3 78 reviews
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The Kawarau Jet2Raft is a solid pick for Queenstown rafting, especially if you're newer to it. Grade 2-3 rapids are enough to get the blood going without being genuinely terrifying, and the jet boat across Lake Whakatipu at the start is a fun opener. Use promo code RANKERS for 10% off while you're booking, which helps keep us going at Rankers too.
Across a big pile of reviews, the guides come up again and again as the reason people had such a good time. Confident, fun, and clear when it matters. Quite a few reviewers were nervous before getting on the water and came off the back of it wondering what they were worried about. The scenery through the gorge is legitimately good, with the gold mining history adding a bit of context to what you're floating past.
One honest note: if you're chasing serious adrenaline, this is more of a scenic experience with some fun rapids mixed in rather than a full-on white-knuckle trip. The optional cliff jump and rapid swim add a bit of spice if you want it. I'd say it's a good fit for most people visiting Queenstown, and the guides generally make it work for whoever turns up.
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Kawarau River Queenstown Rafting
Rafting on the Kawarau River combines both beautiful landscapes and a heart-racing adrenaline activity in Queenstown. With Grade 2-3 rapids, the Kawarau River Rafting is perfect for first time rafters, or those looking for a mix of thrills and a scenic river journey. The highlight of this Queenstown rafting trip is the unforgettable 400m Dog Leg rapid, the longest commercially rafted rapid in New Zealand.
Not only will you be rafting down the Kawarau River, but you will also be given the chance to swim a section and even cliff jump. With a variety of rapids and changing river levels, you can expect a gripping ride no matter what.
The expert Kawarau River Rafting guides will provide you with a full safety briefing before your departure. With one guide per raft, they will be with you every step of the way to tackle the rapids on your journey down the river. After all the exhilaration, you'll head back to the Rafting Base where you can enjoy the comfort of hot showers post-trip.
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RealNZCommercial organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Queenstown Township |
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Operating Season And Hours |
Trips depart at 8:15 AM and 1:15 PM. Check-in is 20 minutes prior at 88 Beach Street, Queenstown. The total experience duration is approximately 4.5 hours, including a 25-minute jet boat ride and 1 to 1.5 hours on the water rafting the Kawarau River. |
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Promo Code Save 10% |
Use discount code RANKERS with Kawarau River Queenstown Rafting and save 10%. |
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Rafting
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Reviews
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Family Trip
Michael -
Cool guide.
MarcoJ -
White water rafting on the Shotover River.
Rowena and Ian Lanyon -
You don't need sunshine to go rafting.
Marjan D -
Good fun, but no adrenalin at all.
Jennifer Bramstad
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Had an amazing experience!
From listening to Percy’s stories while riding along one of the world’s most dangerous highways to having Percy as our white water rafting guide - my husband and I enjoyed every second. Highly recommend Queenstown Rafting. And highly recommend Percy.
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Go Orange looked after everyone so professionally and still created a fun atmosphere.
The road trip after base camp was like a goats track up the side of the mountain and was just the start of the excitement to follow. I was a bit nervous but once we were on the water and our guide giving instructions on paddling in the rapid and what to do, I couldn't wait to go!
The scenery was just so spectacular and there was time on the water to enjoy this too. the first 8ks went so quickly and then the 5 rapids following were what I thought it would be like, it was exciting rush to paddle in this fast moving water and so much fun. I cant wait to come back and experience this white water rapid again.
Thank you to all the team at Go Orange!
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Go Orange skipper canyon rafting.
Loads of fun for half of the day, especially if you have never been white water rafting before. Deffinetly recommended as an activity to do in Queenstown if you can trust the guide as well as your crew.
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This company provided a light hearted experience to release the tension but when it can down to safety and instruction were very clear and informative.
It does provide a bit of a workout but all in all amazing experience! Highly recommend.
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Shotover River was an amazing rafting experience.
Our guide Alex made it a memorable trip. I felt so comfortable with all of his commands when it was time for the rapids. Would highly recommend Alex, GoOrange and the Shotover River to anyone who wants an andrenaline water activity and to see beautiful untouched NZ scenery.
I would do Shotover over Kawarau any day.
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The Shotover river heli rafting experience was fantastic!
We had a large group of 10 and everyone had a ball. Our guides were very informative and everything was very done with safety being first. I would recommend every man and his dog to give it a go! Hoorah!
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What an amazing experience, i will definitely be back for more!!
From the moment we arrived the staff were fantastic. Alex was our guide on the bus there and Hudson was our river guide. My partner Katharine and i cannot speak highly enough about these two. They were extremely professional, informative and most importantly fun!! The day was amazing, thank you!!
Gary
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Had a great experience river rafting, feeling a little apprehensive at the start Go orange’ team put us at ease very quickly, super cool young team who know what they are doing.
Martijn is very professional and guided us through the rapids at ease and preps for the worst could not have been better. We are both over 60 and this is something you have to do when in Queenstown and If you think this is a young people’s ‘thing’ you are wrong, our boat smashed it. Thanks to the Goorange team! Unforgettable day!
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You don't need sunshine to go rafting.
Just a raft, some grade 3-5 whitewater rapids and an experienced crew and that makes a perfect day!
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Awesome first time WW rafter and couldn’t have picked a better place to try it.
