Queenstown, Wānaka and Te Anau in 5 Days: A Campervan Jet Boat Loop
Quick summary: This five-day campervan loop from Queenstown packs in four of New Zealand’s best jet boat rivers. Ride the Shotover canyons on the first day, head up the Dart River from Glenorchy into Mount Aspiring National Park, race along the clear Clutha at Wānaka, and finish on the Waiau River at Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland. It’s around 600 km in a campervan or motorhome, with every jet boat base easy to reach.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Length | 5 days |
| Start and finish | Queenstown loop |
| Total driving | Around 600 km |
| Jet boat rides | Shotover, Dart, Clutha, Waiau |
| Longest day | Around 240 km, Wānaka to Te Anau |
| Tours | Queenstown jet boat tours |
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Day 1: Queenstown and the Shotover (around 20 km)
Collect the campervan near the airport, stock up in Frankton, and drive to Arthurs Point for a Shotover River canyon ride. Stay at a holiday park in Queenstown, Arthurs Point or Arrowtown. See jet boating in Queenstown.
Day 2: Glenorchy and the Dart River (around 90 km return)
Drive the lake road to Glenorchy, around 45 km of spectacular views, for a wilderness jet boat trip up the Dart River into Mount Aspiring National Park. Return to Queenstown for the night.
Day 3: Queenstown to Wānaka (around 70–115 km)
Cross the Crown Range, or drive via Cromwell, to Wānaka. Take an afternoon jet boat ride on the Clutha River, then watch the sunset at That Wānaka Tree. See jet boating in Wānaka.
Day 4: Wānaka to Te Anau (around 240 km)
The longest drive, back over the Crown Range to Queenstown and along Lake Wakatipu to Kingston, then through Southland farmland to Te Anau. Visit the glowworm caves in the evening. See jet boating at Te Anau.
Day 5: The Waiau River and back to Queenstown (around 170 km)
Take a morning jet boat on the Waiau River, then drive back to Queenstown and return the vehicle.
Can you add Milford Sound to this RV loop?
Yes, with an extra day. Stay a second night in Te Anau and drive the Milford Road, around 120 km each way, for a cruise on the fiord. See our sister site’s Fiordland and Milford route.
How can you change the loop?
- Skip the Dart River and spend Day 2 in Arrowtown and the Gibbston Valley. See our sister site arrowtown.net.
- Add Haast from Wānaka over the Haast Pass, around 140 km each way, for a wilderness river trip.
- Reverse the loop, visiting Te Anau first.
What should you book ahead?
The Dart River and Te Anau trips, which run on set schedules, and holiday parks in Queenstown in busy periods. See parking and booking.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Four, on the Shotover, the Dart from Glenorchy, the Clutha at Wānaka and the Waiau at Te Anau.
Around 240 km via the Crown Range and Queenstown, about 3 hours without stops.
Yes. The road from Queenstown to Glenorchy is sealed, around 45 km along Lake Wakatipu.
Yes, with an extra night in Te Anau and a day on the Milford Road.
The Shotover canyons are the most famous, while the Dart River offers a longer wilderness experience.