Aboard · NEW ZEALAND BOAT TOURS

The 15 Best New Zealand Boat Tours

30 tours  ·  from $34 a head

Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 new zealand boat tours justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.

Waitomo: Glowworm Caves Guided Tour by Boat - The walk through the upper cave
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Waitomo: Glowworm Caves Guided Tour by Boat

1.Glowworm Caves Guided Tour by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4,908 reviews · 1 hour · from $48Our pick

Walk through Waitomo’s limestone chambers with an English-speaking guide, then board a quiet boat beneath thousands of glowworms. The Cathedral Cave offers remarkable acoustics, and guides such as Ace, Big T, George, and Joe have added Māori songs and warm local stories to the visit. Bring warm clothes, and leave your camera behind.

“Relatively expensive considering. However absolutely beautiful glow worms and caves, and has been run by a family for years and years since it started so we could appreciate how important this was to them and happy to pay a bit more knowing this.”

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Kaikoura: Whale Watching Cruise - Check-in, transfer, and the first look at the coast
Boat Tours, New Zealand Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

Kaikoura: Whale Watching Cruise

2.Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,089 reviews · 3h 30m · from $104

Cruise from Kaikoura with an English-speaking crew to look for giant sperm whales, dolphins, seals, and wandering albatross. You get onboard science and Māori knowledge, outdoor viewing decks, air-conditioned seating, wildlife animations, and a modern catamaran designed to reduce underwater noise.

“Such an incredible trip. Saw 3 Sperm Whales and a Blue Whale, the guides were so informative and we all really enjoyed the trip!”

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Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown - Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland
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Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown

3.Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,001 reviews · from $216Top rated

Travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound in a small group of no more than 15, with guides such as Andy, Jess, Danny, Joe, and Dean sharing local stories along the way. You’ll stop at Te Anau, Mirror Lakes, Eglinton Valley, Lake Gunn, and the Homer Tunnel before a two-hour cruise past Mitre Peak and waterfalls.

“We absolutely Loved our day trip to Fjordland National Park/Milford Sound, which we booked through viator, with Cheeky Kiwi. Our coach was very clean, nice comfortable seats, and our driver Jess was Fantastic! She’s vivacious and friendly, an excellent driver, and knows So Much about the area, as well as stories from the Māori culture, and she’s a Great story-teller! She made the long trip very enjoyable. We appreciated the numerous stops along the way, where we could observe nature, such as various birds, as well as the Incredible geologic features. We were provided with a delicious box lunch to enjoy on the cruise. The cruise itself was nice, with…”

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Cruise Milford NZ Small Boutique Cruise Experience - Seals, dolphins, and the chance of penguins
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Cruise Milford NZ Small Boutique Cruise Experience

4.Cruise Milford NZ Small Boutique Cruise Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,930 reviews · from $111

Cruise Milford Sound for about 1 hour 45 minutes on a smaller boat capped at half capacity. Expect lounge seating, live skipper commentary, free tea, coffee, and biscuits, plus close views of Mitre Peak, waterfalls, seals, dolphins, and penguins.

“The boat takes you slowly across the fjords. we have a beautoful day that made the ride very enjoyable!”

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Whale Watching in Kaikoura by Boat - Finding the sperm whales offshore
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Whale Watching in Kaikoura by Boat

5.Whale Watching in Kaikoura by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,906 reviews · from $111

Take a speedy catamaran from Kaikoura into whale-rich waters, with live commentary, onboard animations, and chances to see sperm whales, dolphins, seals, albatross, and other seabirds. The tour runs year-round, lasts about 3.5 hours, and offers an 80% refund if no whale is seen.

“Great captain and crew, experienced and very considerate to the tourists. We saw a sperm whale this morning but wasn’t able to see the other one coming up to surface before we had to return to the marina. Captain decided to offer us a partial refund which was unexpected, great service!”

