Adventure & Adrenaline in Queenstown: The Ultimate Itinerary
Queenstown is widely known as the adventure capital of the world and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year for bungy jumping, jet boating, skydiving, biking and more. This ultimate itinerary highlights the top Queenstown adventure activities - from the original Kawarau Bridge bungy to Shotover River jet boats and canyoning - plus local tips from the RaD Car Hire Queenstown team on what to book, where to eat and how to structure an adrenaline-filled stay.
Why Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world
Queenstown grew from a gold rush settlement by the Shotover River into a global destination built around scenery and extreme sports NZ is famous for. Commercial jet boating and bungy jumping both began here, which helped cement Queenstown’s reputation as the world’s adventure capital and inspired dozens of other high-octane experiences.
Tourism is now a cornerstone of the Queenstown Lakes District economy and recent reporting shows it contributes around 30 percent of local GDP - more than double the national average - and supports roughly one in three jobs. That means visitors find a dense cluster of operators, guides and support services in a compact town that is easy to explore by rental car.
RaD Queenstown tip: Book your vehicle and key activities well in advance for summer and school holidays; demand for adventure tours and mid-size cars is particularly strong in peak months.
Day 1 - Bungy jumping and jet boating
Kick off your Queenstown adventure itinerary with two of the region’s most iconic thrills; bungy and jet boating.
Kawarau Bridge Bungy - the world home of bungy
The Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge on State Highway 6 is recognised as the world’s first commercial bungy jumping site and is still used today mainly by AJ Hackett Bungy for 43 metre jumps over the Kawarau River. The operation opened here in 1988, and the Kawarau Bridge Bungy remains the most popular bungy site in New Zealand, attracting thousands of thrill seekers each year.
Key facts:
- Jump height 43 metres with the option to touch the river.
- Minimum age 10 years with a minimum weight of 35 kilograms and maximum 235 kilograms; tandem jumps have additional weight conditions.
- Allow around 1 hour if self driving from central Queenstown.
RaD Queenstown staff tip: Pick up your car early and drive yourself to Kawarau to avoid shuttle schedules; this lets you book the first jump of the day when conditions are often calmest and the viewing deck is quieter for friends taking photos.
Shotover River jet boating
No Queenstown adventure activities list is complete without jet boating through the Shotover River canyons. The Shotover Jet and similar operators take boats skimming over water as shallow as 10 centimetres at speeds reported up to about 85 to 90 kilometres per hour while performing 360 degree spins between sheer rock walls.
A typical ride includes:
- High speed runs through narrow canyon sections of the Shotover River.
- White water rapids, sharp turns and deliberate fishtails that deliver continuous adrenaline.
- Return transfers from Queenstown or the option to self drive to the base.
RaD Queenstown staff tip: If you are prone to motion sickness, sit further back in the jet boat; pack a compact waterproof layer and secure your phone in a dry bag so you can still grab quick shots at the calmer moments.
In the evening, refuel at one of the town centre burger or pizza joints; staff favourites include grabbing takeaway and eating by the waterfront on the lakeside lawn to watch the last light on the Remarkables.
Day 2 - Skydiving and mountain biking
Day two combines airborne thrills and gravity-driven rides on the trails.
Skydiving over Lake Wakatipu
Several operators offer tandem skydives over Queenstown, commonly from altitudes around 9,000 to 15,000 feet, which means roughly 30 to 60 seconds of freefall before the parachute opens. While each jump is different, what they share are panoramic views over Lake Wakatipu, the Remarkables and nearby ranges that feature heavily in photos and videos.
Expect:
- Safety briefings and gear checks before boarding the plane.
- A tandem harness with an experienced instructor handling jumps, canopy flight and landings.
- Optional photo and video packages, which most travellers opt for as proof of their extreme sports NZ credentials.
RaD Queenstown staff tip: Book skydives for the morning; wind often builds through the day, and some operations prioritise early flights to maximise the chance of good conditions. Keep your rental schedule flexible, so if the weather postpones, you can shuffle other activities instead of missing out.
Biking and e biking local trails
Queenstown has a growing network of cycle trails and downhill tracks that cater for everything from family rides to advanced mountain biking. Tourism commentary notes that many trails originally used by wagons and packhorses are now repurposed as backcountry 4WD adventures and mountain bike routes, which broadens the region’s adventure appeal.
Options include:
- Queenstown Trail sections linking the town with Arrowtown and Gibbston Valley for scenic riding with winery stops.
- Skyline Queenstown’s bike park in season for lift-accessed downhill runs.
- Lakeside paths near Frankton for a gentler spin with constant lake views.
RaD Queenstown staff tip: Ask for a rental car with fold down rear seats if you plan to hire bikes; many local cycle hire shops can supply bike racks compatible with standard vehicles, and staff at the branch can advise which models work best.
