How to Get to Shotover Jet from Queenstown

Shotover Jet leaves from Arthurs Point

Queenstown has several jet boat operators, and they leave from different places. KJet and Thunder Jet board in the town centre. Shotover Jet does not, which matters if you plan to walk to the boat or are comparing tickets.

The river base is at Arthurs Point, a small settlement north of central Queenstown on the Shotover River. Coming from town, it sits just past the historic Edith Cavell Bridge.

You arrive at a rocky river landscape with hills and canyon walls around it, and the red boats leave from the beach below the base. Shotover Jet describes its access to the canyons upstream as exclusive.

There are two easy ways to reach the base: the operator’s free return shuttle or your own car.

Option 1: the free shuttle from Queenstown

Best for: visitors staying in central Queenstown, travellers without a car and anyone who would prefer not to deal with parking or navigation.

Shotover Jet runs complimentary return transport from central Queenstown for selected boat departures. If your accommodation is within walking distance of the town centre, it is usually the simplest option.

Where the shuttle leaves from

The Station Building, 25 Shotover Street, Queenstown, on the corner of Camp Street. Check in at the Shotover Jet desk inside the building 45 minutes before your booked boat departure.

Open the shuttle location in Google Maps

This is the operator’s town-centre booking and check-in office. The boats leave from Arthurs Point.

The same building is also the meeting point for Skippers Canyon Jet, a different operator whose coaches load on the Camp Street side at 43 Camp Street. If you have booked both rides, keep the two check-ins apart; our Shotover Jet vs Skippers Canyon Jet comparison covers that trip.

How the shuttle works

1. Choose your boat departure time when you book.
2. Select the central Queenstown shuttle or Station Building check-in option, if it is offered for that time.
3. Arrive at the Station Building at least 45 minutes before your booked ride.
4. Check in and follow the team’s instructions for boarding the shuttle.
5. Ride out to Arthurs Point for the safety briefing and the jet boat ride.
6. Ride back to the Station Building afterwards.

The operator holds return shuttle seats for about 15 minutes after the ride ends. Allow about 1 hour 45 minutes between checking in at the Station Building and getting back to central Queenstown.

Does the free shuttle run for every departure?

No. It runs only on selected Shotover Jet departures.

The booking system and the operator’s transport pages do not always show the same departure list, so pick the shuttle option offered for your actual travel date instead of working from a fixed timetable.

A boat departure with seats left does not mean the shuttle has seats left for it.

Booked through GetYourGuide or Viator?

You can still use the shuttle, subject to space. Shotover Jet confirms that customers who booked through third parties can ride it, but not every reseller lets you reserve transport at checkout. The Shotover Jet listing on GetYourGuide ($113, 4.9/5 from more than 1,700 reviews) lists the river base as its meeting point.

If your confirmation does not include the shuttle, contact Shotover Jet directly to arrange a seat:

• New Zealand freephone: 0800 746 868
• International: +64 3 442 8570
• Email: reservations@shotoverjet.com

A ticket description that mentions free transport does not mean a seat has been reserved for you.

Option 2: drive and park for free

Best for: families, groups with a rental car, travellers staying outside central Queenstown and anyone planning other stops around Arthurs Point.

The drive is straightforward. The river base is about 7 km from central Queenstown, and the operator estimates around 10 minutes on the road.

Address for Google Maps

Shotover Jet River Base, 3 Arthurs Point Road, Arthurs Point, Queenstown.

Open Shotover Jet River Base in Google Maps

Driving directions from Queenstown

From central Queenstown:

1. Follow Shotover Street away from Lake Wakatipu.
2. Continue onto Gorge Road.
3. Follow the signs for Arthurs Point and Coronet Peak.
4. Continue to Edith Cavell Bridge, the narrow bridge over the Shotover River.
5. Cross the bridge and take the Shotover Jet entrance immediately on your left.

These are the operator’s own directions. The road crosses high above the Shotover River, so you see the water you are about to ride before you park.

Drive slowly over Edith Cavell Bridge, follow the priority signs and do not stop on the bridge to take photos.

