Canoe Plus Jet Boat, Meal Included

Dart River Canoe and Jet Boat Experience from Queenstown

★ 4.8 382 reviews

from $293.43 per person

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Duration: 8 hours 15 minutes
Meeting point: Dart River Adventures, Mull Street, Glenorchy
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Meal: Meal included
Run by: Dart River Adventures

Overview

This trip spends a full day on the Dart River, combining a jet boat ride from Glenorchy with paddling inflatable funyaks, and the whole thing runs about 8 hours 15 minutes.

Round-trip transport from Queenstown is a selectable option at booking. One reviewer describes the drive out to Glenorchy as a scenic start to the day.

The mix suits people who want some speed and some quiet. Reviewers describe the jet boat as thrilling but safe, while the canoeing section draws more comment as physical work: paddling, steering with a partner, and occasionally hauling the canoe over shallow rocks. Families with children aged five and up take part, and the operator supplies wetsuits, booties, fleeces, lifejackets and dry bags. Guides get frequent praise in the reviews for patience and local knowledge.

Jet boat on the braided Dart River near Glenorchy with beech forest and a wake downstream.

What's Included

Included

Round-trip transport from Queenstown (select from Queenstown option)
Jet boat ride
Canoe tour
Use of equipment: lifejacket, wetsuits and booties, fleece, dry bag
Lunch (Picnic lunch)
Soft drinks, tea and coffee
Professional guide

Not Included

Gratuities

Itinerary

Queenstown pickupRound-trip transport from Queenstown is a selectable option. Self-drive travellers make their own way to Glenorchy instead.
Check in at GlenorchyCheck in at the Dart River Adventures base, 45 Mull Street, Glenorchy.
Gear and transferThe team kits everyone out with wetsuits, booties, fleece and lifejackets.
Jet boat up the DartThe jet boat ride carries the group up the braided Dart River.
Canoe down the riverAfter a briefing, travellers paddle inflatable funyaks on the river.
Picnic lunchA picnic lunch is served partway down the river, with soft drinks, tea and coffee provided.
Return to baseThe day ends back at the meeting point in Glenorchy, with transport back to Queenstown for those who selected it.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this day goes, from what to wear to how hard the paddling actually is.

$293.43from, per person

8 hours 15 minutesduration

4.8across 382 guest reviews

32guests at most

Bring and wear. Bring swimwear, a towel, warm clothes, sunscreen and insect repellent. One reviewer who skipped gloves and a hat on the jet boat regretted it, and another reported biting flies at lunch, so insect repellent matters more than it might seem.
Physical effort. The canoeing is a genuine workout. Reviewers describe coordinating paddling and steering with a partner as tricky, and some mention dragging the funyaks over rocks for short stretches. One reluctant traveller who worried about fitness still called it a great day, and guides divide the group and help stragglers.
Gear provided. A dry bag is provided for items like a camera that you want on the river.
Group feel. The tour runs with a maximum of 32 travellers. One reviewer said guides split the large group into smaller units for the canoe section, and that parents could have children ride with a guide. Several reviewers travelled as families and said everyone enjoyed it.
Food and drink. A picnic lunch with soft drinks, tea and coffee is included, and reviewers repeatedly call it good, with one noting allergies were accommodated. Gratuities are the only listed exclusion.
Scenery. Reviews again and again point to the scenery as the best part of the day, from the braided river to the gorge, with one traveller calling it their favourite activity in New Zealand.

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Common issues. The canoe section is harder than some expect, and one reviewer found the funyaks more work than a relaxing float. Biting flies bothered people at lunch, and one reviewer reported a hot, uncomfortable vehicle ride at the end of the day. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, is not recommended for travellers with back problems or who are pregnant, and can be cancelled for weather or if minimum numbers are not met, with a different date or full refund offered in those cases.

Common Questions

What Is Included In The Price?

The jet boat ride, the canoe tour, all gear (lifejacket, wetsuits and booties, fleece, dry bag), a picnic lunch, soft drinks, tea and coffee, a professional guide, and round-trip transport from Queenstown if you select that option. Gratuities are not included.

Is Pickup From Queenstown Available?

Yes, round-trip transport from Queenstown is a selectable option when booking.

Can Children Join?

Yes, the minimum age is 5 years and the minimum height is 1 meter. Children must be accompanied by a paying adult, and reviews describe families enjoying the day together, with one reviewer noting kids could ride in a canoe with a guide.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

Cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes and cancellations inside 24 hours are not accepted or refunded. If the operator cancels for poor weather or low numbers, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

What Should I Bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, warm clothes, sunscreen and insect repellent. Gloves and a hat are worth having for the jet boat ride, and a dry bag is provided for items like a camera that you want on the river.