Lake Wakatipu jet boat tours: which rides start on the lake?

Option 1: KJet — Main Town Pier to the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers

KJet is the ride to book if you want to start in the middle of Queenstown and cover three waterways in one trip. The signature ride crosses Lake Wakatipu, runs the Kawarau and turns into the lower Shotover, about 45 km in 60 minutes. KJet quotes speeds of up to 95 km/h, with 360-degree spins.

What makes KJet different?

• Central departure: You board at the Main Town Pier on Marine Parade, a short walk from most central hotels and restaurants.
• Three waterways: The lake plus two rivers that look and feel different from each other.
• A full hour: The standard ride from the Main Town Pier is 60 minutes on the water.
• Family fare: KJet’s fares are NZ$159 per adult, NZ$79 per child aged 5 to 14 and NZ$397 for a family pack of two adults and two children. Children aged 2 to 4 ride free with an adult if they fit a life jacket.
• Hourly trips: Boats leave every hour on the hour from 10am to 6pm, weather permitting, and KJet recommends booking ahead.

KJet also boards at its marina in Frankton, and that ride is shorter. KJet’s own combo information gives about 40 minutes from Frankton against 60 minutes from the Main Town Pier. If you want the full hour, book the Main Town Pier departure.

KJet suits first-time visitors, anyone who wants the lake and two contrasting rivers in one go, and groups who want an easy meeting point in town.

On GetYourGuide the KJet ride is from $84 per person, rated 4.7 from 2,017 reviews, and on Viator from $86, rated 4.7 from 628 reviews. KJet’s own booking page is the KJet Experience. Read our breakdown of the KJet ride, the KJet Queenstown guide and Kawarau River jet boat tours.

Option 2: Thunder Jet — Steamer Wharf and the Kawarau River

Thunder Jet checks you in at the Watersports Kiosk on Steamer Wharf, Beach Street, on the Queenstown waterfront. From there it runs a 30-minute and a 60-minute ride. Its 45-minute Rise & Ride leaves from Frankton Marina at 9am instead.

The route crosses the lake and runs the Kawarau River, with fast turns, shallow-water runs and full 360-degree spins. You leave the open town bay for the river corridor and the mountains around it.

When Thunder Jet makes more sense

• You want a shorter ride: The 30-minute ride fits into a busy afternoon.
• You are watching the budget: The 30-minute ride is NZ$119 at the operator and from $56 on GetYourGuide. The NZ$99 fare covers only the 45-minute Rise & Ride from Frankton.
• You want to stay close to the town centre: Steamer Wharf is on the lakefront, a few minutes’ walk from the Main Town Pier.
• You want the Kawarau: The route covers the lake and the Kawarau River, without KJet’s run up the lower Shotover.

Thunder Jet takes children from age 2 who weigh over 13 kg and fit its smallest life jacket. Children under 12 ride with an adult. Check the full conditions for the ride you pick.

On GetYourGuide the Thunder Jet 30-minute ride is from $56, rated 4.8 from 255 reviews. On Viator the 30-minute ride is from $63 (4.7 from 27 reviews) and the 1-hour ride from $86 (4.9 from 13 reviews, still a small sample). The operator page is Thunder Jet. Read our Thunder Jet Queenstown guide and KJet vs Thunder Jet.

KJet vs Thunder Jet from Lake Wakatipu: Which should you choose?

For an hour on the water both operators charge NZ$159, so choose on the route: KJet if you want the lower Shotover as well, Thunder Jet if the Kawarau alone is enough or you want the 30-minute option. For the canyon ride against KJet, see Shotover Jet vs KJet.

Where exactly do Lake Wakatipu jet boats depart?

Main Town Pier — KJet

KJet boards at the Main Town Pier on Marine Parade, Queenstown. This is its main town-centre departure and an easy walk along the waterfront. Check in at the kiosk 15 minutes before departure, as your confirmation says, before you head to the boat.

Steamer Wharf — Thunder Jet

Thunder Jet checks in at the Watersports Kiosk on Steamer Wharf, Beach Street, Queenstown, on the lakefront. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your ride time for check-in and life jackets.