Is parking free at Shotover Jet?

Yes. Parking at the Arthurs Point river base is free, and the operator’s visitor information does not ask you to book a space.

If you are driving a campervan, towing a trailer or bringing an oversized vehicle, call ahead to confirm there is room for it.

How early to arrive if you drive

Check in at the river base 30 minutes before your booked ride. For an 11:00 am boat, be at reception by 10:30 am, and aim to park a few minutes before that.

On busy summer days, leave extra time for traffic out of Queenstown.

Shuttle or car: how they compare

Take the shuttle if you are staying in central Queenstown without a car. Drive if you already have a rental car or want to stay on at Arthurs Point afterwards.

Both get you to the same ride, so a taxi only makes sense when no shuttle departure fits your day.

Can you get to Shotover Jet by public bus?

Not easily. Queenstown’s Orbus network runs five routes: Sunshine Bay to the Remarkables Shops, Frankton Hub to Arrowtown, Kelvin Heights to Quail Rise, Jacks Point to Arrowtown via Queenstown, and Lake Hayes Estate to Queenstown. None of them lists Arthurs Point on the Orbus Queenstown timetables page (checked October 2026).

Routes and stops change, so check the official journey planner if you want to travel independently, and confirm both the stop and the walk from it to the river base.

If you are staying in central Queenstown, pick a departure with the free shuttle and skip the bus question altogether.

Staying in Frankton, Arrowtown or elsewhere

The free shuttle starts in central Queenstown. It does not collect from hotels around the region.

If you are staying in Frankton, near Queenstown Airport or anywhere outside the town centre, travelling into town just to catch the shuttle adds time. With a rental car, driving straight to Arthurs Point is usually simpler.

From Arrowtown or elsewhere in the Wakatipu Basin, put the river base into your navigation app and allow for local traffic and the weather. You do not need to go through central Queenstown first.

If you book a taxi or private transfer, tell the driver you are going to the Shotover Jet River Base at Arthurs Point. Saying “the Shotover Jet office” can land you at the Station Building in town.

If you miss the shuttle

Your ticket is for a scheduled departure, and the seats on that boat are already allocated, so missing the shuttle is a real problem.

If you are running late, phone Shotover Jet straight away. Do not head to the other check-in point or assume the next shuttle has a seat for you.

The operator’s terms and conditions say that failing to check in on time can mean losing your seat without a refund, and last-minute changes are not guaranteed.

A few precautions make it unlikely:

• Save the correct check-in address before you leave your accommodation.
• Check whether your booking includes the shuttle.
• Set your reminder for the check-in time, not the ride time.
• Leave extra time if you are travelling with children or during Queenstown’s busiest months.

How much of your day to allow

The ride lasts about 25 minutes. Most of the time goes on getting there, checking in and getting back.

Here is a sample schedule for an 11:00 am departure:

Treat this as an example; the shuttle times vary by departure. The operator’s planning figures are about one hour at the base if you drive and about 1 hour 45 minutes for the full shuttle trip from Queenstown.

If you have another activity booked straight afterwards, leave a buffer for river conditions, delays and transport. If you are pairing the ride with a second activity, our guide to Queenstown jet boat deals and combo tickets shows which packages keep both halves at Arthurs Point.

What’s at the Shotover Jet river base?

If you arrive early, there is enough at the base to fill the wait. Shotover Jet lists these facilities on its contact page:

Lockers take your phone and loose items before the ride; our guide on what to wear on a Queenstown jet boat covers the rest.

Can someone watch without riding?

Yes. Spectators are welcome at the river base. That helps when one person in a family would sooner stay on the bank, or when a child is under the height limit; our guide to taking children on a Queenstown jet boat has the age and height rules.

The viewing areas let you watch the boats on the river, though you will not see the whole canyon route from them. Our guide to the best places to watch Shotover Jet covers the other viewpoints.

Spectators can sometimes ride the free shuttle if seats are left, but they have to contact the operator to arrange it. You cannot add a spectator seat through the standard online booking.

Is Shotover Jet accessible?

