Lake Wakatipu sits right on Queenstown's doorstep, so it makes sense that some of the best ways to see this part of the South Island start on the water. A vintage steamship crossing to a high country farm, a day trip through Fiordland to Milford Sound, or a jet boat ride carved down the Shotover River, Queenstown's boat tours cover a wide range of pace and thrill. Here is what is actually on the water, and what each one includes.
Milford Sound coach and nature cruise
The Milford Sound Coach and Nature Cruise from Queenstown with Southern Discoveries covers the full Fiordland day trip, a 7am start on a glass roofed coach past Lake Te Anau and the Mirror Lakes, then up to 2 hours on the water cruising close to Milford Sound's waterfalls with a chance of spotting fur seals, dolphins or the rare Fiordland crested penguin. Child fares apply for ages five to fourteen, and infants up to four travel free. Allow twelve and a half hours all up.
TSS Earnslaw cruise and Walter Peak BBQ
The TSS Earnslaw Cruise and Walter Peak BBQ Buffet Lunch or Dinner puts you aboard the only coal fired steamship left in the Southern Hemisphere, the 'Lady of the Lake', for a 45 minute crossing of Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm. Once ashore there is a sheep shearing demonstration and a barbecue buffet at the Colonel's Homestead, with return sailing timed for sunset on the later departures. Child rates apply for ages five to fifteen, with children four and under free.
KJet on the Kawarau and Shotover rivers
The KJet has been running out of central Queenstown for over sixty years, making it the city's original jet boat operator. The one hour ride covers around 45 kilometres, launching from Queenstown Bay across Lake Wakatipu before racing into the Kawarau River and the shallow, braided Shotover River, with 360 degree spins along the way. The minimum age is two, children aged two to four travel free, and a family pass covers two adults and two children.
Skippers Canyon jet boat and 4WD tour
The Skippers Canyon Jetboat and 4WD Tour is the only jet boat operation permitted inside the historic Skippers Canyon. Getting there is half the experience, a 45 minute 4WD drive along the narrow, schist cut Skippers Canyon Road, passing Lord of the Rings filming locations and old gold mining relics, before a 30 minute jet boat ride through the canyon on the Shotover River. The minimum age is three, with child rates for ages three to fifteen and a family pass for two adults and one child.
Frequently asked questions
Which Queenstown boat tour covers the most ground in one day?
The Milford Sound Coach and Nature Cruise from Queenstown runs around twelve and a half hours door to door, combining a scenic Fiordland drive with up to two hours cruising Milford Sound itself.
What is the minimum age for jet boating in Queenstown?
The KJet accepts children from age two, while the Skippers Canyon Jetboat and 4WD Tour has a minimum age of three due to the more remote canyon setting.
Does the TSS Earnslaw run all year?
Yes, the TSS Earnslaw Cruise and Walter Peak BBQ Buffet operates daily throughout the year, though the steamship goes into annual survey for several weeks in autumn when an alternative vessel is used.
Do these tours include child or family pricing?
Yes, all four tours here offer discounted child fares, and both jet boat options include a family pass covering two adults and either one or two children depending on the operator.
Is Milford Sound worth the day trip from Queenstown?
Locals will tell you it is, Milford Sound is a genuine fiord carved by glaciers, and the cruise gets close enough to waterfalls that you will feel the spray, something photos from the road simply cannot capture.
Local tip: book the earliest Milford Sound departure you can, the coach beats the tour bus crowds to the Mirror Lakes and the fiord tends to be calmer before the wind picks up in the afternoon.
Book your Queenstown boat tour above and get out onto Lake Wakatipu, the Shotover River or Milford Sound the way locals rate it.