Overview
A perfect introduction to whitewater adventure, the Kawarau River delivers fun, scenic rapids and stunning turquoise canyon views. This grade 2-3 rafting trip is ideal for first-timers, families and school groups, offering a playful taste of whitewater with chances to splash around, swim through a rapid or take on a cliff jump.
Between rapids, enjoy calm stretches and a unique perspective as you float beneath the historic Kawarau Bungy Bridge. Drift through the rugged Gibbston Valley wine region and the dramatic landscapes made famous by Lord of the Rings, surrounded by rocky cliffs and crystal blue water.
Your finale is the unforgettable 400-metre Dog Leg Rapid, the largest volume commercially rafted river section in New Zealand.
Optional add-on:
Upgrade to Jet 2 Raft and kick off your trip with a 30-minute jet boat ride for double the thrill.
Season: November–April
Requirements: Moderate fitness and water confidence required. Not suitable for travellers with heart conditions or those taking heart medication.
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About The Host
Challenge Rafting
Challenge Rafting operates exciting half day whitewater rafting and raft combo trips on the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers. The Kawarau River offers exhilarating rafting for first-timers. The Shotover offers the challenge of extra excitement and thrills - conquer the 170-metre Oxenbridge Tunnel to shoot the Cascade Rapid. Our trips offer everything from calm waters to thundering rapids - there is something for everyone. Our professional and experienced guides provide instruction and guidance to make your trip even more enjoyable. All trips include courtesy coach transfers specialist on-river clothing, safety briefing and a hot shower after your raft trip. Our rafting trips operate in association with Queenstown Rafting.
Location
Things to keep in mind
Each experience on TrvlAtlas is hosted by one of our trusted local operators. Because every operator’s conditions differ slightly, this tour follows the cancellation policy set by Challenge Rafting.
Challenge Rafting – Cancellation Policy
• Cancellations made 24 hours or more before departure receive a full refund.
• Cancellations made within 24 hours of departure are non-refundable.
• No-shows or late arrivals are charged in full.
• If the operator cancels due to weather, safety or operational reasons, you may reschedule or receive a full refund.
To request a change or cancellation, please contact TrvlAtlas Support at support@trvlatlas.com. We’ll coordinate directly with the operator on your behalf in line with their policy.
By booking, you agree to both TrvlAtlas’ platform terms and the operator’s safety & risk disclaimer as outlined in the Special Terms & Conditions tab on the tour page and in your booking confirmation email.
This experience is listed on TrvlAtlas, a curated travel platform that connects travellers with trusted local operators. TrvlAtlas acts as the booking agent for this experience, while the operator delivers the tour and manages its own safety, cancellation, and participation terms.
This experience is operated by Challenge Rafting, a licensed and safety-accredited provider. Please review the key participation and safety requirements before booking:
Requirements
No previous rafting experience is required however those participating in our white water rafting experience must be able to swim.
Minimum Age Policy
The minimum age for white water rafting is 13 years, with a minimum weight of 40kg. Anyone under 16 years will need to be accompanied by someone 18 years of age or older.
Medical Restrictions
We cannot take you rafting if you are pregnant. Those with a heart condition or taking heart medication are also unable to participate.
We recommend that you consult us if you suffer from any of the following:
- Head Injury
- Recent Surgeries
- Neurological Disorders
- Epilepsy
- Dislocations
- Artificial Limbs
- Back Injuries
- Restricted Mobility
Please note the above list does not automatically exclude you from rafting, and the list is not exhaustive. If you have concerns about a condition not mentioned, please contact our team prior to travel.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
- We operate under a 24-hour cancellation and amendment policy. Any booking that is cancelled or amended within 24 hours of departure will be charged in full.
- In the event that a medical condition prevents you from partaking in the activity, a medical certificate must be provided to obtain a refund.
- Bookings that are cancelled or amended outside of 24 hours prior to departure can be done so at no charge.
