The Kawarau (Grade 2 to 3, from NZ$249) suits first-timers and runs November to March, says RealNZ. The Shotover (Grade 3 to 5, NZ$299) ends in a 170 m tunnel. Canyoning reopened on October 17.
| Operator | What you get | From | Length | Group | Min age | Weight limit | Cancellation | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gibbston Valley Canyoning 3hr Self Drive AdventureIncludes Canyoning equipment and guide |
NZ$189 per person |
3 hours |
Max 10 |
10+ (60+ contact the operator first) | Tickets are non-refundable within 48 hours of departure, for any reason (Tourism NZ listing). | Check dates | ||
Kawarau River Whitewater RaftingIncludes Full wetsuit and safety gear, Cliff jumping and rapid swimming (water permitting), Hot showers, Return shuttle to downtown Queenstown |
NZ$249 per person |
About 4.5 hours total; 1-1.5 hours on the water |
13+ (under 18 need guardian consent) | 40-120 kg, checked at check-in | Reconfirm 24 hours before; runs in rain, no refunds for short-notice weather cancellations by guest. | Check dates | ||
Half Day Canyoning (Queenstown)Includes Return transport to canyon, Wetsuit, booties, helmet, technical gear, buoyancy aid, Safety briefing, Tea and coffee after |
NZ$249 per adult |
About 4 hours total, up to 2 hours of activities |
12+ (children with an adult) | Max 120 kg; may be weighed | Check dates | |||
Shotover River Whitewater RaftingIncludes Return shuttle from Queenstown, Shuttle via Skippers Canyon Road, Wetsuit, jackets, booties, helmet, life jacket, Hot showers at Rafting Base |
NZ$299 per person |
About 4.5 hours total; 14 km of river |
13+ (under 18 need guardian consent) | 40-120 kg, checked at check-in | Reschedule or refund with up to 24 hours' notice; may cancel or switch river section for safety. | Check dates | ||
Scenic Drive and Rafting Adventure (Morning or Afternoon Trip)Includes Wetsuit boots, wetsuit or overpants, spray jacket, fleece, buoyancy aid and helmet, Guided commentary on gold mining history, Chocolates, fruit and cookies at the base |
NZ$329 per adult |
About 5 hours return from town; 45-minute drive into Skippers Canyon, then about 1-1.5 hours on the river |
3+ | Check dates | ||||
Glenorchy Paradise Canyoning Full Day AdventureIncludes Return transfers from Queenstown, Picnic lunch, Canyoning equipment and guide |
NZ$399 per person |
8 hours |
Max 6 |
12+ (60+ contact the operator first) | Check dates | |||
Mt Aspiring Canyoning Full Day AdventureIncludes Return transfers from Queenstown (transport option), Picnic lunch, Canyoning equipment and guide |
NZ$399 per person |
8 to 9.5 hours |
Max 8 |
12+ (60+ contact the operator first) | Check dates | |||
Full Day Canyoning Adventure (Routeburn Canyon)Includes Return transport, Full wetsuit, booties, helmet, technical gear, Picnic lunch, snacks, drinks |
NZ$429 per person |
About 8 hours from Queenstown |
15+ (under 18 need guardian consent and adult) | Max 120 kg; may be weighed | Check dates |
From each operator's own website, checked October 22, 2026. How we compare.
Queenstown Rafting's base sits on the Shotover River at Arthurs Point, about 10 minutes' drive from town, with hot showers and shuttles back to Queenstown. Shotover rafters ride a bus for about 40 minutes along Skippers Canyon Road to put in at Deep Creek, then raft 14 km downstream through the canyon. Kawarau trips meet at the RealNZ Visitor Centre, 88 Beach Street, and drive about 25 minutes via Arrowtown to the river, coming back through the Gibbston Valley in about 30 minutes.
Canyon Explorers checks in at The Adventure Centre, 39 Camp Street. Its half-day Queenstown Canyon is 15 minutes from town, reached by a short walk through old beech forest, though the company does not name the creek. The full-day trip goes to the Routeburn Canyon in Mount Aspiring National Park, driving along Lake Wakatipu through Glenorchy, then climbing the Routeburn Track for 25 to 30 minutes. Joining at Glenorchy instead of Queenstown saves about 90 minutes.
