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Skippers Canyon Guided Drive and Jet Boat from Queenstown

A gold-rush road carved into a cliff, then 80km/h between the canyon walls.

Drive the historic Skippers Road into the canyon, then power down the Shotover's narrowest stretches at over 80km/h with full 360-degree spins, past gold mining relics and Lord of the Rings locations.

📍 New Zealand ⏱ 3 Hours 🔥 Active

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$179 AUD

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Booked with Wanderlust, an Australian travel business based in Byron Bay (ABN 34 636 612 523). We handle your booking ourselves, before and after you travel.

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Overview

Most jet boat rides start at the water. This one starts on Skippers Road, a track gold miners carved out of a vertical rock face well over a century ago, and the drive in is half the adventure before you even see the boat. Your driver talks you through the gold rush history on the way, and the canyon itself has done time as a Lord of the Rings location.

The bus leaves from the Camp Street side of the Station Building in the centre of Queenstown and winds up into Skippers Canyon with commentary the whole way. At the river you pull on a spray jacket and life jacket and board for 25 minutes on the upper Shotover. The drivers put the boat within inches of the sheer canyon walls at speeds in excess of 80 km/h, run the narrowest stretches of the river, pass the old gold mining relics still sitting in the water, and finish the job with a series of full 360-degree spins. You get spray from the spins but you will not get soaked. Then it is back on the bus, with photo stops along the way, for the drive down to town.

Allow 2.5 to 3 hours return from central Queenstown. Summer departures (October to April) are 8:30am, 12pm and 3:30pm; winter (May to September) 9am and 1pm. Be at the bus stop 10 minutes before departure and use the toilet in the Station Building first. Children are welcome from age 3 with a minimum height of 1 metre, and pregnant travellers cannot take the bus or boat. Dress as if you were going skiing up the mountain: it is colder in the canyon than in town.

Why you'll love it

  1. 1

    Guided drive along the historic Skippers Road

  2. 2

    25 minutes of jet boating on the upper Shotover

  3. 3

    Speeds over 80km/h in narrow canyons

  4. 4

    Full 360-degree spins

  5. 5

    Gold mining relics still in the river

  6. 6

    Lord of the Rings locations

  7. 7

    Departs central Queenstown, 2.5 to 3 hours return

Itinerary at a glance

1 Departure · Camp Street side of the Station Building

Be at the bus stop 10 minutes before your departure time and use the toilet in the Station Building first. Summer departures are 8:30am, 12pm and 3:30pm; winter 9am and 1pm.

1 The drive in · Skippers Road into the canyon

The bus climbs the road miners cut into the rock face, with gold rush commentary from your driver, Lord of the Rings locations and photo stops along the way.

1 On the water · 25 minutes on the upper Shotover

Spray jacket and life jacket on, then it is inches from the canyon walls at over 80 km/h, past the gold mining relics in the river, with full 360-degree spins to finish.

1 Return · Back down to Queenstown

The bus drops you back at the Station Building in central Queenstown. Allow 2.5 to 3 hours for the whole trip.

What's included

✓ What's included

  • Guided bus tour into Skippers Canyon with driver commentary
  • 25 minute jet boat ride in the upper Shotover canyons
  • Spray jackets and life jackets
  • Return transport to central Queenstown
  • Photo stops along Skippers Road

✕ Not included

  • ✕Accommodation pick-up (the bus leaves from the Station Building)
  • ✕Food and drinks
  • ✕Travel insurance

Common questions about this trip

  • Where does it leave from and how early should I be there?
    The bus leaves from the Camp Street side of the Station Building (43 Camp Street) in the centre of Queenstown. Be there 10 minutes before departure. There is no accommodation pick-up, and the Station Building is a short walk from every hostel in the centre of town.

  • What are the departure times?
    Summer (October to April): 8:30am, 12pm and 3:30pm. Winter (May to September): 9am and 1pm. The full trip takes 2.5 to 3 hours return.

  • What should I bring and wear?
    Dress for the conditions on the day, and think skiing up the mountain rather than a walk around town. In summer bring a hat, sunglasses, a warm top, sunscreen, insect repellent, water and a camera. In winter bring a warm hat, a windproof warm jacket, gloves, sunglasses, water and a camera. Spray jackets and life jackets are supplied.

  • How wet do I get?
    You get spray from the spins but you will not get soaked. Spray jackets are available if you want one.

  • Are there age, height or medical limits?
    Children from 3 to 15 are welcome and a minimum height of 1 metre applies. Pregnant travellers cannot go on the bus or the boat ride. The ride is not recommended if you have a back injury, and you need to tell the crew about any injuries or medical conditions before you go.

  • Can I take my camera or GoPro on the boat?
    Yes, at your own risk. If you are using a selfie stick you will be seated at the rear of the boat.

  • What happens in bad weather?
    The trip is weather dependent and the operator decides on the day. There is no published weather policy, so if conditions on the road or river are unsafe the crew will advise you at departure.

  • Is there a toilet?
    Use the toilet in the Station Building before you leave Queenstown. The operator asks everyone to go before departure, as there are limited facilities once you are on Skippers Road.

  • What's the cancellation policy?
    Cancellation terms for this trip are set by the operator and confirmed on your booking voucher. Refunds mirror the operator's policy, if they can refund, so can we. Wanderlust handles the refund for you, refunds mirror the operator's terms 1:1 (including if the operator cancels) and we chase it on your behalf. Message us for the exact day-by-day terms before you book.

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What travellers say

Reviews from real travellers

Public reviews of the operator who runs this tour on the ground.

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"The whole experience was outstanding, from the bus journey (in and out of the canyon), banter, historical content and moreover the thrill of the jet boat ride."
A

Alan C

Tripadvisor review

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"A fully exhilarating and exciting experience including the journey through the canyon on an extremely hazardous road ( classed as one of the most dangerous roads in the world.) … our driver was informative and entertaining and the jet boat driver was cool but safe. The thrill spins in the boat soaked us but we expected nothing less."
C

Chingy

Tripadvisor review

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"Amazing experience! The landscape is beautiful, with landscapes of the Lord of the Rings, and the boat ride, though fast, is very delicious! Experienced driver, who gives adrenaline to the ride but without us feeling insecure!"
A

Adriana N

Tripadvisor review

Traveller reviews, source shown on each · shown as excerpts.

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