Speed Boat Tours

Dart River 2-Hour Jet Boat and Wilderness Tour

Name: Dart River 2-Hour Jet Boat and Wilderness Tour
Start: 2025-02-26T09:30:00
End: 2025-02-26T10:30:00
Location: Queenstown

Jet boat speeding through Dart River in Queenstown, New Zealand, surrounded by lush wilderness.

Dart River jet boat navigating through scenic wilderness in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Dart River jet boat speeding through scenic Queenstown canyon, New Zealand.

Embark on a jet boat adventure through the braided Dart River, where expert guides navigate past glacial valleys, mountains, and untamed wilderness.

Highlights

Experience the thrill of a 2-hour jet boat ride through the braided Dart River, covering up to 90 km of alpine scenery in Mount Aspiring National Park.
With dense forests as your backdrop, hear your expert guide share Māori legends and stories of their treks through this land to reach the sacred pounamu fields.
Speed over the Dart River’s braided channels, passing snow-capped peaks like Mount Cosmos and Nox while spotting rare blue ducks in crystal-clear waters.
Navigate past towering mountains and glacial valleys in UNESCO-listed Mount Aspiring National Park, a filming location for The Lord of the Rings and Narnia.
Fun fact: The Dart River is also called Te Awa Whakatipu, meaning "the river of whirlpools," named by Māori for its swirling currents and braided channels.

Inclusions

2-hour jet boat ride
Professional driver/guide
Life jackets
Spray jackets
Round-trip transfers from Queenstown (based on selected option)

Exclusions

Food & beverages

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Your experience

A river like no other

Your adventure begins in Glenorchy, where you’ll board a sleek jet boat and set off down the braided Dart River, one of the last truly wild rivers in New Zealand. The rush kicks in immediately as your expert driver masterfully navigates the shallow waters, weaving between ever-shifting channels and pulling off thrilling spins. This is your front-row seat to Mount Aspiring National Park’s untouched beauty. Towering peaks rise dramatically around you, their jagged summits dusted with snow, while ancient beech forests hug the shoreline. Keep an eye out for the rare whio, New Zealand’s blue duck, bobbing in the current. These little guys are the river’s true daredevils.

Where legends and landscapes collide

As the boat carves through the glacier-fed waters, your guide brings the landscape to life with stories of Māori explorers who once journeyed through these valleys in search of pounamu (greenstone). You’ll pass hidden corners of the wilderness that have graced the big screen, from The Lord of the Rings to The Chronicles of Narnia. After an exhilarating ride, enjoy a scenic return journey made seamless if you’ve opted for the round-trip transfers to Queenstown. As the adventure winds down, you’ll take with you windswept hair and a newfound appreciation for this wild, remote paradise.

Know before you go

What to bring

Bring sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat or a beanie, a camera, and insect repellent for the trip.

What’s not allowed

Safety is a priority so this experience is restricted for guests under the age of 3 years and under the height of 1m (3.28ft).
Visitors under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be allowed on the experience.

Accessibility

Choose safety and comfort: This experience is not the best fit for pregnant people and people with back issues.
Your safety comes first so visitors with cardiac issues and other serious medical conditions are restricted from participating in this experience.

Additional information

Bringing cameras on board is at your own risk.
It is highly recommended to wear comfortable, supportive close-toed shoes during the experience.
On colder days, please wear extra layers of clothing for maximum comfort.

My tickets

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.
Please display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.
Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.