The base has accessible parking and facilities. Whether the ride suits you is a separate question.

Boarding a jet boat takes some physical movement, and some passengers need help. Shotover Jet asks visitors with mobility needs, disabilities, injuries or relevant medical conditions to contact the team before booking, preferably at least 48 hours ahead. Passengers who need help boarding may need two support people, who must also be booked on the ride. Our page on Shotover Jet health restrictions sets out the rules.

Accessible parking at the base does not mean the ride itself suits every visitor.

Around Arthurs Point after the ride

Canyon Brewing. A nearby place for food and a drink with views over the Shotover River area. If you came on the free shuttle, ask before changing your return time.

Onsen Hot Pools. Private hot pools looking over the river landscape. Book ahead, and arrange transport to the pools separately from Shotover Jet.

Edith Cavell Bridge. The bridge you cross on the drive to the base. The river and valley below are striking, so use a marked pull-off to look, never the bridge or the roadway. We list the safe Edith Cavell Bridge photo spots separately.

If you want to spend longer in the area, drive. The standard return shuttle takes you back shortly after your ride.

Five checks before you leave Queenstown

1. Confirm whether your ticket uses Station Building or river-base check-in.
2. Check that your shuttle seat is reserved, especially on a third-party ticket.
3. Save the correct Google Maps destination.
4. Check the day’s operating status if the weather looks unsettled.
5. Leave enough time between Shotover Jet and your next activity.

What about cancellations caused by weather?

Shotover Jet runs in most ordinary weather, light rain included. Heavy rain, flooding or a fast-changing river can force cancellations or route changes; read what happens in rain and winter before you go.

The operator checks river conditions regularly and posts updates. If it cancels your trip, you are offered a refund or a new time; tickets bought through a third party are refunded through that platform.

Check the operating status before you set off for Arthurs Point, especially after heavy rain. The best time for a Shotover Jet ride covers the seasons and the river.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Shotover Jet from Queenstown?

The river base is about 7 km from central Queenstown, at 3 Arthurs Point Road. The operator estimates around 10 minutes by car, traffic permitting.

Is there a free shuttle to Shotover Jet?

Yes. Free return transport leaves from the Station Building at 25 Shotover Street in central Queenstown on selected departures. Shuttle check-in is 45 minutes before your booked boat departure.

Does Shotover Jet pick up from hotels?

No. The free shuttle uses a central Queenstown meeting point. Check your booking if you arranged a separate transfer.

Where can you park at Shotover Jet?

At the river base, 3 Arthurs Point Road, Arthurs Point. Parking there is free.

Is Shotover Jet in the centre of Queenstown?

No. Shotover Jet has a booking and shuttle check-in office in town, but the ride leaves from Arthurs Point, about 7 km away.

Can you walk from Queenstown to Shotover Jet?

Not practically. The base is several kilometres out of town, and the road and bridge are not a walking route. Take the shuttle or drive.

How early should I arrive for Shotover Jet?

Arrive at the Station Building 45 minutes before your booked departure if you are taking the shuttle, or at the river base 30 minutes before it if you are driving.

Can I take the shuttle one way and make my own way back?

Ask the operator. The standard arrangement is a return shuttle, with your return seat held for about 15 minutes after the ride.

Can I visit Shotover Jet without buying a ticket?

Yes. Spectators can visit the river base and watch the boats from the viewing areas. You need a booking to ride.

What if I have a rental car?

Drive. Parking at the base is free, and you can leave as soon as your ride ends or stay on and explore Arthurs Point.

The easiest way to reach Shotover Jet

Staying in central Queenstown? Reserve the free return shuttle when you book. The pickup is in the middle of town, the transfer is short and you will not have to find the river base yourself.

Have a rental car? Drive to 3 Arthurs Point Road and park for free. You save the shuttle check-in time and can explore the area afterwards.

Whichever you choose, set your alarm for the check-in time. The ride lasts about 25 minutes, and arriving at the right place with time to spare keeps the morning from turning into a rush. Check your date on the Shotover Jet booking page or read our Shotover Jet tour breakdown first.