Frequently Asked Questions

Wilderness Jet 

We recommend that all year round customers are prepared with warm layers of clothing, including waterproof jacket, sturdy footwear and sunglasses. Over winter we suggest you wear a warm beanie and gloves.  During the summer months, sunscreen and insect repellent are a must. A small bag can be carried with you for the entire duration of the tour, should you require any extra items.

Funyaks

We provide all customers with a wetsuit, wetsuit booties, fleeces and dry bags. Sunglasses/eyewear are recommended all year round. During the summer months, you should come prepared with your swimwear, towel, sunscreen, insect repellent, sunhat and water.  In colder conditions, thermal layers are recommended. 

Cameras are recommended for both tours, however be aware these are carried at your own risk.

Congratulations on your exciting news! While we’d love to have you join us, unfortunately, we do not allow riding the jet boat during pregnancy due to the physical nature of the experience. We hope to welcome you onboard for an adventure in the future!

Absolutely! The Dart River experience is unlike many of the jet boat based adventures out there.

Our focus is on using the jet boat to access some incredible landscapes and scenery which would otherwise be inaccessible.  Our drivers regularly stop to share the history, culture and landmarks with you along the way to build your sense of connection to the area. Yes there are some spins on the ride (which we will give you prior warning of) but it is by no means the basis of this experience. 

Toilets are available at our Glenorchy base building and there are wilderness toilets at several locations along the trip, however due to river conditions these may not always be accessible.

Wilderness Jet

If for any reason, medical or otherwise, you are unable to get into and out of the jet boat without assistance, you are required to have two support people who are able to get you in and out and they must also be booked on your trip. You must also be able to hold onto the handrail and brace yourself with your feet for the full duration of the trip.

If you have any specific medical conditions including breaks and fractures, or if you suffer from back or neck problems please advise us at the time of booking so we can assess and advise your suitability to travel.

Funyaks 

The injury or medical condition will determine whether or not you are able to join us. Please feel free to contact us so we can assess and advise your suitability to travel

Wilderness Jet 

Lunch is not provided on this tour.  All customers are allowed to bring with them a small bag, should they need to take any refreshments with them.

Funyaks

On this full day tour you will stop along the way and enjoy a wilderness picnic lunch.  A dry bag is also provided for each customer, should you wish to take any extra snacks with you.

Group bookings & exclusive trips

Basic or gourmet morning/afternoon tea can be supplied for exclusive tour packages. Talk to our reservations team for further information. 

 The stunning scenery of the Dart River and Mt Aspiring National Park certainly invites you to take photographs, and our guides will regularly stop for excellent photo opportunities.

We operate in a wilderness area and you carry your camera at your own risk. We do not recommend using your camera during the 360 spins on our jet boats. However, our drivers will always warn you before a spin, so you’ll have time to tuck your camera away safely!

Yes, Dart River Wilderness Jet not only offers the best jet boat ride in Queenstown, but our jet boat rides are also suitable for the whole family.

Our rides are a great experience for kids because they are not as extreme as the other jet boat rides in the area that navigate the difficult terrain. We operate on an open, braided river.

Please note;

• Minimum age for the Wilderness Jet is 3 years old.
• Minimum age for the Funyaks Tour is 5 years old.
• Children must be over 1 metre tall, but this may be increased to 1.2 metres in certain river conditions.

We don’t have a weight limit, but you must be able to fit into one of our life jackets to ride on our jet boats. We do have larger size life jackets available. 

If you are unable to get into and out of the jet boat without assistance, you are required to have two support people who are able to get you in and out and they must also be booked on your trip.

 Yes, we have free lockers available at the Dart River base building.

We can cater for most dietary requirements, please contact our reservations team for details. Customers with severe allergies may be advised to bring their own food, as we cannot guarantee trace allergens will not be present.

We have limited on road parking adjacent to the Dart River base building, and public car parks are just a short walk away.

