Wet and Wild: Water Sports Bucks Party Guide in Queenstown

If you love the water and are an adrenaline-junkie, then head to Queenstown for the ultimate wet and wild water sports adventure for your bucks party adventure. You’ll be making more than a splash with these fantastic, thrill-seeking adventures. Get ready for a wild ride!

Jet Boating

Experience high-speed spins with a jet boating adventure. You’ll be doing powerful, sharp turns and 360-degree spins in the water as you rocket through the water at super-high speeds, catching a glimpse of the stunning scenery along the way. Various options are available for you and your best mates, including the original jet boat ride, which covers Lake Wakatipu, the Kawarau River, and the Shotover River, at speeds of up to 95kph. All passengers must wear life jackets. The boats have experienced drivers and undergo regular maintenance. Operators must also follow strict speed limits in designated areas. These measures are put in place to guarantee your safety while not limiting your fun—and to ensure the buck makes it down the aisle!

White Water Rafting

White water rafting in Queenstown is an adrenaline-packed adventure with options for both beginners and thrill-seekers. White water rafting is an adventurous water sport where participants navigate a river’s rapids in an inflatable raft. The rapids can range from calm to extremely turbulent, and they require rafters to work together to steer and paddle through the water. For real adventure seekers, try rafting on the Shotover River and Kawarau River, which feature grade 3-5 rapids.

Wakeboarding

If you’re looking for a thrill-seeking water adventure, then wakeboarding is a wet and wild experience you and your group won’t forget. This 30-year-old water sport involves the rider being fastened to a board and towed behind a motorboat at speeds of around 50 km/h. It has been described as a combination of skiing, surfing, and snowboarding. You and your daredevil mates can attempt to perform aerial manoeuvres and mid-air tricks, and even beginners can try their hand at wakeboarding. But safety is key to ensuring a fun and injury-free experience. Essential wakeboarding safety measures include wearing a life jacket, using a helmet, and following the boat driver’s hand instructions. 

Riverboarding

If you’re looking for something different from white water rafting, riverboarding is a must-try in Queenstown, especially for thrill-seekers looking for a unique way to experience the Kawarau River. The difference between riverboarding and white-water rafting is that you ride the rapids face-first on a specially designed board, using fins to steer and propel yourself through the water. Riverboarding is suitable for every skill level. You can do gentle drifting, taking in the stunning scenery, or, for the more advanced, take on stronger rapids such as 12km. Whatever you choose, there’s something for everyone, and it’s a great, exciting, wet, and wild bucks adventure.

Canyoning 

If you’re looking for an extreme, wet and wild water experience, canyoning will be right up your alley! As you try to navigate through canyons, you’ll be abseiling, jumping, sliding, swimming, and rock climbing. Your crew will be abseiling down waterfalls, jumping into deep pools, and swimming through narrow gorges before scrambling over rock faces. Wetsuits, booties, helmets, and other technical gear are provided for the day. This is one epic adventure that no one will forget (you might need a beer after this wild water sports adventure).

Paddleboarding

Paddleboarding might not be as wild as the other water adventures your group can try, but it is an immensely popular activity in Queenstown, largely due to the breathtaking lake scenery you get to take in of Lake Wakatipu, with its crystal-clear waters and views of the mountains, and it’s beginner-friendly. It’s easy to learn, making it perfect for both first-time paddlers and experienced ones, as well as more advanced paddlers. When your group embarks on this water sports adventure, you will stand on boards that are floating on the water and use a paddle to propel yourself through the water. Whether you’re after a peaceful paddle or a full-day adventure, it’s the perfect way to explore Lake Wakatipu—you’ll find it to be a tranquil experience.

Other things your group might want to try, while not as high-octane, are waterskiing or taking a really chilled-out day on a fishing charter. You can also go all out with a Party Boat Cruise, complete with drinks, music, great food, and stunning views. After all, if you embark on any of these wet and wild water sports during your bucks bash, a drink or two could be in order at the end of the day!