Shotover Jet Queenstown — Attraction in South Island

The whole experience left a good impression on me and I overall enjoyed it. The narrow canyon section after the bridge was definitely the highlight of the ride. Got roughly 30 mins on the river overall, which I felt was the perfect amount of time. Really professional and skilled driver. Driver managed to get quite close to the edges of the canyon and drove as often as possible on the shallow smoother parts of the river’s edge. The ride is a little bit choppy over the rapids sections of the river. The jet boat handled well, was fast and felt safe and controlled the whole time (also sounded cool due to having V8 engines). I’d say as an adult the ride will give you a moderate adrenaline rush, wasn’t exactly punch you back in you seat fast like a performance car but carries momentum once at speed. I’d imagine that the enjoyment of the experience could vary somewhat depending on the conditions of the river on the day. Try book on a day when the river is calm and less choppy because the jetboat will most likely go faster in calm conditions. Unsure how this compares to other competitors, I personally choose Shotover as the operator because of the narrow canyon location on the river with the convenience of being able to drive a short distance (10-15 mins) from the city centre to the venue by car. Experiencing tight turns close to the canyon walls at speed was what made the experience fun for me. In my opinion if the ride was just about going fast in straight line (which it’s not) it wouldn’t have been anywhere near as good as what it was. After doing research on competitors it didn’t appear to me that others could match that experience as described above as well as Shotover could while retaining the said factors of convenience as aforementioned. I had no issues booking online through Shotover’s offical website. Venue had plenty of car parks (3:30pm time slot). I found the check in instructions to be clear when I got there, all the staff were friendly and the jet boat left on time and arrived back on time. Was required to check in 30 mins before the start time and then be at the dock trailer 15 mins before the start time (under sun shade). It appeared that you need to be at least a minimum of 1 metre tall to ride the jet boat. FYI the smoothest place to sit in the jet boat is the back row (roughest seats are in the front row). The rows of seats are slightly elevated so your view is not inconvenienced by the back of someone’s head sitting in front of you. Additionally, there was a good amount of space to either side of me, so it didn’t feel super cramped (four people seated in a row). The seats are sufficiently comfortable (being padded) and there’s a grab handle to hold onto when the boat is doing donuts and sharp turns. If you can manage to sit in the middle of the row you’ll most likely get less water spray hitting you from the donuts (albeit still not much water spray if you sit on an outside seat in calm conditions). Also wasn’t challenging to get into the boat off the dock. I’m talking myself out of 5 stars only because I felt that for $170 the photos should have been included in the fare (instead of paid extras), just to provide higher value for money… as it is only a short-ish 30 min ride. I’d recommend if you have a GoPro to bring a head mount as they don’t allow hand held devices to record while the boat is moving and it saves paying for the footage. Experience for me was worth in the ballpark of $120 even though it cost $170, however it was a unique high quality (one off?) experience (potentially better than what some other competitors can provide with the convenience of being close to the city, so no complaints on my behalf). Jetboat ride and business operations were 5/5 it’s just that I feel the value for money could be slightly better considering that photos aren’t included in an already high price, so I am knocking a star off for that. Really happy I did this and would recommend. Only reasons not to recommend would be if you have bad back problems or are working with a...

Shotover Jet in Queenstown is an exhilarating adventure that combines breathtaking scenery with heart-pounding thrills. As one of New Zealand's most iconic tourist attractions, it promises an unforgettable experience for adrenaline junkies and sightseers alike.

The adventure begins as you board the specially designed jet boat, which navigates through the narrow canyons of the Shotover River at speeds of up to 85 kilometers per hour. The skilled drivers expertly maneuver the boat, executing thrilling spins and turns that will leave you breathless and craving more.

But it's not just about the adrenaline rush – the scenery along the way is simply spectacular. Towering cliffs, crystal-clear water, and rugged terrain create a stunning backdrop for the adventure. You'll pass by historic gold mining sites and learn about the area's rich heritage from the knowledgeable guides on board.

Safety is a top priority at Shotover Jet, with rigorous safety standards and highly trained staff ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience for all passengers. The jet boats are equipped with the latest technology and undergo regular maintenance to ensure smooth operation.

Whether you're seeking an adrenaline-fueled adventure or simply want to admire the natural beauty of Queenstown from a unique perspective, Shotover Jet delivers an experience like no other. It's a must-do activity for anyone visiting this adventure capital of...

Whilst it's super expensive, we did get a combo with Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters which made it worth it.

The shuttle picked us up from the Station (in the CBD), it was a quick check in and we received a complementary snood. The bus ride was super quick, about 15 mins (mostly due to the traffic). Upon getting there, it's a 2 min walk down to the river, we kept our bags in a shared locker and received our life jackets.

My main problem was the shared locker, you might want to pack very light or not at all. All your belongings just get stuffed into one "locker", it's not really locked away.

Everything happens very quickly after getting your life jackets, a quick line up and then you're on the boat. As long as you have a zipper on your jacket you can keep your phone for the jet boat ride. I recommend a beanie and the snood over, as the wind is very strong and freezing. Gloves are a must! The boat railing, is absolutely freezing and the wind is worse. You will get a bit wet, but it dries off quickly afterwards (if it's a warm day).

The boat ride was awesome, close calls on the rocks and many many spins. We spent a good amount of time on the water. The jet boat driver, Hamish was amazing! Super talented and told us interesting facts about the area.

The photos weren't very good, the video was okay but expensive, so we didn't purchase anything.

Overall it was amazing! Would...