Kawarau River Tours & Attractions

Hang on during this thrilling Jet boat ride that travels at high speeds on two rivers, covering more ground with a longer time out on the water than similar tours in the region. Leaving right from the Main Town Pier in Queenstown, scream with delight as your jet boat zooms across Lake Wakatipu, spins in circles on the Kawarau River, and navigates the shallow waters of the Shotover River. Be prepared to have heart-racing fun on this roller coaster of a ride!
Duration: 1 hour.

Combining two of Queenstown's most iconic activities, this trip is second to none! Starting on the Queenstown Jet Boat, you'll get to experience those famous 360 degree spins and speed. Discover the Kawarau River and its pristine wilderness as we race you down the river to your next mode of transport. Then jump straight into a raft to complete the last section of river, where the Jet Boats fear to go. Spend your morning or afternoon paddling through the historic Kawarau gorge, famous for its gold mining, wineries and it’s stint in The Lord of the Rings franchise.
Paddle and swim your way through grade 2-3 whitewater rapids with a brand new cliff jumping section added for the adventure junkies (optional). Complete your journey by tackling the famous 400m Dog Leg rapid – the longest commercially rafted rapid in New Zealand. Then head back to Rafting Base for a hot shower.
Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes.

Classic Wine Tour - Running Daily 1:30pm - 5pm

Get a real taste for Central Otago wines with an interactive afternoon tour through Queenstown’s neighbouring wine region, Gibbston, otherwise known as the “Valley of Vines”.

Enjoy tastings at three unique cellar doors including a guided tour and wine tasting inside New Zealand’s largest wine cave. Also, enjoy a delightful cheeseboard to accompany one of the wine tastings.

Enjoy a full running commentary from your passionate and enthusiastic Wine Guide. Learn about this pioneering wine region and its evolution from just a couple of rows of vines into a world-renowned Pinot Noir producer. Be returned to your accommodation at approximately 5pm.

Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes.

Queenstown Jet offers you an electric ride. Filled with speed, thrills and even more of those famous 360 degree spins. Hold on as we race faster than ever before down Lake Whakatipu and onto the beautifully scenic Kawarau River. Be sure to hold on to your hats as we navigate under bridges at speed and skim the river edges with precision.

Great for families, we can take as young as two years old.

Our experience is champion in the jet boat game and we can’t wait to give you the ride of your life.
Duration: 1 hour.

A unique 1.5-hour scenic cruise on Lake Wakatipu, featuring breathtaking
views, fascinating stories, and genuine Kiwi hospitality.

Spot native wildlife, admire architecture, and glide over crystal-clear waters en route to the historic Kawarau Falls Dam.

A unique escape from the fast-paced Queenstown experience.

Licensed bar on board serving local beers and wines.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes.

Picturesque mountains, deep fiords and icy glaciers - this is New Zealand's South Island. See for yourself on a four-day independent tour highlighting this scenic region. Travel by coach from Christchurch to Queenstown via Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki and Mount Cook. From Queenstown enjoy a day tour to Milford Sound with a two hour nature cruise on the fiord. From Queenstown it is then a days travel up the West Coast to Franz Josef and Franz Josef Glacier. On the final day of the tour the journey takes you to Greymouth where you will board the TranzAlpine Train for your return to Christchurch.
Duration: 4 days.

Queenstown Jet Boat offers you an electric ride. Filled with speed, thrills and even more of those famous 360 degree spins. Hold on as we race faster than ever before down Lake Whakatipu. We will get you up close and personal with the lakes edge, skimming past trees and any obstacles in our way and be sure to hold on to your hats as we navigate under not one, but two bridges at speed.

Great for families, we can take as young as two years old!

Our experience is champion in the jet boat game and we can’t wait to give you the ride of your life.
Duration: 25 minutes.

An adventure safari packed with breathtaking scenery, thrilling 4WD action whilst discovering LOTR filming locations. Visit the filming locations of Minas Tirith, Misty Mountains, the Pillars of the Kings (Argonath), Gladden Fields, the Ford of Bruinen and more. Travel an historic gold mining road, following the Arrow River, stop for an opportunity to try your hand at gold panning. Take in the spectacular panoramic views over the Wakatipu Basin.
Duration: 4 hours.