Felt really safe with GoOrange. Sally our guide was super chill, yet inspired confidence with her clear coaching and commands during the rapids. Fun facts and stories also shared along the calmer sections plus an optional balance on the side of the raft game - making a lap around the top rim of the raft one by one! All in all a fun trip - next time would be great to try some more rapid sections per total distance. Scenery was once again spectacular - like pretty much all of the South Island it seems!
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Went on some rafting down the Shotover River (grade 3-5).
First a really scary bus ride up the mountains but the driver was excellent. Quite a calm trip down the river, had expected it to be more rough, bad for me, good for others. Great guides, really nice and informative.
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A fantastic way to spend half a day.
We did the Shotover rafting and it was done professionally by the staff and was very fun. There had been a lot of rain leading up to our day so the water was perfect for rafting.
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The staff were good and funny, but the rafting could have been more exciting, maybe the water was too low!
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After making our first white water rafting experience in NZ on grade 3 rapids we chose Queenstown rafting to experience their grade 4-5 rapids.
First of all the fact we were in Queenstown upped the cost of the trip when compared to our rafting experiences in NZ.
The bus trip through Skippers canon was great and sadly more exciting than the actual rafting itself.
The river was picturesque but the rapids were gentle and spread out. There wasn't much of a thrill and we were left disappointed. The last rapid was the only grade 5 on the trip.
The guides were hard work to talk to and seemed disinterested but were professional with regards to safety.
The photos/video of the trip were too expensive and not worth the money. You only got one picture of yourself rafting and a video of the safety briefing!
Overall it was an average trip, not worth the extra cost compared to other rafting providers and would recommend people to experience rafting elsewhere.
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Had an amazing experience!
From listening to Percy’s stories while riding along one of the world’s most dangerous highways to having Percy as our white water rafting guide - my husband and I enjoyed every second. Highly recommend Queenstown Rafting. And highly recommend Percy.
-
This company provided a light hearted experience to release the tension but when it can down to safety and instruction were very clear and informative.
It does provide a bit of a workout but all in all amazing experience! Highly recommend.
-
You don't need sunshine to go rafting.
Just a raft, some grade 3-5 whitewater rapids and an experienced crew and that makes a perfect day!
-
Go Orange skipper canyon rafting.
Loads of fun for half of the day, especially if you have never been white water rafting before. Deffinetly recommended as an activity to do in Queenstown if you can trust the guide as well as your crew.
-
Go Orange looked after everyone so professionally and still created a fun atmosphere.
The road trip after base camp was like a goats track up the side of the mountain and was just the start of the excitement to follow. I was a bit nervous but once we were on the water and our guide giving instructions on paddling in the rapid and what to do, I couldn't wait to go!
The scenery was just so spectacular and there was time on the water to enjoy this too. the first 8ks went so quickly and then the 5 rapids following were what I thought it would be like, it was exciting rush to paddle in this fast moving water and so much fun. I cant wait to come back and experience this white water rapid again.
Thank you to all the team at Go Orange!
-
Had a great experience river rafting, feeling a little apprehensive at the start Go orange’ team put us at ease very quickly, super cool young team who know what they are doing.
Martijn is very professional and guided us through the rapids at ease and preps for the worst could not have been better. We are both over 60 and this is something you have to do when in Queenstown and If you think this is a young people’s ‘thing’ you are wrong, our boat smashed it. Thanks to the Goorange team! Unforgettable day!
-
What an amazing experience, i will definitely be back for more!!
From the moment we arrived the staff were fantastic. Alex was our guide on the bus there and Hudson was our river guide. My partner Katharine and i cannot speak highly enough about these two. They were extremely professional, informative and most importantly fun!! The day was amazing, thank you!!
Gary
-
Awesome first time WW rafter and couldn’t have picked a better place to try it.
Felt really safe with GoOrange. Sally our guide was super chill, yet inspired confidence with her clear coaching and commands during the rapids. Fun facts and stories also shared along the calmer sections plus an optional balance on the side of the raft game - making a lap around the top rim of the raft one by one! All in all a fun trip - next time would be great to try some more rapid sections per total distance. Scenery was once again spectacular - like pretty much all of the South Island it seems!
-
The Shotover river heli rafting experience was fantastic!
We had a large group of 10 and everyone had a ball. Our guides were very informative and everything was very done with safety being first. I would recommend every man and his dog to give it a go! Hoorah!
-
Shotover River was an amazing rafting experience.
Our guide Alex made it a memorable trip. I felt so comfortable with all of his commands when it was time for the rapids. Would highly recommend Alex, GoOrange and the Shotover River to anyone who wants an andrenaline water activity and to see beautiful untouched NZ scenery.
I would do Shotover over Kawarau any day.
-
Went on some rafting down the Shotover River (grade 3-5).
First a really scary bus ride up the mountains but the driver was excellent. Quite a calm trip down the river, had expected it to be more rough, bad for me, good for others. Great guides, really nice and informative.
-
A fantastic way to spend half a day.
We did the Shotover rafting and it was done professionally by the staff and was very fun. There had been a lot of rain leading up to our day so the water was perfect for rafting.
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The staff were good and funny, but the rafting could have been more exciting, maybe the water was too low!
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Really well organised experience and friendly guides and exciting rapids (Shotover River).
Was relatively expensive to not 9 or 10.
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