Frequently asked questions

Here you’ll find some commonly asked questions about our rafting experiences in Queenstown, New Zealand. Click on the question to reveal the answer. 

  • We do not pick up from accommodation around Queenstown. Our check-in location is conveniently located at 88 Beach Street (opposite the Crowne Plaza Hotel). You are welcome to self-drive out to the Raft Base located at 1 Arthurs Point Road, Arthurs Point, Queenstown 9371.

  • Bring a swimsuit and towel. There are hot showers available after the trip in our rafting base. Anything valuable should be left behind at your accommodation or locked in your car. 

  • Kawarau River – You must be confident in water. This trip is a lower-grade river with fewer opportunities to fall out of the raft. You’re given a life jacket and wetsuit that act as buoyancy aids, but you will still need to be able to help the guide and move towards the raft or a safety kayaker should you fall out of the raft.  

    Shotover River – You must be able to swim confidently. This means you won’t be daunted by the river movement. Imagine being in the sea with medium waves around you where you can’t stand up and are tossed around a bit. If you feel comfortable with this, then you should be okay whitewater rafting on the Shotover River. 

  • As well as the scenery, there are a few differences between the rivers such as: 

    • Grade/ranking difficulty of rapids 

    • Number of rapids rafted on the river  

    • Swimming ability needed by rafters 


    Shotover River

    • Grades 3-5 more exciting to raft and harder to navigate 

    • Higher risk of falling out the boat 

    • This river has more rapids than the Kawarau 

    • You must be able to swim on this river  

    • The road to the Shotover River is via Skippers Canyon 

    Kawarau River

    • Grades 2-3 (occasionally Grade 2-4 at higher water levels) 

    • Easier to navigate with a low risk of falling out of the raft 

    • Flat stretches of river between the rapids  

    • The Kawarau River is a much deeper and bigger river  

    • Flows through some spectacular Central Otago vineyards 

    • The experience ends with a 400 metre long, Grade 3 rapid

  • Don't worry about getting you shoes wet. We provide wetsuit booties, so you can wear your normal shoes to get to the rafting base. 

  • Unfortunately, cameras and Go Pros are not permitted on either of our whitewater rafting experiences for safety reasons. 

  • Yes, you can. We recommend a sports strap or tie for glasses. We can’t guarantee the safety of your glasses. If glasses are not required, please don’t take them on your rafting trip.

  • The rafts are large enough to carry 6-7 people plus your rafting guide. If you’re travelling with friends or in a group, we will try to organise it so that you are together in the same raft. Operational requirements may not always allow for your group to travel together.

  • The time varies depending on the river flow, the water level and the time of year. Generally, the Shotover River trip can be between 1½ and 2½ hours on the water, and the Kawarau River is between 1 hour and 1½ hours on the water. 

  • New Zealand is the opposite of the Northern Hemisphere. Our winter is between May and early September. We do not operate our rafting experiences during the winter season. We are open from November to April each year for white water rafting. 

  • The rafting base is on the banks of the Shotover River which is about a 10 minute drive from Central Queenstown. After being fitted out with your wetsuit, you will be taken to your river rafting adventure.

    Shotover River - The drive to the start point on the river is via Skippers Canyon and takes about 40 minutes. You'll raft back to the base. 

    Kawarau River - The drive to the starting point on the river is via Arrowtown and takes about 25 minutes. You'll raft from Queenstown and exit the river at Gibbston Valley. From there it takes about 30 minutes to return to the raft base. 

  • Shotover Jet operates on the lower part of the Shotover River, just after the Oxenbridge Tunnel. 

    Challenge Rafting paddles above this section, where the rapids are. 

    KJet operates on Lake Whakatipu, the Kawarau River and the lower Shotover River. 

    Skippers Canyon Jet operates on the section of river above where Challenge Rafting begins its whitewater experience. You will see different scenery as no Jet Boat can operate where we raft. 

  • Due to the nature of the terrain and remote locations of the rivers, it is not possible to view your rafting trip. There is an opportunity to stand by the last rapid on the Shotover River as rafters come through the Oxenbridge Tunnel. Timings depend on river levels and flow, so your friends or family may need to wait a while to ensure they don’t miss you.

  • There are toilets at the Rafting Base and at Deep Creek where the raft experience starts on the Shotover River.

  • At the end of your trip, after your shower, you will be able to purchase food from Canyon Brewing. We recommend eating something before your trip leave town because it will be 4 hours by the time you finish your trip.

  • The minimum age for rafting is 13. The minimum weight for rafting is 40kg and the maximum weight for rafting is 120kg. We have extra-large wetsuits. Ultimately, it will be at the discretion of the trip leader and guides as to who is appropriate to participate in the rafting trip.

  • This depends on the river levels, but there’s always a chance that you may fall out of the raft. The guides are trained to deal with this. Every Shotover River trip (and Kawarau in high-water conditions) will have a safety kayaker. There is a full safety briefing before you commence your rafting experience explaining what to do.

  • You will be instructed by your guide on how to brace yourself into the raft to minimise the chance of falling out. 

  • Yes. Every raft has a qualified and certified rafting guide on it. They control when and how you paddle, giving directions throughout the raft experience. 

  • No. We recommend you only wear swimwear as wetsuits work best when they are close to your skin. Any clothing such as cotton t-shirts or jeans under the wetsuit prevent it from working effectively. 

  • Yes, but you will be in a wetsuit. Whitewater rafting is a great activity for rainy days, since you'll be wet anyway.

  • Yes, we recommend booking in advance as spaces can be limited.

  • This depends on the number of guides working on a given day, but with prior notice, we can accommodate up to 54 pax on any one experience. 

  • No refund will be given for no-shows or changes you make to your booking less than 24 hours prior to departure.

  • Some medical conditions will prohibit you from whitewater rafting. If you have any heart conditions or are taking any heart medication, you will be unable to join us for rafting. Please check our Terms and Conditions for more specific medical restrictions. It’s very important for our staff to know if you do have a medical condition before your rafting trip. If you require medication for your condition, you will need to bring that with you

  • No, our company policy is that we are unable to allow anyone who is pregnant on grade 3 or above rivers. 

  • Whitewater rafting will still go ahead if it is raining. You are going to get wet anyway, and the river is normally at its best then. We will not issue a refund if you cancel at short notice due to rain or bad weather. 

  • Tips are appreciated but not expected in New Zealand.

  • Our rafting trips operate in association with RealNZ.  Find more information here. 

  • The changing rooms have cubby holes available to put your clothes in. A communal locked locker is available for valuables.