Skippers Canyon Jet
Skippers Canyon Jet
5
4WD, ATV & Off-Road ToursAdrenaline & Extreme ToursBoat ToursSpeed Boats ToursDay Trips
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About
Skippers Canyon Jet offer Jet Boat Tours in the stunning backcountry landscape of Skippers Canyon, just a short drive from Queenstown, New Zealand.
Central Otago, New Zealand
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Skippers Canyon Jet
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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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4.9
1,662 reviews
Excellent
1,511
Very good
130
Average
14
Poor
5
Terrible
2
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Jo C
Manchester, UK30 contributions
Feb 2025 • Couples
Don’t bother with the rest who market themselves everywhere in QT! This was a full half day experience with skilful driving on Skipper Road by Cal and equally thrilling jet boat handling by Lincoln!
Skipper Road cannot be driven on by rental cars as insurance does not cover you…. After having Cal drive it, we totally understand!
The jet boat at 90 k an hour was truly exciting!
Highly recommend…. Same money as a 30 mins jet boat ride with other companies however this is a 2 hour plus trip
Totally worth it- thanks Cal and Lincoln!
Skipper Road cannot be driven on by rental cars as insurance does not cover you…. After having Cal drive it, we totally understand!
The jet boat at 90 k an hour was truly exciting!
Highly recommend…. Same money as a 30 mins jet boat ride with other companies however this is a 2 hour plus trip
Totally worth it- thanks Cal and Lincoln!
Written 27 February 2025
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.
Leigh M
Wellington, New Zealand7 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
What a great value and awesome experience. The drive in was mega and the driver (Cal) had just the right level of sarcasm in his knowledgeable narrative. The boat ride was the best we have ever done in queenstown. Small family run business....if you're gonna jet boat, use these guys.
We are a family or 3 with a 9yo boy. Trip was age and family appropriate
We are a family or 3 with a 9yo boy. Trip was age and family appropriate
Written 20 April 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.
Michele B
Queenstown, New Zealand1 contribution
Jan 2025 • Family
This trip was absolutely amazing Cal our bus driver was full of local information and we felt we were in great hands as we drove downs skippers to the jet boat ride. It also was incredible Lincoln our boat driver was very skilled as we weaved down the shotover river
We would highly recommend this tour. Great value for money
Graham and Michele
Queensland Australia
We would highly recommend this tour. Great value for money
Graham and Michele
Queensland Australia
Written 13 January 2025
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.
Gr8m82013
Ocean Reef, Australia31 contributions
Dec 2024 • Family
A must do! An experience for i’m the moment you get in the bus all the way to the end.
The bus ride into the canyon was part of the thrill with informative commentary from Cal and then the main event on the jet boat through the canyon with Ben!!!
Talk about value for money! 3hr experience start to finish.
Do yourself a favour, if you want to do jet boating for Skippers Canyon Jet Boating!
The bus ride into the canyon was part of the thrill with informative commentary from Cal and then the main event on the jet boat through the canyon with Ben!!!
Talk about value for money! 3hr experience start to finish.
Do yourself a favour, if you want to do jet boating for Skippers Canyon Jet Boating!
Written 31 December 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.
Frank H
21 contributions
Dec 2024 • Couples
The jet boat ride was one of our best experiences - and we've done many things before. Even the trip to the river by minibus over Coronet Peak was an experience, entertaining in equal measure by the funny comments from the driver (Call) during the trip. If you don't want standard tourist handling, this is the place. The one who drove the boat has been doing this for 17 years and drove the cameramen up the river when they filmed Tom Cruise for Mission Impossible 5.
Automatically translated
Written 21 December 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.
adam
Perth, Australia5 contributions
Mar 2025
Although there was confusion about the meeting point (it's opposite to the given address) the driver was professional, knowledgeable, friendly and very skilled navigating across the dirt track to the Shotover River, where we were handed over to another excellent driver/Skipper on the jet boat!
It was a chilly morning but an excellent adrenaline rush, masterfully steered by the very skilled skipper. Although the jet boat ride felt short, it was almost freezing so all-in-all, a highly recommended experience.
It was a chilly morning but an excellent adrenaline rush, masterfully steered by the very skilled skipper. Although the jet boat ride felt short, it was almost freezing so all-in-all, a highly recommended experience.
Written 8 March 2025
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.
B C M
Sydney, Australia6 contributions
Jan 2025 • Family
This is the jet boat to do. Yes it isn't as easy to get to as some of the other ones, but that is because you have to go the extra mile sometimes to get the best exerience. In this case that means you can't drive yourself there, instead you go by their minivan to the dock. It makes perfect sense when you see the road. It is a very isolated, gravel mountainside road. A drive best done by experienced locals.
That said, the drive there was part of the awesome experience and probably delivered some of the best views that we had during our stay in NZ. Our driver was warm and funny and he drove with great care.
There is also good reason that the boat launches where it does in a remote canyon- that is where you get the best views, the best thrills, and the best of the river.