Frankton — selected departures

Both operators also leave from Frankton: KJet’s ride of about 40 minutes from its marina, and Thunder Jet’s 9am Rise & Ride from Frankton Marina. The Frankton and town-centre rides differ in length and fare, and the meeting point is not the same. Go to the location on your booking confirmation.

For walking times and parking at each base, see our Queenstown jet boat departure points guide.

Does Shotover Jet depart from Lake Wakatipu?

No. The Shotover Jet canyon ride runs from its own base at Arthurs Point, about 10 minutes’ drive from the lakefront. It is the ride with the narrow rock walls and the fast driving through the Shotover canyons.

People mix the two up because KJet runs on the lower Shotover River. That stretch is wide and braided, and the canyon section is the one the Shotover Jet drives. If the canyon walls are the photo and the thrill you want, book the Shotover Jet. On GetYourGuide it is from $113, rated 4.9 from 1,743 reviews. If an easy start from the lakefront matters more, choose between KJet and Thunder Jet.

See our Shotover Jet guide and Shotover Jet vs KJet.

What does a Lake Wakatipu jet boat ride feel like?

This is a loud, fast outdoor ride, a long way from a smooth ferry crossing. On the open lake you see the Queenstown waterfront, the peaks around it and a lot of water. Once the boat reaches the river, the driver changes direction fast, runs shallow channels close to the banks and spins the boat through 360 degrees when conditions allow.

Jet boats push themselves along with a water jet from a pump inside the hull, which is how the operators run such shallow water. That does not mean every part of the river is safe to run on every day: drivers change the route to suit the water level and the weather. Our jet boat vs speed boat guide explains how the jet unit works.

If you get motion sickness, have a back, neck or heart condition, or worry about sharp turns, read the operator’s health advice and call them before you book. The rides differ in length and in how hard they are driven.

When is the best time to book?

Both operators run all year, weather and water conditions permitting. December to February is the busiest stretch for Queenstown outdoor activities, so book ahead if you have only one free afternoon. Our guide to jet boating in December covers the school holidays and booking before Christmas. In the cooler months the wind feels cold once the boat speeds up.

Thunder Jet warns that the run-up to Christmas books out fast, and KJet recommends booking ahead in any season. Weather can cancel or move a ride at any time of year. For the seasons, the weather and a date checker, see the best time for jet boating in Queenstown.

If you are fitting the ride around a flight, a coach transfer or another timed activity, leave a buffer for check-in, buying photos and possible delays. A 60-minute ride takes more than 60 minutes from the moment you arrive at the pier.

Read Queenstown jet boating in winter for the colder months.

What should you wear on a jet boat from Queenstown?

Bring:

• A windproof or waterproof outer layer; the wind chill is strong at speed.
• Closed shoes that grip, for stepping on and off the boat.
• Sunglasses (or goggles in winter) that will not blow off, and sunscreen on bright days.
• A warm extra layer, a hat and gloves in winter.
• A small bag only if the operator lets you take it; do not plan to hold a loose phone or camera through the spins.

KJet does not provide spray jackets, so bring your own or buy an eco-poncho at the kiosk for NZ$7. Thunder Jet also tells you to bring a waterproof jacket. Both provide life jackets.

See What to wear jet boating in Queenstown.

Are Lake Wakatipu jet boat tours suitable for families?

They can be, if you check each operator’s rules. KJet takes children from age 2, with children aged 2 to 4 riding free next to an adult (one adult per infant) as long as they fit an infant life jacket; there is no height limit. Thunder Jet takes children from age 2 who weigh over 13 kg, and under-12s ride with an adult. A life jacket that fits, an adult alongside and any medical limits still decide the day.

The 30-minute Thunder Jet ride is the shorter option for small children, but think about how your child copes with noise, spray and fast turns. Ask the operator about seating before you buy a non-refundable ticket.

See Queenstown jet boat age limits.

Can you combine a jet boat ride with another Lake Wakatipu activity?

