Wanaka Tours
Packraft Wanaka
5

Packraft Wanaka

By Wanaka River Journeys
Recommended by 100% of travellers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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About
from
$409.00
per adult
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 10-68, max of 14 per group
Duration: 7h 15m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Packrafting gear (wetsuits, booties, spray jackets, helmets)
  • Picnic lunch and snacks (please provide dietary requirements)
  • Courtesy shuttle
  • Photos
  • Entry/Admission - Mount Aspiring National Park
What's not included
  • Must be able to swim
  • Bottled water
  • Sports shoes


Start:
  • 99 Ardmore Street, Wānaka 9305, New Zealand
    Outside of the Wanaka i-SITE (information centre) 8:30am
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 47316P3

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not recommended for travellers with back problems
    • Not recommended for pregnant travellers
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • All children (4-14yrs) must be accompanied by an adult over 18
    • Clients Must be able to swim
    • Please supply weight, height, shoe size, dietary requirements and level of water confidence (high/med/low)
    • Clients must read our Terms, Conditions & Risk Disclosure prior to booking (Please go to our website www.wanakariverjourneys.co.nz and click on the link at the bottom of the home page)
    • Please talk to us if you are over 130kg to ensure we have the right size gear for you
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 47316P3

    Reserve your spot

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • 99 Ardmore Street, Wānaka 9305, New Zealand
      Outside of the Wanaka i-SITE (information centre) 8:30am
    • 1
    • 2
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Wanaka River Journeys
      554
      Wanaka, New Zealand
      Joined in December 2008
    • celine_stm
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jet Boat Tour at Mount Aspiring
      A very nice lady welcomed us at the meeting point and drove us to where the boat was located. The jetboat drive was amazing and the views stunning! The guide told us everything about the mountains and the locations where lord of the rings was filmed. We made a break at some point and did a about 30min hike. We then headed back to the boat and from there back to where the shuttle was waiting and the lady drove us back to the starting point. All in all a great half a day with great views and soo much fun on the jetboat with a lot of spins!!
      Written 28 August 2024
    • MishkaBear2019
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great Time!
      Very enjoyable and safe! The nature walk was fantastic. The 360-degree spins were exhilarating. I recommend this trip for the great scenery and fun.
      Written 2 May 2024
    • A2073HJjessicaw
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jet boat and wilderness walk
      A beautiful day in Wanaka with all the autumn colours, perfect for a trip up the river and a relaxing walk. Ben our river guide was very knowledgeable about the area and made the trip interesting.
      Written 22 April 2024
    • Companion25861877814
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      a great day
      a great day courtney was a brilliant guide and boat driver , she knew lots about the wildlife on the beautiful island , a slight incident on the river when we ran aground was exciting and superbly handled , highly recommend.
      Written 16 April 2024
    • Curious44191539305
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Worth a go
      Enjoyed the jet boat and the the 360 stops. Stunning scenery along the river which makes this even better. Staff were excellent and looked after us very well.
      Written 4 April 2024
    • Curious44191539305
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Exciting and Beautiful
      Beautiful Scenery and excellent staff made this an enjoyable trip. Enjoyed the jet boat and the full circle stop. Excellent guide and very passionate about the area.
      Written 4 April 2024
    • susandemel
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Everything about tour was amazing….
      It was one of the funnest ride I’ve ever taken. It was so much fun and our guide Ben was amazing. He explained clearly everything and the walk was increidible. Recommend this highly.
      Written 4 April 2024
    • rej5175
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great fun on the river
      This was a jet boat ride and short walk up the Matukituki River near Lake Wanaka. On a beautiful, clear day, the scenery as we headed toward Mount Aspiring was beyond stunning. The hike to a very pretty waterfall formed a nice interlude halfway through. And the jet boat ride is the definition of fun. Our driver-guide Ben knows every inch of the river and surrounds, as well as knowing how to give the clients some thrills. Great afternoon.
      Written 30 March 2024
    • Global33023973062
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      An amazing experience!
      I am so glad we booked the Glacial Jet experience! The Jet Boat was fun, the walk was short and interesting and the helicopter ride one I will remember for my lifetime!
      Written 28 March 2024
    • Global33023973062
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A great experience with 3 interesting options!
      We actually did the Jet Boat/ Wilderness walk with the heli ride to Mt. Aspiring glacier and it was AMAZING. The jet boat was great fun, the walk (we had a shortened version) brought us through some interesting parts of the valley and the helicopter ride was one I will remember forever!
      Written 28 March 2024
    • Kdk08d
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Pretty and fun!
      Very fun and pretty scenery! Ben was our guide and he gave us some good commentary and made sure we felt safe and comfortable. Recommend this trip….especially kids would like it. The Beech tree walk was an easy 2 miles in a pretty forest
      Written 26 March 2024
    • Shaz1a
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great experience of the braided rivers and valleys they flow through
      Fabulous way to really experience NZs braided rivers and get up close to the water and nature. Courtney was fantastic, really knowledgeable and answered lots of questions. There were thrills but no spills (just the way we want it) and it was a great way to explore the valleys that you otherwise drive through.
      Written 25 March 2024
    • Pathfinder630878
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A must do in Wānaka
      Fantastic experience. A stunning ride up the Matukituki valley with our very knowledgeable pilot Ben. Great views, free commentary and great fun!!
      Written 24 March 2024
    • ericpY2485XB
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great trip
      Absolutely superb experience. Skipper Courtney was great fantastic sense of humour and skill in driving the boat. Wilderness walk and her local knowledge of the area made for a great 4 hours trip. Would highly recommend.
      Written 21 March 2024
    • lindahagenmiller
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      360 anyone?
      Best way to get on a river. Courtney is a knowledgeable, fun guide and jet boat captain. Lots of history, geography, geology, flora and fauna info. When she signals a 360 is coming, hang on. Fun hike through a meadow with glacier views. Bring a snack and DO NOT forget bug spray. The black flies are merciless.
      Written 20 March 2024
    See all 554 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles47 reviews
    Excellent
    46
    Very good
    1
    Average
    0
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    0