I still cannot get over the absolute skill of our boat skipper Elliot, he navigated those waters so expertly, it was just incredible to watch and experience. We were in abolute awe. Great guy, great times for our family. We went with a 10 yr old and a 12yr old, and they would have gone immediately again if we had let them.
That said, the drive there was part of the awesome experience and probably delivered some of the best views that we had during our stay in NZ. Our driver was warm and funny and he drove with great care.
There is also good reason that the boat launches where it does in a remote canyon- that is where you get the best views, the best thrills, and the best of the river.
I still cannot get over the absolute skill of our boat skipper Elliot, he navigated those waters so expertly, it was just incredible to watch and experience. We were in abolute awe. Great guy, great times for our family. We went with a 10 yr old and a 12yr old, and they would have gone immediately again if we had let them.
Written 26 January 2025
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.
Mary D
Sydney, Australia11 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Amazing jet boat experience and good value for money. Our bus driver Rob and boat captain Elliot both did a great job keeping us entertained and providing great commentary. The drive to the boat was so beautiful and the boat ride was the perfect amount of time. Would recommend to anyone looking for something thrilling but not too scary.
Written 5 May 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.
Sandra P
2 contributions
Mar 2024
Cal was an expert bus driver and gave us an informative commentary on our drive to the Canyon. The drive along Skippers Road was a treat in itself, well worth the time and money. It was assuring to have such an experienced driver - it is an extremely difficult narrow road. The highlight of course was the jet boat. The best fun, totally thrilling - such skilled drivers!
Written 25 March 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.
M8899DQemily
Gold Coast, Australia1 contribution
Dec 2024 • Family
Rob and the staff at Skipper Canyon Jet went above and beyond to accommodate us for a jetboat ride. Our daughter giggled throughout and showed no fear due to their extensive care. Thankyou for such a memorable trip during our holiday. We highly recommend this company and it's staff!
Written 2 January 2025
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.
Hi, I am doing this trip in a couple of days and I was wondering what is a suitable attire for this trip??
Written 3 February 2019
We just wore long pants and jumpers. You gey a little splashes but definitely not drenched.
Written 16 December 2019
Hi, I am doing this trip in a couple of days and I was wondering what is a suitable attire for this trip??
Written 3 February 2019
Hi, sorry just saw your message now. We wore shorts and tshirts because it was really hot.
Written 7 February 2019
Hi, unfortunately it is not recommended that you travel with us if you have any back issues. However this is completely at your own discretion and your own risk.
Written 19 December 2018
Hi, I would love to do this but I get hill sickness. How far is the drive from pick up point till the boat and after the boat ride back to the drop off point? Is the road very winding?
Written 26 August 2018
Agree with the comment above about road, steep and winding and about 45 minutes plus to get to boat launch site.
HOWEVER, if you are game and ready for a higher cost, you can take a helicopter ride from the airport in Queenstown, round trip, to the site where the Jet Boats leave and return. We took the bus one way and the helicopter back to the airport....thrilling ride on all three: bus, Jet Boat, and helicopter.
Hope this helps with another option.
Written 27 August 2018
Hi, there are no weight restrictions. Customer's just have to be mobile enough to get in and out of the boat.
Written 17 December 2017
Hi,
Does this agency provide pickp up from local Queenstown hotel?
What are the costs for a group of 5 adults?
Is it suitable for Sr Ctzns of 80 years but fit & healthy?
Written 21 November 2017
It was $195pp and I would think it is fine for a fit and healthy 80 year old, It is a family run business and very caring people. Not sure about pickups but they may.
Written 22 November 2017
We will be in Queenstown for my partners 50th birthday. Looking for something exciting to do. This looks like a good option!
Written 2 April 2017
Hi there, as the other answers above suggest Skippers Canyon Jet is a great option! It is excellent value for money due to the inclusion of the scenic drive into the canyon as well as the jet boat ride itself. If you'd like more information you can visit our website and you can book through our website as well if you like. Otherwise feel free to give us a call on 0064 3 442 9434. We hope to see you in the canyon soon!
Written 3 April 2017
gf lim
Tok Subuh, Malaysia
we r travelling with my twins boy 5 years old is this activity suitable for them too?
Written 6 September 2016
They would certainly enjoy the jet boat ride - however I'm not sure their attention could be kept up on the bus ride out to the canyon ... The views are magnificent however I understand children are not always into scenery ... My question would be "have you travelled distances with them on a bus before? And if so how did they go ?"
I would also check if there is an age requirement for the jet boat !
I hope this helps you
Regards
Leanne
Written 17 September 2016
what is the difference between this jet ride and the other two available???.
Written 6 April 2016
The bus ride to the attraction is nothing short of spectacular both there and back. Scenes from Lord of the Rings were shot there, which the Driver spoke about. He was very informative. Once there the jet boat experience happened and what a thrill. We have done the Shotover jet before and this one was far better as you also got the bus ride experience as well. Really worth going on. I would love to do it in the winter with the snow around.
Written 7 April 2016
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.