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Queenstown: Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise - The 45-minute cruise across Lake Whakatipu
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Queenstown: Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise

6.Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,713 reviews · 3h 30m · from $95

Take a 45-minute cruise from Queenstown to Walter Peak on the TSS Earnslaw steamship or Spirit of Queenstown. Enjoy a generous BBQ buffet, farm dog and sheep demonstrations, lakeside gardens, and a return cruise across Lake Whakatipu. Allow 3.5 hours, with warm clothing and comfortable shoes.

“What a wonderful surprise! the farm is absolutely gorgeous. We chose the evening BBQ and it was fantastic! so much food.. The staff were accommodating to everyone's needs. The restaurant space was gorgeous, the gardens were beautiful and the show was informative - Mia was the star of the show!”

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Queenstown: Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Full-Day Trip - Scenic stops that break up the coach ride
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Queenstown: Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Full-Day Trip

7.Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,592 reviews · from $144

Spend about 12 hours traveling from Queenstown to Milford Sound with local guides, scenic stops, lunch, and a cruise past waterfalls, rainforest, seals, dolphins, and penguins. Guides such as Brendan and Brian are known for lively commentary, while three viewing decks give you room to chase the best views.

“So so so so good, the tourguide is eloquent and funny”

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Milford Sound: 2-Hour Small Boat Scenic Cruise - Lady Bowen Falls and the first waterfall views
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Milford Sound: 2-Hour Small Boat Scenic Cruise

8.2-Hour Small Boat Scenic Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,561 reviews · 2 hours · from $101

Cruise Milford Sound aboard a small Mitre Peak Cruises boat for two hours, passing Mitre Peak, Stirling Falls, Seal Rock, and more. Your English-speaking skipper provides live commentary while you move between indoor and outdoor decks, watch for seals and dolphins, and enjoy free tea, coffee, or hot chocolate.

“Our boat trip was absolutely sensational! The skipper was amazing - so entertaining and not to mention the driving skills - we got sooo close to the falls and cliffs it was edge of the seat breathtaking!! We even spotted seals and took off to see them slumming it out in the rocks. An overall gorgeous trip we will never forget.”

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Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Ride in Queenstown - Safety gear and a quick start at the river
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Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Ride in Queenstown

9.Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Ride in Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,540 reviews · from $113

Hold on as an expert driver races through the Shotover River’s narrow canyons, skims shallow rapids, and performs full 360-degree spins. The 25-minute ride includes safety gear, commentary, and access to a shuttle from central Queenstown. Drivers such as Peter, Joe, Paul, and Matt have earned strong praise for skill and humor.

“It is fun and involves turns and some splashes. No need to over pack. At some stops, okay to take out cell phone for photos”

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Small Group, Award Winning Milford Sound Day Experience & Cruise - Lake Te Anau gives you a proper first break
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Small Group, Award Winning Milford Sound Day Experience & Cruise

10.Small Group, Award Winning Milford Sound Day Experience & Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,416 reviews · from $235

Travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound in a premium Mercedes van with up to 15 people, stopping at Lake Te Anau, Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, and the Homer Tunnel. A 1-hour-45-minute nature cruise, picnic lunch, hot drinks, WiFi, and local guides such as Chelsea, James, and Katy are included.

“Mesmerizing trip . A must do if you are in this part of the country. Our driver was so informative and experienced . He drove us thru the winding route with no issues. Worth the money though a long day.”

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Queenstown: Shotover River and Kawarau River Jet Boat Ride - Lake Wakatipu gives you the wide-open start
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Queenstown: Shotover River and Kawarau River Jet Boat Ride

11.Shotover River and Kawarau River Jet Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,682 reviews · 1 hour · from $89

Join KJet at Queenstown’s Main Town Pier for a fast, one-hour ride across Lake Wakatipu and up the Kawarau and Shotover rivers. Expect speeds up to 95 km/h, repeated 360-degree spins, heated handrails, mountain views, and a good chance of getting wet.