Minimum Numbers
- For safety and operational reasons, we require specific numbers in order to operate. A raft trip must have a minimum of 8 people, therefore we ask you to call us the day prior to departure to reconfirm your trip.
- Bookings will be accepted for numbers less than the required minimum number on the basis that bookings will be coordinated to achieve minimum numbers. If we do not achieve minimum numbers we can reschedule, or cancel your booking without charge.
Additional Information
- All prices are subject to change. Valid 1 October 2024 - April 2025.
- Operational days: 364 days per year – we do not operate on Christmas Day
- All tours operate subject to weather conditions and minimum numbers and we reserve the right to cancel or amend any trip.
- Challenge Rafting is subject to the operational and health & safety practices of Queenstown Rafting.
- Challenge Rafting and Queenstown Rafting have the right to refuse any customer at any time.
- Participation in rafting activities involves a degree of risk. Challenge Rafting cannot be held responsible for personal injury or for equipment loss or damage.
- The above is subject to any rights or remedies you may have under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.
- Participants need to listen carefully to our guides' instructions.
- Our rafting trips operate in association with Queenstown Rafting.
- We reserve the right to cancel trips or substitute another river or section of river for safety reasons.
- These rafting trips operate with minimum numbers of people. Customers need to reconfirm at least 24 hours prior to departure to ensure your trip will be operating.
- All trips operate dependent on weather, river level and/or water temperature.
- Portages may be required based on changes to the water level and flow.
Risk Disclosure
All activity inherently involves risks and potential hazards, and we cannot anticipate or eliminate all risks, however together we can manage and mitigate risk.
Often, we are operating in unmodified and uncontrolled terrain and a balanced and conservative approach is taken to accommodate changing conditions. Our risk management includes monitoring of natural hazards including potential atmospheric, land or water related occurrences. (Landslides, earthquakes, tsunami, volcanic, storms, flooding, avalanche, rock, or ice fall).
We provide information to participants before and during the activity to ensure their participation suits their ability and objectives and is as safe as practicable with any potential changes identified prior or during the trip.
It is important clients acknowledge there are risks, understand safety information and briefings before and during their activity and follow the instructions set out by our experienced and trained teams.
Prevention of accidents and incidents is key in all our operations, and this is achieved when we all approach activities with care, control, and responsibility.
Safety Management
Challenge Rafting is committed to ensuring the highest level of safety of all staff, visitors, contractors, and others who may interact with any part of our activities.
This is achieved through developing and maintaining a culture where safety is our paramount consideration in everything we do.
We actively promote safety objectives, not only in the operation of our assets and equipment, but also through maintenance practices, the management of passengers and the training and competency assessment of all staff to a very high standard.
Our teams of experienced and capable managers and skilled staff have specialist knowledge relevant to each of our aviation, marine and adventure operations.
We have implemented Safety Management Systems approved by the relevant regulators.
Should other providers be contracted to deliver services, we check to ensure operators are regulated and audited for H&S compliance to a high standard.
FAQ
Do you pick-up from my accommodation?
The operator doesn't pickup from accommodation around Queenstown, however our check in location is conveniently located at 88 Beach Street (opposite the Crowne Plaza Hotel). Alternatively you are welcome to self drive out to the Raft Base located at 1 Arthurs Point Road, Arthurs Point, Queenstown 9371
Do I have to be able to swim?
Kawarau River – You must be able to swim confidently. This trip is a lower grade river with less opportunity to fall out of the raft. You’re given a life jacket and wetsuit that act as buoyancy aids but you will still need to be able to help the guide and move towards the raft should you come out of the raft (or safety kayaker in high water levels). So water confidence although not essential is recommended.
Shotover River – You must be swim confidently. This means you won’t be daunted by the river movement. Imagine being in the sea with medium waves round you where you can’t stand up and are tossed around a bit. If you feel comfortable with this then you should be okay whitewater rafting on the Shotover River.
What is the difference between the Shotover River and the Kawarau River?