Grab dinner in Arrowtown after an afternoon ride; this historic gold town pairs well with hearty pub meals or dumplings and is an easy scenic drive back to your accommodation.
Day 3 - Canyon swinging, canyoning, funyaking and riverboarding
With legs warmed up and nerves tested, the final day of this Queenstown itinerary pushes deeper into canyons and rivers.
Canyon swing
Image Credit: 100% Pure New Zealand (visit for more images)
Queenstown’s canyon swings are among the most intense freefall experiences on offer; some swings drop more than 60 metres before the rope tension turns the fall into a giant arc. While individual setups vary, the core idea is a big cliff jump with adjustable levels of fear factor for repeat customers.
Typical elements:
- Multiple jump styles from forward step-offs to flips or backwards falls.
- Harness and rope systems anchored to canyon walls for long pendulum swings.
- Spectator platforms so friends can watch and film your reaction.
RaD Queenstown staff tip: Schedule canyon swings after you have already done bungy; many guests find it mentally easier to progress from a 43 metre bridge jump to larger drops rather than the other way round.
Canyoning
Canyoning combines abseiling, sliding down natural rock chutes, wading, jumping and sometimes ziplining through narrow gorges. Tourism stories about Queenstown highlight that thousands of canyoners now explore the valleys and peaks each year, building on the region’s long mountaineering and climbing tradition.
On a guided canyoning trip, you can expect:
- Wetsuits, helmets and harnesses provided plus full safety instruction.
- Rappels beside or through waterfalls, natural slides and small pool jumps.
- Small group sizes, which keep the experience immersive and guide attention high.
RaD Queenstown staff tip: Bring thermal layers and a dry change of clothes to leave in your rental; canyon trips can be chilly even in summer, and you will appreciate a quick change before heading to dinner or your next activity.
Funyaking and riverboarding
Image Credit: Serious Riverboarding
For something a bit different, funyaking and riverboarding let you get even closer to the water. Funyaks are inflatable kayaks or hybrid rafts that are more stable than traditional kayaks which makes them suitable for mixed ability groups on milder rapids. Riverboarding puts you in a thick wetsuit and flippers with a purpose built board as you float and surf down white water sections under guide supervision.
Many providers bundle these with jet boating or rafting so you can combine thrills with scenic sections of river. For example, some Shotover River combos pair grade 3 to 4 white water rafting with a jet boat ride which creates a full day of water based adrenaline.
RaD Queenstown staff tip: If you are doing multiple water activities in one day, choose a vehicle with easy access to the boot and consider lining one area with a plastic sheet or storage bins so wet gear does not soak your luggage.
Eating and relaxing between adventures
Queenstown’s rapid tourism growth has driven a parallel boom in dining and wine experiences; local tourism analysis points to world class dining and boutique accommodation as key parts of the visitor mix alongside hard core adventures. That is good news when you need to refuel between jumps and jet boat runs.
Local favourites mentioned by RaD team members include:
- Quick breakfasts and coffee at central cafes close to the lakefront before early pickups.
- Burgers, pizzas and noodle bars that stay open late for post activity hunger.
- Winery restaurants in Gibbston Valley for long lunches on lighter activity days.
For quieter downtime, staff often recommend a sunset drive up to Coronet Peak or out towards Kelvin Heights for relaxed lake and mountain views without needing to hike. Your rental car makes it easy to chase the best light around the basin for golden hour photos.
Make sure you check out our in-depth guide to discover the best things to do in Queenstown including where to eat, where to stay and what to do.
FAQ - Queenstown adventure & adrenaline
Why is Queenstown considered the adventure capital of the world?
Queenstown is recognised as the birthplace of commercial bungy jumping and jet boating and has spent decades building a dense cluster of operators offering everything from canyoning to backcountry 4WD trips; local tourism bodies note that adventure tourism is part of the region’s DNA and attracts visitors from all over the world.
How many people bungy jump in Queenstown?
Industry commentary reports that around 1.5 million people have bungy jumped in Queenstown over the years and more than 150,000 challenge themselves annually at AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand sites across Queenstown and Auckland.
How high is the Kawarau Bridge Bungy?
The Kawarau Bridge Bungy is 43 metres above the Kawarau River; it opened in 1988 as the world’s first commercial bungy jumping site and remains the most popular bungy location in New Zealand.
What makes Shotover jet boating special compared with other boat rides?
Shotover jet boats are designed to skim over very shallow water - sometimes as little as 10 centimetres - at speeds up to around 85 to 90 kilometres per hour while performing 360 degree spins between narrow canyon walls, which creates an intense combination of speed, scenery and precision driving.
Is Queenstown only for hard core thrill seekers?
No; tourism analysis points out that while adventure experiences remain central, Queenstown has diversified into world class dining, wine, wellness and soft adventure such as hiking and cycling, so there are options for all comfort levels within one compact region.