“Easy location, excellent customer service by phone and in person. The guide was very friendly and considerate. It was absolutely awesome!!! You are bound to get wet especially if you are sitting in a corner so be prepared. We loved it though.”

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2-Hour Milford Sound Scenic Cruise - Leaving Milford Sound Visitor Centre
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2-Hour Milford Sound Scenic Cruise

12.2-Hour Milford Sound Scenic Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,520 reviews · from $104

Board Mitre Peak Cruises at Milford Sound Visitor Centre for a two-hour trip toward the Tasman Sea and back. A smaller vessel gets close to Bowen Falls and the cliffs, while live commentary covers local wildlife, geology, history, and Māori connections. Tea, coffee, and hot chocolate are free.

“Great day out, the scenery is stunning and we saw some seals as well. The staff were really helpful and polite, it was great that they didn't overfill the boat and we had loads of space to move around and see everything. Booking was easy, Read more”

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Waikato River Jet Boat Ride from Taupo - Surfing the Nga Awa Purua rapids
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Waikato River Jet Boat Ride from Taupo

13.Waikato River Jet Boat Ride from Taupo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,441 reviews · from $89

Ride a 550-horsepower jet boat through the Waikato River’s Nga Awa Purua rapids and narrow canyon near Taupo. Your guide provides local stories, wildlife notes, and history between high-speed spins. Boats carry up to 11 people, with drivers including Jacob, Shannon, and Taylah.

“Jacob's knowledge about the river and his amazing 360 turns and jumps. Interesting movie set stories and scenery were amazing. His ability to handle tight turns and speed of the 550HP motor was exilerating.”

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Lake Taupo: Classical Sailing to the Māori Rock Carvings - Leaving Taupō Marina on Fearless
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Lake Taupo: Classical Sailing to the Māori Rock Carvings

14.Classical Sailing to the Māori Rock Carvings

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,275 reviews · 2h 30m · from $35Best value

Set out from Taupō Marina for a 2.5-hour cruise to the 14-metre Ngātoroirangi carving, visible only from the water. You may sail aboard the yacht Fearless or a comfortable catamaran, depending on conditions. Local guides such as Aaron, Liam, Danny, Erin, and Dave add stories, and there is time for a swim.

“Such a good experience. Would recommend for anyone that was a chill afternoon with a swimming stop. The carvings were cool to see up close and the guides were great! Very informative and easy to talk to! Thank you :) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

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Queenstown: Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Experience - Why the canyon route matters
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Queenstown: Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Experience

15.Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,203 reviews · 25 - 90 minutes · from $107

Ride with Shotover Jet through the narrow Shotover Canyons, less than 10 minutes from Queenstown. Your English-speaking driver handles rapids, rock walls, and fast 360-degree spins. The 25-minute ride includes safety gear and commentary, with an optional shuttle from town.

“This was just a great experience, very thrilling and felt like a long time on the boat. Our jet boat driver Will was very expert and gave us good insights into the boat and the history of the river. Thank you for a great experience!”

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New in New Zealand Boat Tours

★ 4.9Dolphin Nature CruiseFrom $77440 reviews
★ 4.6Sea Shuttle Cruise and Walking Tour ComboFrom $74704 reviews
★ 4.7Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day TripFrom $136717 reviews
★ 4.9Skippers Canyon Jet Boat RideFrom $118699 reviews
★ 5.0Maori Rock Carvings Eco Sailing TaupoFrom $33758 reviews
★ 4.5Auckland Harbour Sailboat Cruise Including Three Course DinnerFrom $105476 reviews
★ 4.8America’s Cup 2-Hour Sailing Experience Waitemata HarbourFrom $125370 reviews
★ 5.0The Rock Adventure Overnight CruiseFrom $296457 reviews
★ 5.0Hole in the Rock Cruise & Island Tour – with two island stopoversFrom $104701 reviews

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