White water rafting on the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers is comparatively good value since a rafting trip takes between a half-day and a full day for not much more than the cost of a 30-minute jet boat ride or three-minute bungee jump.
Both the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers offer grade three to five rapids, but most people find the rafting more exciting on the Shotover, which features the 170m-long Oxenbridge Tunnel. However the 400m-long Chinese Dog Leg rapid on the Kawarau is also one of New Zealand’s best white water rides.
During winter (Jun-Sep) rafting companies are only permitted to raft for one hour, which means that they have to begin at Boulder Rapid (only accessible by helicopter), making rafting a more expensive exercise.
Rafting trips depart from The Station travel booking centre on the corner of Camp and Shotover Streets.