Rafting - Family Adventures

Your adventure begins when you are escorted from the Queenstown town centre to a safety briefing, after which you board the 4WD that will take you into Skippers Canyon and the start of the white water rafting. Make the journey up to Coronet Peak, one of the oldest ski field roads in New Zealand, until you arrive at the mouth of Skippers Road at an altitude of approximately 600 metres. This is a rugged road that cannot be accessed in a regular rental car, and driving in the company of an experienced guide is much more relaxing than trying to go it alone. The road reaches an altitude of 795 metres before dipping 3 kilometres to the river.

Once you’ve donned all the necessary gear, your rafting experience begins for real. Along the way, you’ll enjoy the haunting sight of relics from the gold mining era scattered along the riverbank, identifying areas where gold was once found. The Shotover river, now so wild and untamed, was once one of the world’s greatest gold-bearing rivers.

The Shotover is a grade 2 river, meaning you won’t encounter any major rapids of great violence. You will however get splashed by water and can try your hand at tackling small rapids and waves. Fear not, as the experienced guides on board are more than able to handle any eventuality, thereby minimising risk and maximising fun and enjoyment. Your guide will also teach you a little about the geography and history of this fascinating area.