Yes. KJet sells a KJet and Time Tripper combo at the Main Town Pier: the one-hour jet boat ride, then 30 minutes in Time Tripper, an underwater theatre and viewing room below the pier with a 15-minute show and 10 to 15 minutes of watching eels, trout and diving ducks. KJet asks you to allow 1 hour 45 minutes in total. The combo departs hourly from 10am to 4pm and costs NZ$159 per adult and NZ$85 per child, the same adult fare as the jet boat on its own. It is sold only by KJet, GetYourGuide and Viator do not list it, and the minimum age is 2.

You can also add a scenic cruise, a lakeside walk or the gondola before or after the ride. These are separate tickets and are not included in a jet boat fare. For combos sold online, see Queenstown jet boat combo tours.

How to book the right Lake Wakatipu jet boat experience

1. Choose the waterways. For the lake plus two rivers, start with KJet. For a shorter ride on the lake and the Kawarau, compare the Thunder Jet rides.
2. Confirm the boarding point. The Main Town Pier, Steamer Wharf and Frankton are three different places.
3. Match the fare to the ride length. Make sure a cheaper fare is for the ride length and departure you expect.
4. Check the rules for children and health conditions. Read the operator’s policy and call them if unsure.
5. Compare the total price. Child fares, family packs, cancellation terms, photos and add-ons all change the final cost. Our cheapest Queenstown jet boat page compares them.
6. Allow buffer time. Arrive before your check-in time and leave room for weather delays.

Final recommendation

For a jet boat from central Queenstown, compare KJet at the Main Town Pier with Thunder Jet at Steamer Wharf. Book KJet for a full hour on three waterways. Book Thunder Jet for the 30-minute ride or the cheapest early start from Frankton. If you want the steep walls of the Shotover canyons, book the Shotover Jet at Arthurs Point instead of a lakefront ride.

Before you pay, confirm the route, the boarding point, the ride length, the age rules and the price on the ticket you pick, because timetables and fares change.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go jet boating on Lake Wakatipu?

Yes. KJet and Thunder Jet both start on the Lake Wakatipu waterfront in Queenstown and continue onto the Kawarau River. Neither is a lake cruise; both are fast lake-and-river rides.

Which jet boat leaves from Main Town Pier?

KJet leaves from the Main Town Pier on Marine Parade, every hour on the hour from 10am to 6pm. Its town-centre ride is 60 minutes on the water.

Which jet boat departs from Steamer Wharf?

Thunder Jet checks in at the Watersports Kiosk on Steamer Wharf, Beach Street, for its 30- and 60-minute rides.

Does KJet go on both the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers?

Yes. KJet’s ride from the Main Town Pier crosses Lake Wakatipu, runs the Kawarau River and turns up the lower Shotover River. It does not enter the narrow canyons that the Shotover Jet drives from Arthurs Point.

How much is a Lake Wakatipu jet boat ride?

At the operators, KJet is NZ$159 per adult for an hour. Thunder Jet is NZ$119 for 30 minutes and NZ$159 for 60 minutes from Steamer Wharf, and NZ$99 for the 45-minute Rise & Ride from Frankton Marina at 9am. Online, the KJet ride is from $84 and the Thunder Jet 30-minute ride from $56 on GetYourGuide.

Is there a jet boat tour that stays only on Lake Wakatipu?

The fast jet boat rides from the lakefront all use both the lake and the river. If you want a trip only on the lake, book a scenic lake cruise.

Can I walk to a jet boat departure from central Queenstown?

Yes, if your ticket starts at the Main Town Pier or Steamer Wharf and you are staying in town. A Frankton or Arthurs Point booking means a drive, a bus or a booked transfer.

What is the difference between Lake Wakatipu jet boating and Shotover Jet?

The lakefront jet boats start in Queenstown Bay and run down the Kawarau, and KJet also runs the wide lower Shotover. The Shotover Jet is a separate ride through the narrow Shotover canyons from its base at Arthurs Point.

Still comparing? Our breakdown of the KJet ride and the Thunder Jet 30-minute ride go into each trip, and which Queenstown jet boat is right for you compares all eight rides.