Queenstown activities and what they cost
Jet boats, bungy, skydives, Milford Sound trips, heli flights and the rest. Every operator's price in NZ dollars, time on the activity, age and weight rules and weather policy, from their own websites.
Pick an activity
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Jet boating
4 operators, from NZ$159
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Bungy and swings
2 operators, from NZ$240
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Skydiving
2 operators, from NZ$379
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Milford Sound day trips
7 operators, from NZ$259
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Helicopter flights
4 operators, from NZ$395
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Paragliding
3 operators, from NZ$299
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Rafting and canyoning
4 operators, from NZ$189
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Ziplines and luge
3 operators, from NZ$50
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Wine tours
3 operators, from NZ$229
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Lake Wakatipu cruises
3 operators, from NZ$79
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Horse trekking
3 operators, from NZ$180
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Skippers Canyon 4WD tours
4 operators, from NZ$315
How the main Queenstown activities stack up
Prices below are the lowest adult rates each operator lists, in NZD. The cheapest jet boat ride is KJet's 60-minute lake and river trip at NZ$159; Shotover Jet's 25-minute canyon ride is NZ$199. A tandem skydive with NZONE starts at NZ$379 from 9,000 ft. AJ Hackett's open jumps and swings run from NZ$295 (Nevis Catapult) to NZ$395 (the 134 m Nevis Bungy). A coach day trip to Milford Sound starts at NZ$259, and flying both ways starts at NZ$764.
Weather moves a lot of Queenstown activities. Skydiving, scenic flights and paragliding are the most affected, so operators like NZONE and Over The Top suggest booking them early in your stay and keeping a spare day.
- Ziplines and luge NZ$50 to NZ$219
- Lake Wakatipu cruises NZ$79 to NZ$175
- Jet boating NZ$159 to NZ$599
- Horse trekking NZ$180 to NZ$549
- Rafting and canyoning NZ$189 to NZ$429
- Wine tours NZ$229 to NZ$299
- Bungy and swings NZ$240 to NZ$395
- Milford Sound day trips NZ$259 to NZ$874
- Paragliding NZ$299 to NZ$1,800
- Skippers Canyon 4WD tours NZ$315
- Skydiving NZ$379 to NZ$595
- Helicopter flights NZ$395 to NZ$1,695
Where it all happens
- Queenstown
- KJet and Shotover Jet run from near town. Paragliding launches from Bob's Peak at the top of the Skyline Gondola, which also takes you to Ziptrek and the luge.
- Kawarau Bridge
- The 43 m Kawarau Bridge Bungy, about a 25-minute (23 km) drive from town on State Highway 6.
- Glenorchy
- Where Dart River jet boats leave from, at the head of Lake Wakatipu.
- Milford Sound
- About 290 km and roughly 5 hours by road from Queenstown, or 40 to 45 minutes by air.
Every operator, cheapest first
| Operator | What you get | Activity | From | Length | Group | Weight limit | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kawarau Zipride |
NZ$50 per adult |
Allow 1.5 hours if self-driving, 2.5 hours on the Bungy Bus |
Three lines side by side; solo or tandem |
30-150 kg, solo or tandem | Check dates | ||
Queenstown Lake Cruise |
NZ$79 per person |
1 hour 30 minutes |
Check dates | ||||
Million Dollar Cruise |
NZ$79 per adult |
90 minutes; 11am and 2pm daily, plus 4pm except May and June (4pm is the Twilight Cruise July to September) |
Fiordlander carries 44 passengers (another section says max 50 guests) |
