Queenstown, New Zealand

When in Queenstown, try jetboating on the Shotover River

Fancy a 360° turn on water at high speed within a diameter just a little over the length of your boat?

Now you can in a jetboat. In fact you can go any which way in a jetboat — and at dizzying speeds — on deep and shallow water and on river rapids.

The jetboat is propelled by a jet of water at the craft's stern, and the boat is steered by changing the direction of this jetstream. Without an underwater propeller to get snagged, the jetboat can thus manage shallows and whitewater.

The Shotover and Kawarau Rivers near Queenstown are noted for jetboating and to a smaller extent the Dart which is northwest of town.

Rafting and river sledging

Jetboat trips start from Queenstown, either directly on the jetboat or by bus to the river of choice.

Both the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers are also watercourses for whitewater rafting.

If you want to go river sledging or boogeyboarding, you can do that, too. Use a polystyrene sled or modified boogey board, flippers, wetsuit and helmet and you're ready for this relatively new Queenstown sport.

Get detailed information in town on your preferred watersport, check out the cost, book, and go.

Next page: Skydiving and Hang Gliding

• Queenstown: The Call of Adventure
• The Lay of the Land
• Jetboating and Whitewater Rafting
• Skydiving and Hang Gliding
• Skiing and Snowboarding
• More Queenstown Activities