What was the river once called?

The longest river in New Zealand

Why did miners dig the Oxenbridge Tunnel?

To divert the river and reach gold

Shotover River Quiz: Queenstown Jet Boats and Gold Rush Canyons

This Shotover River quiz speeds through the narrow canyons near Queenstown on New Zealand's South Island. Play 10 interactive questions on the 1862 gold rush, the river once called the richest in the world, the Hamilton jet boat, Shotover Jet's 360 degree spins, Skippers Canyon, a tunnel dug to drain the river, whitewater rafting and where the name came from.

Start Shotover River Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Town
Which resort town is near the Shotover River?
Gold
When did gold discoveries start a rush on the river?
Rich
What was the river once called?
Boat
Which type of boat is famous on the river?
Inventor
Which New Zealander developed the modern jet boat?
Spin
What move do Shotover Jet drivers perform?
Canyon
Which canyon with a gold-era road lies upstream?
Tunnel
Why did miners dig the Oxenbridge Tunnel?
Raft
Which other adventure runs the river's rapids?
Name
Where does the name Shotover come from?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which resort town is near the Shotover River?
Answer: Queenstown
It is in Otago.
Q2: When did gold discoveries start a rush on the river?
Answer: 1862
Miners flooded the valleys.
Q3: What was the river once called?
Answer: The richest river in the world
Its gold yields were huge.
Q4: Which type of boat is famous on the river?
Answer: Jet boat
It can skim very shallow water.
Q5: Which New Zealander developed the modern jet boat?
Answer: Bill Hamilton
He worked on it in the 1950s.
Q6: What move do Shotover Jet drivers perform?
Answer: 360 degree spins
Passengers get splashed.
Q7: Which canyon with a gold-era road lies upstream?
Answer: Skippers Canyon
Its road is narrow and steep.
Q8: Why did miners dig the Oxenbridge Tunnel?
Answer: To divert the river and reach gold
Rafts now pass through it.
Q9: Which other adventure runs the river's rapids?
Answer: Whitewater rafting
Some trips run through a tunnel.
Q10: Where does the name Shotover come from?
Answer: An English estate
It was named after Shotover Park.

Gold Rush Canyons and Jet Boats

The Shotover River flows through steep schist canyons north of Queenstown in Otago on New Zealand's South Island. Settler William Rees is said to have named it after Shotover Park, an English estate. In 1862 gold discoveries brought thousands of miners, and it was called the richest river in the world.

Miners dug channels and tunnels to reach gold, including the Oxenbridge Tunnel built to divert the river. Upstream, Skippers Canyon has a narrow, steep road from the gold era. Whitewater rafting trips now ride the rapids and even pass through the old tunnel.

New Zealander Bill Hamilton developed the modern jet boat in the 1950s, perfect for shallow, rocky rivers. Shotover Jet has carried passengers since 1965, skimming rocks and performing 360 degree spins. The river joins the Kawarau River near Arthurs Point.

What This Quiz Teaches

Adventure and history fans will enjoy these questions.

How the gold rush began
Where miners worked
How jet boats work
Which adventures run here
Where the name came from

Did You Know?

Bungee jumping began nearby at Kawarau.
Old miners' huts dot the canyons.
Schist cliffs glitter in sunlight.
Gold panning tours still run.
Ponchos keep passengers dry.