Check dates | |||
Gondola + Luge (3 rides) |
NZ$99 per adult |
Check dates | |||||
Kererū Tour |
NZ$129 per adult |
1 hour |
Check dates | ||||
Summer Breakfast Cruises |
NZ$149 per adult |
75 minutes |
Check dates | ||||
KJet 60-Minute Jet Boat Ride |
NZ$159 per adult |
60 minutes from Main Town Pier; about 40 minutes from Frankton marina |
No weight restriction; must fit a life jacket (up to 4XL) | Check dates | |||
Mid Rivers Ride |
NZ$180 per person |
1 hour; daily at 12:30pm |
Check dates | ||||
Gibbston Valley Canyoning 3hr Self Drive Adventure |
NZ$189 per person |
3 hours |
Max 10 |
Check dates | |||
Shotover Jet (Individual Pass) |
NZ$199 per adult |
25 min trip; allow about 1 hour self-drive or 1 hour 45 min with shuttle |
No weight limit; must fit a life jacket and board unassisted | Check dates | |||
Jet Boat Tour |
NZ$229 per adult |
2.5-3 hours return from central Queenstown; jet boat ride 25 minutes |
Check dates | ||||
The Original Wine Tour |
NZ$229 per person |
Departs daily 11:40am, back about 5:00pm (approx. 5 1/4 hours) |
Max 14 guests |
Check dates | |||
Kawarau Swing |
NZ$240 per adult |
Allow 1.5 hours if self-driving, 2.5 hours on the Bungy Bus |
Solo, tandem or triple |
30-150 kg solo; 240 kg combined for tandem or triple | Check dates | ||
Kawarau River Whitewater Rafting |
NZ$249 per person |
About 4.5 hours total; 1-1.5 hours on the water |
40-120 kg, checked at check-in | Check dates | |||
Half Day Canyoning (Queenstown) |
NZ$249 per adult |
About 4 hours total, up to 2 hours of activities |
Max 120 kg; may be weighed | Check dates | |||
Milford Sound Coach & Nature Cruise ex Queenstown |
NZ$259 per adult |
12h 30m |
Check dates | ||||
Queenstown Wine Tour |
NZ$259 per adult |
5 hours (10am to 3pm) |
Maximum 10 guests |
Check dates | |||
Twilight Wine & Craft Beer Tour |
NZ$259 per adult |
4 hours (approx.) |
Small group; no more than 15 people per tour |
Check dates | |||
Coach Cruise Coach |
NZ$276 per person |
About 12 hours return from Queenstown |
Check dates | ||||
Walter Peak Horse Treks |
NZ$279 per person |
3 hours 45 minutes, including the lake crossing (45 min on the TSS Earnslaw or 35 min on the Spirit of Queenstown) |
Small group |
Maximum 95 kg | Check dates | ||
Tandem Paragliding Flight |
NZ$299 per person |
Flight typically 7-10 minutes; allow up to 60 minutes from check-in |
20-100 kg (may vary with fitness and weather) | Check dates | |||
Canyon Swing (Solo) |
NZ$309 per person |
About 2 hours, allow 2.5 hours; about 4 s freefall |
No minimum (must fit harness); max 210 kg combined for solo and tandem | Check dates | |||
Skippers Canyon 4WD Tour |
NZ$315 per adult |
4 hours; departs 8:15am and 1:30pm |
Max 6 per vehicle; a '4 Pax Max' option keeps every guest at a window |
Check dates | |||
Milford Sound Day Trip from Queenstown |
NZ$319 per person |
Full day; coach about 5 hours each way; cruise 1.5-2 hours |
Check dates | ||||
Scenic Drive and Rafting Adventure (Morning or Afternoon Trip) |
NZ$329 per adult |
About 5 hours return from town; 45-minute drive into Skippers Canyon, then about 1-1.5 hours on the river |
Check dates | ||||
Milford Sound Day Tour from Queenstown (Small Group Tour with Packed Lunch) |
NZ$369 per adult |
9 or 12 hours; returns to Queenstown 7:30pm |
Max 15 passengers, Mercedes Benz vehicles |
Check dates | |||
Queenstown Summer Paragliding |
NZ$369 per person |
Flights average 10-20 minutes; allow 1.5 hours to 2 hours (FAQ) from check-in |
Max 120 kg including clothing | Check dates | |||
Tandem Skydive 9,000ft |
NZ$379 per person |
About 3.5 hours check-in to return; up to 25 s freefall; 3-4 min under canopy |