    Andrew&Mel
    Sydney, Australia5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2024 • Family
    As far as family experiences go in the NZ outdoors this was as good as it gets. The river is pristine and the views were fantastic. The crew were experienced, helpful and friendly. They accommodated the needs of our kids and engaged with them throughout the trip. If you’re looking for a family friendly adventure I’d highly recommend adding this to your itinerary.
    Written 21 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Alex C
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020 • Couples
    My husband and I did the full day of jet boat, nature walking and pack rafting (kayaking) with Courtney while we were in Wanaka.

    It was definitely a highlight of our trip!

    The whole experience was designed well and we felt well taken of.

    Courtney was able to give us incredible insight across a variety of subject; nature, travel and local life.

    Highly recommend, such a great day and lunch was epic!
    Written 7 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Lucy Clements123
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2023
    I had An amazing experience for my first time Pack Rafting with Wanaka River Journeys.
    My guide Brent was super knowledgeable and gave lots of fun facts about Mt Aspiring National Park and gave us some awesome tips and tricks to make it more fun and interesting going down the river.

    I would highly recommend doing this fantastic full day adventure I was also blown away being surrounded by all the mountains.
    Written 1 February 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    FromOntariosOC
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2023
    Our family had a great day packrafting with Brent along the river! The mountain scenery was breathtaking, and all that Brent shared about the area was a huge added bonus. Our kids thoroughly enjoyed the paddling and the rapids and now have a taste for more as we continue our travels through NZ. Huge thanks to Sue for helping get our day organized! Highly recommend!!
    Written 17 April 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Mfd
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020 • Couples
    We did the jet boat, nature walk and pack raft and had a fantastic time. The jet boat was exciting and a great way to see the transition from farmland near the lake to native forest and glaciers further up the valley.

    The nature walk was lovely, visiting a waterfall and walking through old beech forest covered in mosses and ferns.

    The pack raft was the highlight, with Courtney gearing us up and advising us on how the navigate the river. The river is pretty gentle with chances to swim and cool down, and the pack rafts feel super stable and manoeuvrable. All the kit was clean and well maintained, and both guides were fantastic. Thanks!
    Written 14 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    afc3659
    Melbourne, Australia20 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    What a beautiful day to go rafting! We were extremely fortunate to be the only people on today's packraft adventure when Brent and James picked us up in downtown Wanaka. An hour or so driving through fabulous scenery and quintessential Kiwi farms found us at our launching site. After morning tea and fitted with wet suits, helmets and life jackets, Brent gave us the low down on how to paddle and then we we were off! We were in one packraft, Brent was in the other one. We had the river all to ourselves as Brent helped us navigate the (very chilled) rapids while giving us a great insight into the mountains and glaciers we could see and the way the valleys were formed. Picnic lunch was perfect and then further paddling / drifting / serenity admiring until we met James and the van at the end. A brilliant day! Thanks so much, Melissa and Andy
    Written 11 November 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Rachel B
    Cheshire, UK24 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An Absolutely fantastic day, from pick up in Wanaka, morning tea and coffee then off out onto the Matukituki River, our guide Steve was fab, took us at a great pace allowing time for fun on the water and time to take in the amazing scenery. We stopped for a lovely picnic lunch then off on the water again for the afternoon until we met up with the mini bus to take us back to town. Great equipment, organisation and guides, a 5* activity. We were emailed photos of us on the river afterwards which were brilliant. Thank you packraft wanaka for an amazing day.
    Written 8 February 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Hanne B
    Hurstpierpoint, UK4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2023 • Solo
    Fab day out with very knowledgeable guides! Pack rafting surrounded by the beautiful surrounding Mount Aspiring National Park was such a amazing experience. Really recommend it as a day out if you are visiting Wanaka or want to have a day in nature learning a new skill!
    Written 31 October 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Dorothy Murphy
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2021 • Family
    From the moment we were picked up, our guides were friendly, professional and focused on giving us a fun and safe day out. Our kids loved the experience, as did we. The scenery was outstanding, the gear was all in really good condition, and we felt safe and well looked after the whole time. We loved both the waterfall walks, and the food was delicious! A fantastic day out that we didn’t want to end. (We would have loved to stay on the river a bit longer!) Thanks so much.
    Written 12 January 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Sidney H
    16 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2023
    We had a wonderful and memorable day taking two person rafts down the Matukituki River one hour west of Wanaka. Brent and Sue run a wonderful tour. The equipment was top notch and the guidance and instructions were excellent. And the scenery, mountains and hanging glaciers, unsurpassed. Our first day we got all ready at the riverside but then had to cancel due to high winds and a coming storm. We had the option of full refund along with our free lunch or coming back the next day in better weather. We chose the latter and the weather was great and our river trip exciting and beautiful. Don’t miss this if you are in Wanaka.
    Written 21 January 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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