Tours around the Blue Pools and Makarora
You do not need a tour for the Blue Pools. The track is a 3 km return walk from a free car park, and many people drive themselves. A tour makes sense if you do not want to drive the Haast Highway, want a guide, or want to combine the pools with something else, such as a flight or a jet boat.
Be careful with names. The Siberia Experience and the Makarora jet boat are separate trips on other rivers and valleys. They do not visit the Blue Pools Track. The examples below come from single operators and show what one product costs, not a market range. Prices are in New Zealand dollars as listed in 2026, and a published product does not show free seats on your day.
Three tour examples compared
Each row is one operator's product, with the prices it publishes.
| Trip | Length | Visits the Blue Pools? | Price in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fly, walk and jet boat (Southern Alps Air) | About 4 hours | No, Siberia and Wilkin valleys | NZ$549 and NZ$639 for the two ticket groups; with a glacier flight NZ$649 and NZ$739 |
| Makarora jet boat (Wilkin River Jets) | About 1 hour | No, Wilkin and Makarora rivers | Adult NZ$160 or NZ$170; senior NZ$130; child NZ$110 |
| Guided Blue Pools walk (Summit Explorers) | Pickup 8:45 a.m., back about 3 to 4 p.m. | Yes, the Blue Pools Track | Adult NZ$395; child (4 to 14) NZ$295 |
The Southern Alps Air price table lists two ticket groups per trip, so check at booking which one applies to you. The jet boat fares differ between a season price list for 2025/26 and the product page, so confirm the current adult price.
Our picks: tours compared
A day trip from Wanaka, a flight, hike and jet boat from Makarora and a jet boat ride into the national park.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Scenic flight, hike and jet boat from Makarora
A scenic flight with a window seat, an unguided hike with a route briefing and a 30-minute jet boat ride back to Makarora. There is no guide on the hike.
Check availability →
Blue Pools, Wilson Creek and Fantail Falls from Wanaka
Pickup in Wanaka and stops at the Blue Pools, Wilson Creek Canyon, Fantail Falls, the swing bridges and Haast Lookout. Meals are not included.
Check availability →Jet boat ride into the national park from Makarora
One hour on the river with commentary, covering 50 km.
Check availability →Tours around the Blue Pools and Wānaka
Guided walks, jet boats, scenic flights and day trips from Wānaka and Makarora, with live prices and availability.
Siberia Experience: fly, walk and jet boat
This trip flies you into the Siberia valley, lets you walk for about 3 hours on your own, and brings you back to Makarora by jet boat. The flight lasts 25 minutes and the jet boat 30 minutes, for about 4 hours in total. The walk is self-guided. It is not the Blue Pools Track.
Check-in is at the Makarora Tourist Centre and Cafe, 5944 Haast Pass to Makarora Road. The operator asks you to arrive 30 minutes before the flight and expects a weather call at least 90 minutes before. It gives drive times of about 1 hour from Wānaka and 2 hours from Queenstown, and roadworks can add time. Prices are per person including GST. A version with an extra glacier flight costs more.
Makarora jet boat
A river trip from the village.
What it is
A trip of about 1 hour and 50 km on the Wilkin and Makarora rivers. It runs on demand with a minimum number of passengers.
What it costs
The product page lists adults at NZ$170, seniors from 65 at NZ$130 and children at NZ$110. A season list valid from 1 October 2025 to 30 April 2026 showed adults at NZ$160 and a family of two adults and two children at NZ$480. Small children ride free, with the age limit given as under 3 or 0 to 3.
Who it suits
It suits people who want to see the Wilkin and Makarora rivers from the water. It is short, so it can fit into a day that also includes the pools.
Makarora guide →Guided Blue Pools walk from Wānaka
This is a day trip that includes transport from Wānaka, a guide, lunch and GST. The operator lists pickup at 8:45 a.m., a return between about 3 and 4 p.m. and 2 to 3 hours of walking. It runs all year, and you can book until 6 p.m. the day before. A group needs at least 2 adults and has at most 6 people per guide and day.
Drive times differ by source. The operator gives 45 minutes from Wānaka to the start, while DOC gives 1 hour 10 minutes from Wānaka to the car park. Because of that gap, ask what time you return, and do not plan a tight evening. The published times are the operator's plan, not a road report.
What to check before you book
The trips look similar online but differ in the details.
Does it stop at the pools?
Only the guided walk does. The flight and the jet boat go to other valleys. If the Blue Pools matter most, check the itinerary.
Blue Pools Track →Weather and the road
Flights depend on weather, so expect a call on the day. State Highway 6 between Makarora and Lake Hāwea was closed by a storm on 28 August 2026, and roadworks followed. Check the NZTA journey planner before you travel.
Getting there →Minimum numbers
The jet boat needs a minimum number of passengers, and the guided walk needs at least 2 adults. A published product does not confirm that it runs on your date.
Prices and ages
Child and infant age limits are listed differently on different pages. Check the exact age bands, the fare and GST when you book.
Your own transport
If you drive, remember the Blue Pools car park is free and the track needs no booking. Compare the tour price with fuel and time before you decide.
Stops on the way →Plan the rest of your trip
Where the tours fit.
Blue Pools Track
Distance, bridges and rules if you go on your own.
Wānaka
Where the guided day starts.
Where to stay
Wānaka, Makarora or Haast as a base.
If you are heading on to the West Coast, glacier trips there have their own guide at Franz Josef Glacier tours.
Blue Pools tours: frequently asked questions
Does the Siberia Experience visit the Blue Pools?
No. It flies to the Siberia valley, includes a self-guided walk and returns by jet boat on the Wilkin and Makarora rivers. The Blue Pools Track is a different walk.
How much does a guided Blue Pools walk cost?
One operator lists NZ$395 for adults and NZ$295 for children aged 4 to 14 in 2026, with transport from Wānaka, a guide, lunch and GST included.
Do I need a tour to see the Blue Pools?
No. The track is free to walk, and the car park is free. A tour only saves you the drive and adds a guide.
How long is the Makarora jet boat?
About 1 hour on a 50 km stretch of the Wilkin and Makarora rivers, running on demand with a minimum number of passengers.
Can I book from Queenstown?
Queenstown is about 2 hours from Makarora by car, so a day trip is long. Wānaka is the usual starting point. Read the getting there page before you plan.