There is cell phone reception in Glenorchy at the Dart River base building and for the first part of the trip. 

Yes. We recommend you wear some sort of eye protection, but make sure they are securely fitting.

There will be opportunities to take photos and short videos during the trip, but cameras will need to be put away during the spins so you can hold on.

We operate whenever weather & river conditions are safe to do so (we do not operate in fog or torrential rain).

For direct bookings, cancellations more than 24 hours before the trip start time will get a full refund. If we cancel due to weather/insufficient numbers customers will also be issued with a full refund.

Note; If you have booked through a secondary agent, this will be subject to their individual terms & conditions. 

Group booking cancellation policy 

• For group bookings, our cancellation fee is 50% of booking total within 14 days and 100% within 7 days where the group decides not to travel or not to participate in the operator activity.
• 100% refund at operators discretion if the cancellation is due to a Covid-19 restriction. This includes a change in Covid-19 alert levels meaning the client or delegates can’t travel. We may request proof of affected delegate travel bookings to process this refund. 
• Operator cancellation is 100% refund.

Water confidence and the ability to swim are essential for funyakking. For safety, it is compulsory for all participants to wear a lifejacket for the duration of the trip.   If you are not comfortable in water we recommend the Wilderness Jet Experience.

This depends on the river levels, but is is usually a gentle paddle. The current can be strong in places, but generally the water is shallow and there are no rapids on the river. In faster flowing currents, the Funyaks may be hitched to a guides canoe and for safety reasons if the flow exceeds a certain level the trip will be cancelled.

During the Funyaks tour you will get wet up to your knees, and possibly (but rarely) further. A wetsuit and wetsuit booties are provided on the tour for this reason, and are required to be worn throughout the entire duration of the trip.

Yes. Many of our customers have had no previous canoeing experience and return having thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

The paddling on the Funyaks trip is not strenuous or overly difficult, with the river current assisting most of the way. Should you be having difficulty at any time, our guides are happy to hitch your Funyak to theirs. 

Yes you are welcome to drive yourself to Glenorchy, however the package price remains the same. 

Funyakking is a leisurely paddle down the Dart River.

Please note that in low river conditions there are periods of walking during the trip over uneven surfaces and through sections of river.

For this reason clients must have a reasonable level of fitness to take part in the trip.

With unrivalled National Park access, we cover up to 90km of river on a trip making Dart River Adventures the longest jet boat ride in the region. The Wilderness Jet Experience is a 2-hour trip with morning and afternoon departures. 

When looking at jet boats in Queenstown, it’s understandable that you may worry about getting wet. Of course, when travelling on a jet boat, there is always a possibility that water can spray up into the boat.
When on a Dart River Wilderness Jet trip, we ensure that you can remain as comfortable as possible when taking in the stunning scenery of Te Wāhipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Area. 

Our boats have 14 or 15 seats, if numbers permit we run more than 1 boat. 

As the name suggests, jet boats are designed to travel at speed. Jet boats can travel up to 90km per hour, though of course our boat trips don’t always go that fast!

You’ll be able to experience the thrill of a jet boat ride, while still being able to enjoy the amazing landscapes all around you.

Jet boats have been specifically designed to navigate very shallow tracts of water, as low as 10cm in depth!

They were originally invented to navigate remote farming areas that were difficult to access. This means that they can travel through all kinds of terrains, such as the braided rivers around Mount Aspiring National Park.

Jet boats work differently to other boats. Instead of the propeller system used in a motorboat, jet boats use the power of waterjet propulsion. This generates a propulsive thrust as the water is forced into the jet unit and then forced out again, driving the boat forward.

Like other motor vessels, this system also needs fuel to work. 

Jet boats can steer, turn, brake, and reverse from using special capabilities of the jet engine. Turning the jet nozzles changes the direction of propulsion, and therefore steers the boat. The craft uses deflectors and thrust buckets to brake and reverse. This is similar to the way that a jet aircraft operates.