Kawarau River White Water Rafting

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

You must be confident in the water. This is a lower-grade river with fewer opportunities to fall out of the raft. A life jacket and wetsuit provide buoyancy, but you must still be able to assist the guide and move towards the raft or safety kayaker if you fall out.

You don't need to worry about getting your shoes wet. Wetsuit booties are provided, so you can wear your normal shoes to get to the rafting base.

Unfortunately, cameras and GoPros are not permitted on either whitewater rafting experience for safety reasons.

Yes, you can. We recommend using a sports strap or tie for glasses, but we cannot guarantee their safety. If glasses are not required, please do not take them on your rafting trip.

The rafts are large enough to carry 6-7 people plus your rafting guide. If you are travelling with friends or in a group, the tour operator will try to organise for you to be together in the same raft. Operational requirements may not always allow your group to travel together.

The time varies depending on river flow, water level and the time of year. Generally, the Shotover River trip is between 1.5 and 2.5 hours on the water, while the Kawarau River is between 1 and 1.5 hours on the water.

The drive to the starting point takes about 25 minutes via Arrowtown. You will raft from Queenstown and exit the river at Gibbston Valley, followed by a return drive of about 30 minutes to the rafting base.

At the end of your trip, after your shower, you can purchase food from Canyon Brewing. The tour operator recommends eating something before your trip, as it will be around 4 hours before you finish.

The minimum age for rafting is 13 years. The minimum weight is 40kg and the maximum weight is 120kg. Extra-large wetsuits are available. Ultimately, the trip leader and guides will determine who is appropriate to participate in the rafting trip.

No. We recommend wearing only swimwear, as wetsuits work best when they are close to your skin. Clothing such as cotton T-shirts or jeans under the wetsuit can prevent the wetsuit from working effectively.

No. The tour operator's policy does not allow anyone who is pregnant to participate on Grade 3 or above rivers.