Wanaka Jet Boat Comparison: Which Trip Should You Choose?
There are three jet boat operators in Wanaka, and they are not selling the same thing. Two run roughly hour-long trips with spins and rapids, one from the town waterfront and one from Albert Town. The third runs a half day 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 Wanaka for. Details below were checked against each operator’s own website in September 2026.
Wanaka jet boat trips compared
| Wanaka River Journeys | Lakeland Wanaka | Go Jets Wanaka | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trip length | Half day, allow 4 hours | 60 minutes | About 1 hour 15, over an hour on the water |
| Adult price | From $359 | From $135 | From $147 |
| Where it goes | Matukituki River, into Mount Aspiring National Park | Across Lake Wanaka, then down the Clutha River | The Clutha River, from Albert Town toward Devils Nook |
| Distance on the water | Around 60km round trip | Lake crossing plus the upper Clutha | Around 44km |
| Guided walk included | Yes, one hour in the national park | No | No |
| Departs from | Wanaka i-SITE, courtesy shuttle to the river | The Wanaka Wharf, 100 Ardmore Street | Albert Town boat ramp |
| Minimum age | 4 years | 4 years | Check operator |
Which one should you book?
Book an hour on the lake or the Clutha 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. Both do this well. Lakeland crosses Lake Wanaka before dropping onto the Clutha and launches from the town wharf, so there is almost no travel time. Go Jets runs a longer stretch of the Clutha from Albert Town, past old gold workings and under the historic bridges. If a fast boat, shallow water 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. The other two Wanaka jet boats run Lake Wanaka 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 Wanaka 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 Wanaka with kids. Lakeland’s minimum age is also 4. Check directly with Go Jets for theirs.
I am coming from Queenstown for the day. Does that work?
Yes. Wanaka 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 $359, child aged 4 to 14 $229. More than 400 five star reviews.