Min 40 kg; 95 kg+ notify before jump; over 110 kg needs extra assessment | Check dates | |||
The Remarkables (Flight 101) |
NZ$395 per adult |
25 minutes |
Max 6 in Squirrel/H130, 9 in H145 (T&Cs) |
Dressed weight required at booking; weighed on the day | Check dates | ||
Queenstown Panorama |
NZ$395 per adult |
25 minutes incl. alpine landing; allow about 1 hour total |
Up to 6 passengers or 480 kg combined per helicopter |
Max 480 kg combined per helicopter | Check dates | ||
Wilderness Jet Experience |
NZ$399 per adult |
2-hour trip (from Glenorchy) |
Life jackets up to 2XL; no weight limit stated | Check dates | |||
9,000 Feet Skydive (with Queenstown transfer) |
NZ$399 per person |
Up to 25 seconds of freefall; allow up to 6 hours with the Queenstown transfer |
Minimum 30 kg; must fit the harness; 95 kg or over see FAQ | Check dates | |||
The Gold Discovery Trail |
NZ$449 per adult |
Allow 2 hours; meet 9:30am (1pm on request) |
Minimum two riders; single riders waitlisted or can ask for a private ride |
105 kg, strictly; riders are weighed | Check dates | ||
Snow Landing |
NZ$495 per adult |
30 minutes |
Private charters up to 6, subject to weights |
Weights required at booking; no stated limit | Check dates | ||
'Big 5' Glaciers & Milford Sound Overflight |
NZ$565 per adult |
Check dates | |||||
Fly Cruise Fly |
NZ$849 per adult |
4-5 hours |
Over 130 kg contact before booking (T&Cs say 140 kg); weighed at check-in | Check dates | |||
Milford Sound Fly | Cruise | Fly |
NZ$849 per adult |
About 5-5.5 hours from check-in; flights 1 hr 20 min total; cruise 1 hr 45 min |
Contact before booking if 140 kg+; weighed at check-in | Check dates | |||
Alpine Snow Landing |
NZ$925 per person |
Allow 45 minutes |
Private up to 5 (AS350) or 6 (EC130) |
Check dates | |||
Skippers Canyon (Historic backcountry) |
NZ$995 per group |
Half day, allow 4 hours |
Private, your group only: up to 4 (Prado) or 6 (Troop Carrier) |
Check dates | |||
Skippers Canyon Scenic Tour |
NZ$1,200 per group |
4 hours; departs Queenstown 8.00am and 1.30pm |
Max 4 guests per vehicle |
Check dates | |||
Skippers Canyon Discovery Tour |
NZ$1,200 per group |
4 hours (half day); departs 1pm May to September, 2pm October to April |
Private; 4 people maximum, minimum 2 |
Check dates | |||
Gliding / Paragliding combo |
NZ$1,800 per person |
Two consecutive days |
Paragliding max 90 kg including clothing and shoes | Check dates |
Each operator's cheapest listed option in NZ dollars, from its own website on October 22, 2026. How we compare.
Common questions
What's the cheapest jet boat ride in Queenstown?
KJet, from NZ$159 for 60 minutes on Lake Wakatipu and the Kawarau and Shotover rivers. Shotover Jet is NZ$199 for a 25-minute ride in the Shotover canyons, Skippers Canyon Jet NZ$229 and Dart River's Wilderness Jet NZ$399. See the jet boat comparison.
How long does a Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown take?
By coach, about 12 to 13.5 hours: the drive is roughly 5 hours each way and the cruise 1.5 to 2 hours. Fly-cruise-fly trips take about 4 to 5.5 hours, with flights of around 40 to 45 minutes each way. Compare Milford trips.
What are the age limits for bungy and skydiving?
AJ Hackett lists 10+ for the Kawarau Bridge Bungy and 13+ for the Nevis Bungy, with adult consent needed under 15. NZONE assesses children from 6 (at least 1.2 m tall), and children 12 and under can only jump from 9,000 ft. Rafting is 13+.
What happens if the weather cancels my activity?
Most operators listed here reschedule or refund when they cancel for weather, but the rules differ, especially for cancelling yourself within 24 or 48 hours. Each listing shows the operator's own policy.