Wanaka Jet Boat Comparison: Which Trip Should You Choose?
There are three jet boat operators in Wānaka, and they are not selling the same thing. Two run 60 minute rides from the town waterfront on Lake Wānaka and the Clutha River. One runs a half day trip up the Matukituki River into Mount Aspiring National Park. Most visitors do not realise there is a difference until after they have booked.
This page lays out what each trip actually is, so you can pick the one that suits your time, your budget and what you came to Wānaka for. Prices and durations below were checked in September 2026.
Wānaka jet boat trips compared
| Wanaka River Journeys | Lakeland Wanaka | Go Jets Wanaka | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trip length | Half day, allow 4 hours | 60 minutes | 60 minutes, 30 minute option |
| Adult price | From $339 | From $135 | From $147 |
| Where it goes | Matukituki River, into Mount Aspiring National Park | Lake Wānaka and the Clutha River | Clutha River |
| Distance on the water | Around 60km round trip | Lake and lower river | Lower river |
| Guided walk included | Yes, one hour in the national park | No | No |
| Departs from | Wānaka i-SITE, courtesy shuttle to the river | Wānaka lakefront | Wānaka |
Which one should you book?
Book a 60 minute lakefront ride if
You have an hour spare between other activities, you are travelling on a budget, or you want the jet boat thrill without giving up half your day. Lakeland Wanaka and Go Jets both do this well and both launch from town, so there is almost no travel time. If a fast boat and a few 360 degree spins is what you are after, either will deliver it.
Book the half day into the national park if
You want to get somewhere you cannot otherwise reach. The Matukituki valley is inside Mount Aspiring National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage area, and there is no road to where the boat takes you. The trip is around 60km round trip up a braided, glacier fed river, followed by an hour long guided walk through ancient beech forest to McGills Creek, with the peaks of the Southern Alps above you the whole way.
It is the difference between a ride and a journey. You are on the water far longer, you are in genuinely remote country, and you get off the boat and walk in it.
What only Wanaka River Journeys does
- The Matukituki. We are the only commercial jet boat on this river. Every other Wānaka jet boat operates on Lake Wānaka and the Clutha.
- Into Mount Aspiring National Park. We are the only jet boat that takes you to the foothills of Mount Aspiring and its surrounding glaciers.
- A guided wilderness walk. An hour on foot in the park, at an easy pace, suitable for all ages. No other Wānaka jet boat trip includes one.
- Half a day, not an hour. Two departures daily in summer, 9.45am and 12.45pm.
Common questions
Is the half day trip worth more than twice the price?
That depends entirely on what you want. If you are after a thrill, an hour on the Clutha is better value per minute. If you want to see part of New Zealand that most visitors never reach, and you have a morning or an afternoon free, the comparison is not really about price per minute at all. We would rather you booked the right trip than the expensive one.
Can I do a jet boat trip with young children?
Our minimum age is 4 years, and the wilderness walk is deliberately gentle, which makes it one of the better things to do in Wānaka with kids. Check directly with the other operators for their age limits.
I am coming from Queenstown for the day. Does that work?
Yes. Wānaka is about an hour from Queenstown and the 12.45pm departure leaves plenty of time to drive over in the morning. See coming from Queenstown for how to plan the day.
Do you run year round?
Yes. In winter there is one departure daily at 12.45pm and advance booking is essential. The valley is at its most dramatic in mist, and in winter and early spring the snow line sits low on the peaks.
Book the Matukituki trip
Half day, allow 4 hours. Adult from $339, child aged 4 to 14 $209. More than 400 five star reviews.