Rafting

Kawarau River White Water Rafting

Tourists rafting on Kawarau River, New Zealand, navigating whitewater rapids.

Tourists in life vests preparing for Kawarau River white water rafting in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Kawarau River whitewater rafting with bridge in background, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Ride the Kawarau River’s rapids, race your friends, swim, and tackle the epic Dog Leg rapid. A thrilling yet beginner-friendly rafting adventure awaits.

Highlights

Ride the Kawarau River’s grade 2-3 rapids on a beginner-friendly rafting trip, perfect for first-timers and those wanting a fun, scenic adventure.
Race your friends through the river’s wide channels, enjoy calm stretches for swimming, and tackle the thrilling 400-meter-long Dog Leg rapid.
Take in stunning Central Otago scenery as you paddle through rugged gorges, past vineyards, and along the famous filming sites of The Lord of the Rings.
Upgrade your adventure with a high-speed 25-minute jet boat ride, skimming across the water and pulling 360° spins before you hit the rapids.
Fun fact: The Kawarau River flows into the turquoise waters of Lake Dunstan and was historically used by Māori for travel, trade, and gathering food.

Inclusions

2-hour rafting on the Kawarau River
Experienced rafting guides
Round-trip bus transfer between Queenstown and the rafting base
All rafting and safety equipment including wetsuit and helmet
Use of hot showers
Complimentary photos (sent to your email)
25-minute jet boat ride (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

Suit up and grab a paddle

Wetsuit? Check. Helmet? Check. Slight nerves but mostly excitement? Absolutely. After a quick but thorough briefing (with a side of humor from your expert guides), you’re ready to take on the Kawarau River. Unlike its wilder neighbor, the Shotover, this one gives you the perfect balance of thrills and chill. Paddle through splashy grade 2-3 rapids, then drift along the calm stretches where you can soak in the stunning canyon views or turn up the fun by racing the other rafts. Feeling brave? Jump in for a swim. Feeling competitive? Paddle harder. Either way, you’re in for a blast.

Make a splash and earn your bragging rights

Just when you think you’ve mastered the river, here comes Dog Leg – the longest commercially rafted rapid in New Zealand. This 400-meter stretch is all fast water, big waves, and pure adrenaline. It’s the grand finale, and it does not disappoint. If you’re really looking to impress, there’s an optional cliff jump that’ll guarantee serious bragging rights. Want even more speed? Upgrade to include a 25-minute jet boat ride and zip across the river before tackling the rapids. Then, back at base, warm up with a hot shower and check out your complimentary action shots, because if you don’t have photos of it, did it even happen?

Know before you go

What to bring

Bring your swimsuit and towel.

What’s not allowed

Safety is a priority so this experience is restricted for guests under the weight of 40kg (88.18lb), over the weight of 120kg (264.55lb) and under the age of 13 years.
Keep in mind cameras are not allowed on this experience. Pack wisely!

Accessibility

This experience is not accessible by wheelchair.
Pregnant people and guests with back issues, cardiac issues, and other serious medical conditions cannot participate in the experience.

Additional information

All participants must sign a waiver form.
Guests under 16 years old must have a guardian traveling with them and all guests under 18 years old must have a waiver form signed by a guardian.
Guests must be water-confident, able to swim in fast-moving water, and agree to carefully follow instructions from the guides.
Guests should have a moderate physical fitness level.
The operator reserves the right to refuse participation and cancel or amend any trips due to river, road, or weather conditions or insufficient numbers in the interest of all guests’ safety.

My tickets

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.
Please arrive at the meeting point 20 mins before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.
Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.