Skippers Canyon Jet Boat

The Skippers Canyon Jet is a half-day trip with a jet boat ride in it rather than a jet boat ride on its own. Over three hours from central Queenstown you get a guided drive in on Skippers Road, about 25 minutes on the upper Shotover River, a stop at the Pipeline Bungy area and the drive back. It starts from $118 per person and holds a 4.9 rating from 794 reviews. At the time of writing it is sold through GetYourGuide; the Viator listing for this ride is currently inactive, so this page books on GetYourGuide only.

How the three hours run

The Skippers Canyon Jet meets on the Camp Street side of the Station Building in central Queenstown, near Marmolada Cafe. Wait outside by the wooden benches next to the bus stop. Use a toilet before you leave: the listing says there is no opportunity to do so on the tour.

The first part is the drive. A bus takes you into Skippers Canyon on Skippers Road, with commentary from the driver on the canyon and its gold-mining past. Several reviewers say the drive is half the fun, and the listing puts it the same way.

Then the boat. You ride the upper Shotover for about 25 minutes through its narrow canyons (the operator’s figure; the GetYourGuide listing says 30), at speeds the listing gives as over 80 km/h, with full 360° spins and the boat taken close to the rock walls. Life jackets and spray jackets are provided, with gloves added in winter.

After the ride the tour stops at the historic Pipeline Bungy area for a rest break and views down the canyon. The listing does not include a bungy jump. From there it is about 45 minutes back to Queenstown. Meals, drinks and photo or video packages are not included; the photo packages are sold on the day.

Skippers Road, and why you take the tour bus

The listing describes Skippers Road as the road where no rental car is insured. More generally, many rental car agreements in New Zealand exclude it. If you are driving a hire car anywhere near the canyon, read your own agreement before you turn onto that road. On this tour the transport is included, so the question does not come up.

The road itself is part of the history. It is reached from the road up to Coronet Peak and was completed around 1890. The listing says it was carved out of the vertical rock face by miners over 130 years ago.

Gold-mining country

Gold was found on the Shotover at Arthurs Point in November 1862, and the rush that followed carried miners up the river into Skippers Canyon. The Shotover came to be called the richest river in the world among miners, though no official records confirm how much gold it produced. The driver’s commentary covers this history, and it is the main thing that sets this trip apart from a straight thrill ride. The listing also mentions Lord of the Rings locations along the way.

Ages, fitness and what to wear

The minimum age is 3. The listing says the tour suits all ages as long as mobility is not a problem, and it states no height rule. It is not suitable for people with back problems, and the operator asks you to say if you have any medical conditions or back problems, or are pregnant. Talk to the operator before booking if any of that applies.

Dress for the conditions on the day. The listing recommends warm clothing, a hat, sunglasses, a camera, insect repellent and water. Our what to wear guide covers layers, and the age and height guide compares the rules across every ride.

Skippers Canyon Jet vs Shotover Jet

This is the comparison most people are making, and the two rides use different parts of the same river.

• The Shotover Jet runs 25 minutes in the Shotover canyons at Arthurs Point, about 10 minutes’ drive from town. Allow 1 hour 45 minutes from check-in in town to drop-off if you take the shuttle. It starts from $118 per person on Viator or $113 on GetYourGuide, and children must be at least 1.0 metre tall, rising to 1.2 metres in high river conditions.
• The Skippers Canyon Jet takes three hours, gives you about 25 minutes on the upper Shotover, includes transport and the guided drive, and starts from $118 per person, with a minimum age of 3.

If you have an hour or two and want the canyons, the Shotover Jet fits. If you have a morning or afternoon and want the road, the history and the boat together, Skippers does more with the time. Our Shotover Jet vs Skippers Canyon page goes further.

For a longer wilderness trip, the Dart River Wilderness Jet gives you 2 hours on the Dart River from Glenorchy, or 4 hours with transfers from Queenstown, from $181 per person. Its minimum age differs by platform: 5 on GetYourGuide and 3 on Viator, both with a 1 metre height minimum, so confirm with the operator.

Where to go next

If you are still deciding, see our Shotover Jet page or the Dart River jet boat page. There is more detail in our Skippers Canyon breakdown. If the canyon trip fits, check availability for your dates.