As well as the scenery, there are a few differences between the rivers such as the grade/ranking of difficulty of rapids, the number of rapids rafted on the river and the swimming ability needed by rafters.
Shotover River – Grades 3-5 which means it’s more exciting to raft and harder to navigate. There is a higher risk of falling out the boat. The river has more rapids than the Kawarau – including a section where you raft 170m through the Oxenbridge tunnel. You must be able to swim on this river. The road to the Shotover River is via Skippers Canyon – a narrow dirt track road that hugs the sheer cliff face of the canyon.
Kawarau River –Grades 2-3 (however occasionally Grade 2-4 at higher water levels), which means it’s easier to navigate with low risk of falling out of the raft. There are flat stretches of river between the rapids which means there’s a chance of some water fight action. There’s an opportunity to race your friends on the other rafts or jump out and swim in the flat water between the rapids. The Kawarau River is a much deeper and bigger river and flows through some spectacular Central Otago vineyards. The trip ends with a 400 metre long, Grade 3 rapid.
What footwear should I wear?
Don't worry about getting you shoes wet, we provide wetsuit booties so you can wear your normal shoes to get to the rafting base.
Can I bring my camera?
Unfortunately, cameras and Go Pros are not permitted on either of our whitewater rafting trips for safety reasons.
How many people in a raft?
The rafts are large enough to carry six or seven people plus your rafting guide. If you’re travelling with friends or in a group, we can generally organise it so that you are together in the same raft.
How long is the raft trip?
The trip time varies depending on the river flow, the water level and time of year. Generally, the Shotover River trip can be between 1½ to 2½ hours on the water and the Kawarau River is between 1 hour and 1½ hours on the water.
How far from town is the river?
The rafting base is on the banks of the Shotover River approximately 10 minutes’ drive from town. After being fitted out with your wetsuit, you will be taken to the river that you have decided to raft.
Shotover River – The drive to the start point on the river is via Skippers Canyon and takes about 40 minutes – you then raft back to the base.
Kawarau River – The drive to the start point on the river is via Arrowtown and takes about 25 minutes. You then raft away from Queenstown and exit the river at Gibbston Valley. From there is takes about 30 minutes to return to the raft base.
Do you raft the same river as the jetboats?
Shotover Jet operates on the lower part of the Shotover River, just after the Oxenbridge Tunnel.
Challenge Rafting paddle above this section where the rapids are.
KJet operates on Lake Whakatipu, the Kawarau River and the lower Shotover River.
Skippers Canyon Jet operates on the section of river above where Challenge Rafting begins their whitewater trip. You will see different scenery as no jetboat can operate where we raft.
Is there any age or weight restrictions?
The minimum age for rafting is 13 years, with a minimum weight of 40kg. There is no maximum age for rafting as long as you are active and able to swim. It is the discretion of the trip leader and guides as to who is appropriate to participate in the rafting trip.
The maximum weight limit for rafting is 120kg and all customers must be able to fit our gear and safety equipment. We do have a number of extra-large wetsuits but ask that you are physically fit and able to swim.
What are the chances of falling out of the raft?
This depends on the river levels but there’s always a chance that you may fall out of the raft. The guides are trained to deal with this. Every Shotover River trip (and Kawarau in high water levels) has a safety kayaker. There is a full safety briefing before you commence your rafting trip explaining what to do.
Is there a guide in the raft with us?
Yes. Every raft has a qualified and certified rafting guide in it. They control when and how you paddle giving directions throughout the raft trip.
Can I go if I have a medical condition?
Some medical conditions may prohibit you from whitewater rafting but most will not. Please check T&C's for medical restrictions. It’s very important that if you do have a medical condition that you let staff know prior to rafting. If you require medication for your condition (eg. asthma inhalers), you will need to bring that with you in case it is needed.
Can I raft if I'm pregnant?
No. Company policy is that the operator doesn't allow anyone who is pregnant on grade 3 or above rivers.
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