Shotover River Whitewater Rafting Adventure

No, accommodation pick-up is not available around Queenstown. Check in at 88 Beach Street, Queenstown, opposite the Crowne Plaza Hotel. You can also self-drive to the Raft Base at 1 Arthurs Point Road, Arthurs Point, Queenstown 9371

Bring a swimsuit and towel. Hot showers are available at the rafting base after your trip. Please leave valuables at your accommodation or locked safely in your car.

Yes. You must be able to swim confidently for the Shotover River rafting experience. You should be comfortable in moving water where you cannot stand and may be tossed around by the waves. Your life jacket and wetsuit provide buoyancy, but you still need to be able to help the guide and move towards the raft or safety kayaker if you fall out.

You can wear your normal shoes to the rafting base. Wetsuit booties are provided for the rafting experience, so there is no need to worry about getting your shoes wet.

No. Cameras and GoPros are not permitted on the whitewater rafting experience for safety reasons.

Yes, you can wear glasses or contact lenses. If you wear glasses, a sports strap or tie is recommended. The safety of your glasses cannot be guaranteed. If you do not need your glasses during the trip, it is recommended that you leave them behind.

Each raft can carry 6–7 people plus a rafting guide. If you are travelling with friends or in a group, the team will try to keep you together in the same raft, although operational requirements may not always allow this.

The time on the water varies depending on river flow, water level and time of year. The Shotover River rafting experience generally lasts 1½–2½ hours on the water.

The rafting base is on the banks of the Shotover River, approximately 10 minutes from Central Queenstown by car. After getting fitted with your wetsuit, you’ll be taken to the river.

For the Shotover River experience, the drive to the river start point through Skippers Canyon takes around 40 minutes. You’ll raft back to the base.

Challenge Rafting operates on a section of the Shotover River above the area where Shotover Jet operates. Jet boats cannot operate in the section where the whitewater rafting takes place, so you’ll experience different scenery and rapids.

Due to the remote locations and terrain, it is generally not possible to watch the rafting trip. There is an opportunity to view the last rapid on the Shotover River as rafters come through the Oxenbridge Tunnel. Viewing times depend on river levels and flow, so your friends or family may need to wait.

Yes. Toilets are available at the Rafting Base and at Deep Creek, where the Shotover River rafting experience starts.

Yes. The minimum age is 13 years and the minimum weight is 40kg. The maximum weight is 120kg. Extra-large wetsuits are available. Ultimately, the trip leader and guides decide whether a guest is appropriate to participate.

No. Swimwear is recommended under the wetsuit. Cotton T-shirts, jeans and other clothing can prevent the wetsuit from working effectively by stopping it from fitting closely against your skin.

No refund is provided for no-shows or changes made less than 24 hours before departure. Please refer to the cancellation policy for further details.

Some medical conditions may prevent you from participating. If you have a heart condition or are taking heart medication, you cannot participate in the rafting experience. Please check the terms and conditions for other medical restrictions and inform the team about any medical conditions before your trip. If you require medication for your condition, you should bring it with you.

No. Pregnant guests cannot participate in Grade 3 or above whitewater rafting experiences.