Fiordland Jet Boat Tours
Hours, prices and access verified by the Fiordland Tours team — last checked 2026-09-21.
Fiordland jet boat tours run the Waiau River to Lake Manapouri in 75 minutes, with a short walk in beech forest halfway. One version sends you home by bike.
Fiordland jet boat tours on the Waiau River
★★★★★ 4.9 (109 reviews · 2 hours)
Jet boat and nature walkJet boat office, Te Anau
Two hours from the Fiordland Jet office: a bus to the Queen's Reach ramp, 75 minutes down the river and out onto the lake, and a 15-minute walk in beech forest. Spray jackets and life jackets supplied.
From $117 per person
Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
★★★★★ 4.8 (22 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes)
Jet boat, walk and bikeJet boat office, Te Anau
Three and a half hours: the jet boat ride and the forest walk, then you cycle 11 km home along the Lake2Lake trail on a standard bike or an e-bike. The ride is unguided, toilets sit along the way, and food is not included.
From $151 per person
Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Two hours on the river and the lake
Seventy-five minutes by jet boat to the lake and back, a 15-minute walk in beech forest, and spray jackets and life jackets supplied.
Check availability
What a jet boat tour of Fiordland is
A jet boat is driven by a water jet rather than a propeller. Here it runs the Waiau River, from the Queen's Reach
ramp near Te Anau down to Lake Manapouri and back.
You check in at the Fiordland Jet office in town and take a short bus ride to the river.
The ride lasts 75 minutes, with a 15-minute guided walk in beech forest in the middle. The
longer version sends you home on a bike, 11 km along the Lake2Lake trail.
Why choose a jet boat tour
It fits into half a day
The ride with a walk takes two hours. The bike version takes three and a half. Either fits
around a fiord day, or into the morning before a long drive.
It is a river, not a fiord
Every cruise in the park is on a lake or a fiord. This is the one trip on moving water,
and the Waiau stood in for the River Anduin in the films, DOC says.
Children can come young
The ride with a walk takes children from 4, and the bike version from 2. That suits a
family with small children.
You can ride home
The bike version gives you two hours of bike hire, standard or electric, with a helmet.
Most riders take 1.5 to 2 hours for the 11 km, and there are toilets along the way.
Jet boat tours vs the lake cruise
Te Anau's other short trip is a cruise on Faith, a 1935 motor yacht. Here is how the two
compare.
| Jet boat | Faith lake cruise |
|---|
| Hours | 2, or 3.5 with the bike | 3 by day; 1.5 in the evening |
| Fare, per person | $117 to $151 | $94 |
| Water | The river and the lake it feeds | Lake Te Anau |
| Pace | Fast, with spray | Slow, on deck |
| Walk ashore | 15 minutes in beech forest | About 40 minutes to the Hidden Lakes |
| On board | Spray and life jackets | Tea and drinks; champagne at night |
Check the jet boat ride from $117
Pick the jet boat for speed and a young family. Pick Faith for a slow afternoon or an
evening glass of champagne; the tours from Te Anau include both.
What you get, and what you don't
- In both fares: the ride, a local driver-guide, live commentary in
English, the forest walk, and spray jackets and life jackets.
- When it is cold: warm-weather gear is supplied.
- Parking: free, behind the office in Te Anau.
- Not included: food and drinks on the bike version, and a guide on the
bike ride, which you ride at your own pace.
Jet boat, then ride home
The river and the forest walk, then 11 km back to town on a standard bike or an e-bike, in three and a half hours.
Check availability
Planning a jet boat tour
- Budget: $117 to $151 a person.
- What to wear: expect spray. Wear layers you do not mind getting wet.
- Fitness: none for the boat. For the bike, choose the e-bike if you are
not a regular rider.
- Getting there: the office is in central Te Anau, with free parking
behind it. The bus from there to the river is in your fare, so you need no car at the
ramp.
- Refunds: both refund in full up to 24 hours before, so you can wait for
a dry morning if the forecast turns.
Planning a week around it? Our Fiordland itinerary from Te Anau shows where a short trip fits, and the post on
Fiordland with children has more for families.
Who should choose something else
- If you want a fiord. The jet boat stays on the river and the lake. For
the fiords, see the Fiordland boat tours.
- If you want to stay dry. Take Faith on the lake instead.
- If your child is under 2. Neither jet boat trip takes them; the lake
cruise sets no age in its terms.
- If you want a guide the whole way. The bike ride is on your own.
Frequently asked questions
Which jet boat tour should I pick?
The two-hour ride with a walk, at $117, if you want the river and the lake. Add the bike ride home, at $151 for three and a half hours, if you want to earn your dinner.
Will I get wet on the jet boat?
Expect some spray. Spray jackets and life jackets are supplied, with warm gear when the day calls for it.
Do I need to be fit for the bike ride?
Not with an e-bike, which is recommended for riders without the fitness. The 11 km ride takes most people 1.5 to 2 hours, and you ride it at your own pace without a guide.
Are Fiordland tours suitable for children?
Most are. The jet boat rides take children from 4, the bike version from 2, and the premium small-group day from Queenstown supplies booster seats for children 7 and under. The 13-hour days from Queenstown are long for young children, and a Te Anau base shortens them.
Can I see Lord of the Rings locations?
The Waiau River near Te Anau stood in for the River Anduin, DOC says. The jet boat rides run down it to Lake Manapouri.
What is there to do in Te Anau in the evening?
A champagne cruise on Faith, a 1935 motor yacht, or a walk along the lakefront. The jet boat rides run in daylight hours.
Want the fiords as well? Every trip in the park is compared on Fiordland Tours.