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As I mentioned in my previous post, Queenstown is the home of adrenaline sports and activities.
If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you’ll know that I’m an adrenaline junky, so I pretty much felt at home there.
My mission there was to make sure I got my adrenaline fix, and you bet I did!
Before arriving in Queenstown, I was recommended to try the Shotover Jet. This is basically a jet boat ride along the Shotover River Canyon. Well, it is not just that…
The canyon is quite narrow and not only that; they drive the jet boats at up to 85km per hour next to sharp-rock towering walls and with merely a few inches of water under the boat at certain points of the river.
Oh, and to top it, they do 360˚ spins in the canyon!
That sounds pretty exciting to me! I’m in!

Shotover Jet is located in the center of Queenstown, but from there you take a complimentary bus to their location in the Shotover River – from where the jet boat departs.
It was winter, so they warned me to dress warmly as the canyon would be cold. I was a bit worried since I didn’t have proper winter clothing – just a few light layers were keeping me warm (barely). But, that was not a problem.
When we got ready to hop on the jet boat, we received a waterproof and windproof coat.
Does this mean I’m getting wet in this cold weather?!
I hate cold water more than a cat hates to get wet. Sigh…

A friend told me not to sit on the back if I wanted to stay dry. What he failed to mention is that you get wet pretty much everywhere on the boat – just slightly less on the front than on the back. You’re warned already.
Our ride started with a photo and a quick test drive in the open to get used to the jet moves.
From there our driver sped into the canyon with just a thin layer of water between the riverbed and us. I was amazed by how this boat could almost literally fly over water and not hit the bottom.

Then came the towering walls with their jagged-edged rocks popping out from both sides of the canyon and protruding from within the flowing river.
I have to give mad props to our driver who drove past all those corners and popping rocks with surgeon-precision at 85km per hour. A missed turn and we could all have ended like mashed potatoes.
Oh, and of course, driving that fast along whitewater rapids meant we were getting splashed every now and then, but those splashes were nothing compared to the 360˚ stunt splashes.
I think we did five or six 360˚ along the 25 minutes ride. We all knew we were up for the stunt every time our driver did a mild “rodeo sign” by rotating his index finger in the air.
And then it came… everything twirled, the rocks blurred, the water splashed straight on everyone’s faces.
The air was cold enough already at near-freezing temperatures. Add the wind-chill and the freezing river water on my face and I was ready to become a Popsicle.

I admit at one point I secretly wanted the driver to stop for a second so I could regain the senses in my face since I felt like it was freezing over with a permanent thrill induced mix of a smile/frown.
Alright, alright, I’m being dramatic; but really, it was cold.
If you’re wondering, Shotover Jet is the only company that does the Shotover River Canyon.
This is to make sure no other boats are in the canyon, so there’s no potential danger of crashing against them at high speeds, on narrow spaces, or turns.
I really enjoyed the ride, even with my freezing hands and face; but if you go during summer, it’ll be much more refreshing.
Here you can see a peek at the experience on the video taken during my ride.

Essential Info: Logistical Tips and Tricks to Book your Trip to New Zealand
The Shotover Jet experience costs $129 NZD per adult and $69 NZD per child. They sell family passes and also do “Sunrise Jet.” Children must be at least 1 meter tall to ride.
If you love the experience and would like to ride again back-to-back, you can do so for $19 NZD and they will put you on the next available ride.
Pictures and videos are sold separately.
Even though the jet boats depart every 15 minutes, it is recommended to book ahead (online or by phone), especially during high season.
BOOK YOUR FLIGHT
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Kayak. These are two of the sites I use the most due to their exhaustive search on several websites and airlines around the world. They usually bring the cheapest fares.
BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION
If you’re looking to save money by staying at a hostel, HostelWorld has the largest inventory of hostels. On the other hand, Vrbo offers a wide variety of rooms and apartments at affordable prices.
For hotels, guesthouses, and other types of accommodation, I also recommend Booking.com. They usually have the cheapest fares for guesthouses and hotels. I always book my hotels with Booking.com.
DON’T FORGET YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE
Travel insurance with comprehensive coverage will protect you against unexpected events like theft, cancellations, injury, and illness. I use HeyMondo and highly recommend it.
If you’re a nomad and travel often or long term, then SafetyWing could help you save a lot of money on travel insurance.
FIND THE BEST TOURS AT THE BEST PRICES
If you’re looking for the best day-tours and cheapest ticket entrances to local attractions, I recommend checking Viator, as they have the largest selection of attractions, passes, and activities all around the world.
OTHER TRAVEL AND MONEY-SAVING TIPS?
Lastly, check out my resources page for some of the best products and companies to use for your trip. If you like saving money (like I do!), then this page will help.
Thanks to Shotover Jet for the complimentary ride. They didn’t ask for a favorable review, and as always, the opinions and expressions written here are my own.

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