Our Taste Of Central Tour presents a chance for a remarkable tasting adventure. This tour is designed to discover three subregions of Central Otago, providing private tasting sessions showcasing award-winning local wines. It combines deep-rooted history with visits to iconic sites, and exclusive boutique vineyards.

Guests will travel in luxury, indulge in a gourmet lunch, and savour cheese boards alongside their tasting journey while exploring historical landmarks and picturesque locations.

Experience the beauty of Central Otago as you embark on a journey to explore three unique subregions. We visit boutique vineyards favoured by locals and sample a range of exceptional wines, from cool climate varietals to warmer selections. Discover the unique characteristics of each region and take in the breathtaking views spanning from Queenstown, the Kawarau Gorge, to the historic gold fields of Bannockburn and Cromwell.
Duration: 7 to 8 hours.

While the destinations you will be visiting are truly spectacular, we at Cheeky Kiwi Travel believe it is our small groups, our guides, the journey and the little details that set our tours well apart. Secret stops, wildlife viewings, specially designed vehicles, complementary refreshments and many other pleasant surprises ensure our tours are an experience to remember.

Mt Cook & Hooker Valley Hike Tour, this small group, fully-guided day trip combines all of the key highlights in the area with the famous Hooker Valley Hike. Led by our famously passionate tour guides, notorious for bringing your journey to life by sharing their stories and rich background knowledge and run in modern, comfortable minibuses packed with extras ensuring your comfort and safety.
Duration: 4 to 8 hours.

Mt Cook to Queenstown Small Group Tour, this fully-guided 1-way transfer allows you to travel in style while learning about all the highlights along the way. Led by our famously passionate tour guides, notorious for bringing your journey to life by sharing their stories and rich background knowledge, and run in modern, comfortable minibuses packed with extras ensuring your comfort and safety.
Duration: 4 to 5 hours.

Old gold, liquid gold and gold-star movie settings. The charming village of Arrowtown is a living settlement and the town and nearby locations are the source of many wonderful stories. More than just a sightseeing tour, our guides help bring Arrowtown and the surrounding area to life.

3 Regions : Queenstown, Arrowtown & the Gibbston 

Visit historic Arrowtown & the Chinese village, make a photo stop at Lake Hayes (the Mirror Lake), the Kawarua bridge bungy jump, see the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers, visit a working honey farm and taste honeys including Manuka plus, enjoy a photo stop over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu.
Duration: 4 hours.

Discover the splendor of the NZ Southern Alps on this one-way sightseeing tour from Mount Cook. Relax on board your air-conditioned coach and admire the scenery as you depart in the afternoon from the alpine region of Mount Cook National Park. Choose to either travel North up to Christchurch or South down to Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand!
Duration: 5 hours 20 minutes.

The Skippers Road is a historic route we travel via 4WD. Built during the gold rush we drive high above the Kawerau River giving you a historic context of what life was like for the original settlers of Skippers Canyon, sharing stories, tales and showing you relics from the past.
Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes.

This full-day private photography tour takes us further afield than our other tours to the wild and rugged hills and mountains east of Queenstown.

First settled a mere 160 years ago, these alien landscapes became home to thousands of fortune seekers from around the world. Shanty towns sprung up overnight, collections of shops, pubs and brothels catering to the needs of the men.

These towns were outposts in a harsh wilderness. Some, like Cromwell and Alexandra, grew to become the civic centres of today, others shrank or disappeared altogether.

We explore the back roads, cross the tor studded hills and mountains, visit the ghost towns and capture the history of this stunning and fascinating region.
Duration: 9 hours.

The name Maniototo, derived from Māori, is said to mean `plains of blood’ and refers to the `flowing’ red tussocks that cover the land.

This region inspires Graeme Sydney, painter of some of New Zealand’s most iconic landscapes. Home to tiny towns and locations that once swarmed with settlers, toiling to win riches from this sparse, rugged and graphic landscape.

Imposing mountain ranges edge the wide splendour of the Maniototo Plain. Candid skies of brilliant blue dance across the land. A tantalising magenta sunset slides behind flinty, tussock-clad ranges when evening falls.

Humble farming settlements are dotted thinly across the plain, huddled on long, straight roads that never end. Isolated they may be, but these are involved, connected communities where people look out for each other.

Steeped in nature’s rhythms, locals share an enduring bond with this place. The sweeping silent spaces, the contrasting hues of seasonal changes & the expansive beauty of starry black nights.
Duration: 3 days.