The Shotover is graded 3 to 5, with six rapids in that range over its 14 km, and RealNZ notes that Grade 5 is the top grade rafted commercially anywhere. The run ends through the 170 m Oxenbridge Tunnel. Each raft carries up to eight people including the guide, and a safety kayaker goes on every trip. Both rivers take about 4.5 hours in total, and RealNZ says time on the water depends on flow and conditions.
The Kawarau covers 8 km in 1 to 1.5 hours on the water. It is usually Grade 2 to 3 and can reach Grade 4 when the river runs high. Rafters paddle and swim some of the easier rapids, and an optional cliff jump depends on the water level. The trip finishes on the Dog Leg, a 400 m rapid that RealNZ rates Grade 3 to 4 and bills as "NZ's longest commercially rafted rapid".
Canyon Explorers' half day lasts about 4 hours, with up to 2 hours in the canyon, and leaves at 8:30 am, 10:30 am, 1 pm and 3 pm. The canyon has waterfall abseils, a zipline, natural slides and cliff jumps, but the company publishes no heights or lengths. The Routeburn day takes about 8 hours from Queenstown with a 9 am start, and the company says its jumps and abseils are bigger than in the Queenstown canyon.
RealNZ lists the Kawarau season as November to March, when weather and water levels allow, and its Shotover page gives no season. Kawarau trips go ahead in rain, and RealNZ says wet weather normally improves the river. A guest who cancels at short notice because of bad weather gets no refund. The company can cancel a trip or move it to another river or section for safety, and because trips need minimum numbers, it asks you to reconfirm 24 hours ahead.
Rafters must be 13 or older and weigh 40 to 120 kg, checked at check-in, and under-18s need a responsible adult with them or a parent's or guardian's consent. RealNZ asks that you can swim 25 m unaided, though its Kawarau FAQ calls water confidence recommended rather than essential. Anyone with a heart condition, other than blood pressure controlled by medication, cannot raft, and neither can anyone who is pregnant. Briefings are given in English, so someone in the group must translate if needed.
Canyon Explorers takes children from 12 on the half day, with an adult, and from 15 on the Routeburn trip. Both trips cap weight at 120 kg, and guests may be weighed before leaving. You do not need to swim, but you do need to be comfortable in water. The company turns away anyone who is pregnant, affected by alcohol or drugs, unable to fit its gear, or has a health condition the canyon could aggravate.
Queenstown Rafting, sold through RealNZ, is the only rafting company in this comparison, so the choice here is which river. The Kawarau costs from NZ$249 and suits a first trip or a less confident swimmer. The Shotover costs from NZ$299 for Grade 3 to 5 water and the Skippers Canyon drive. RealNZ's Jet2Raft adds a 30-minute jet boat ride to the Kawarau from NZ$329. Both trips include wetsuits, jackets, booties, helmets and life jackets, and RealNZ gives 1% to conservation on direct online bookings.
Canyon Explorers is the canyoning operator. Its half day costs NZ$249 off-peak or NZ$259 at peak times (the dates are not given), with children at NZ$199, and the Routeburn day costs from NZ$429 with a picnic lunch. The company says it sends two guides on every trip and calls itself the only operator that does. Its guides take photos to sell after the trip, and helmets have GoPro mounts, while RealNZ allows no cameras or GoPros on the raft.
from NZ$189 per person
Gibbston Valley Canyoning 3hr Self Drive Adventure and 2 more options
Says it offers "New Zealand's largest range of guided canyoning adventures"
from NZ$249 per person
Kawarau River Whitewater Rafting and 1 more option
Queenstown Rafting brand is sold through RealNZ
from NZ$249 per adult
Half Day Canyoning (Queenstown) and 1 more option
Abseils, ziplines, natural waterslides and cliff jumps
from NZ$329 per adult
Scenic Drive and Rafting Adventure (Morning or Afternoon Trip)
Grade 1 and 2 rapids only, on the upper Shotover through Skippers Canyon
Prices and policies come from each operator's own pages, read on October 22, 2026. Seasons, rules and local details come from the pages below.