RIDE‑ALONG BUGGIES
All the thrill. The best views of Queenstown.
No driving required.
Sit back. Hold on.
You ride, our expert guides drive.
Jump in and hold on – we will drive you through real off-road terrain to exclusive summit viewpoints high above the Shotover River canyon. Big climbs, big scenery, epic photos. No licence, no bond, no driving required.
It’s safe, low-fuss, and perfect for mixed groups – families, friends, and international visitors. Just 5 minutes from town, our exclusive adventure park delivers the real off-road buzz. Only minimal English is needed – your guide drives and keeps it simple.
Quick facts
- Buggy time: 1 hour or 2 hours (allow extra 30 mins for check-in and transfers)
- Check-in: 61A Shotover Street, Queenstown – return transfers included
- No Driving: No licence – no bond – no driving required
- Ages: Ride-along passengers 4+ years / Best Value OFFROAD Combo 6+ years
- Buggy Capacity: Up to 5 passengers (Honda Pioneer) or up to 3 passengers (Yamaha RMAX)
Choose your ride-along adventure
All ride-along options are booked per buggy (or per person for combos) – no extra surcharges.
Mountain Express – Ride-along (1 hr)
A punchy off-road hit with big scenery. Your guide drives you across our 650-acre adventure park and up to our exclusive remote summit viewpoint high above the Shotover River canyon.
Expect dramatic top-down views into the gorge, panoramic mountain scenery including Ben Lomond, Queenstown Hill – Bowen Peak, Coronet Peak, and – across Lake Wakatipu – The Remarkables. This viewpoint is not accessible by standard tourist routes – with us, it’s one of the only ways to reach it.
Your guide stops at key locations and makes sure everyone gets photos with the breathtaking backdrop.
As low as ~NZ$120 per person with 5 passengers – great value! Personal guide included.
- Best for families and groups
- Faster, sportier feel – bigger thrill for smaller groups
Duration: 1 hour ride (allow extra 30 minutes for check-in and transfers)
Departs: Multiple departures daily. Check availability when booking.
Family Friendly: Suitable for ages 4 years and up!
Everything included: Return transport from our Queenstown shop, experienced local guide, top of the line machines, helmets, eye protection, gloves, wet weather gear if needed.
Group Bookings
If you have a group booking of 3 or more buggies, please contact us if your preferred timeslot is not available and we can look at making private tour arrangements.
Mountain Explorer – Ride-along (2 hrs)
More time, more terrain, more thrills, more views. This longer ride-along gives you extra time on the trails, extra photo stops, and more of the rugged alpine playground that makes Queenstown off-roading the real thing.
You still get the exclusive summit viewpoint above the Shotover River canyon – with the same epic sense of scale and elevation – plus more time to enjoy the ride and the scenery.
As low as ~NZ$80 per person per hour with 5 passengers – maximum value! Personal guide included.
- Best for families and groups
- Faster, sportier feel – bigger thrill for smaller groups
Duration: 2-hour ride (allow extra 30 minutes for check-in and transfers)
Departs: Multiple departures daily. Check availability when booking.
Family Friendly: Suitable for ages 4 years and up!
Everything included: Return transport from our Queenstown shop, experienced local guide, top of the line machines, helmets, eye protection, gloves, wet weather gear if needed.
Group Bookings
If you have a group booking of 3 or more buggies, please contact us if your preferred timeslot is not available and we can look at making private tour arrangements.
Best Value OFFROAD Combo (1 hr)
A great-value sampler that combines two classic Off Road Queenstown experiences.
Get the best of both worlds in this beginner-friendly combo. Learn the basics in a 30-minute quad session on our private training ground, then sit back for a 30-minute scenic buggy ride through our Adventure Park. Your guide drives you to a panoramic viewpoint overlooking Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu – thrills, views, and fun in one.
NZ$249 per child (6-14)
Duration: 1-hour ride
- 30 min on quad bikes (self-drive)
- 30 min on a buggy (ride-along)
allow extra 30 minutes for check-in and transfers
Departs: Multiple departures daily. Check availability when booking.
Family Friendly: Minimum age is 6 years (children must be accompanied by a paying adult)
Everything included: Return transport from our Queenstown shop, experienced local guide, top of the line machines, helmets, eye protection, gloves, wet weather gear if needed.
Group Bookings
If you have a group booking of 10 or more people, please contact us if your preferred timeslot is not available and we can look at making private tour arrangements.
Ultimate Off Road Experience
A premium half-day adventure that combines iconic local scenery with a proper off-road buzz – 4WD touring plus sports buggies in one action-packed experience.
Start in our LandCruisers with experienced local guides as you explore iconic areas like Skippers Canyon and Arrowtown. We tailor the 4WD route to your group with flexible stops for viewpoints, photos, and local stories along the way.
Then it’s time to level up in our sports buggies – choose to self-drive or ride as a passenger as we head into our exclusive off-road playground overlooking Queenstown. Expect forest trails built to thrill, lookout stops, and big views you will not reach on standard tourist routes.
The order of activities may change depending on conditions, especially in winter.
Please contact us to enquire
Group size: Based on the buggy portion of the experience.
- Standard (self-drive): up to 6 guests – your buggy seats 4, plus 2 ride with the guide.
- No driving: up to 5 guests – all guests ride with the guide.
Duration: 3+ hours
Departs: 1.15pm daily
Terrain: Designed to thrill – from forest trails to lookout sections
Family Friendly: Suitable for ages 4+
Want to drive instead?
If you’re here for a hands-on driving experience, check out our self-drive buggies or quad bikes tours.
Just keep in mind that with ride-along, you’re not losing any thrills! Our guides are some of the best off-road drivers in New Zealand, so you can enjoy a fast, confident ride while you focus on the views and the buzz.
FAQ
Confirmed tours will depart from our shop in central Queenstown – 61A Shotover Street.
Please check in at least 10 minutes before your tour time.
The duration shown for each option is your time on the activity. Please allow an extra 30 minutes for check-in and transfers.
- Mountain Express (1 hr) – a punchy ride-along hit with big scenery
- Mountain Explorer (2 hrs) – more time, more terrain, more thrills, and more photo stops
Both tours include our exclusive summit viewpoints high above the Shotover River canyon.
- Honda Pioneer (Scenic Tour) – best value for groups – up to 5 passengers
- Yamaha RMAX (RMAX Rapid Tour) – faster, sportier feel – bigger thrill for smaller groups (up to 3 passengers)
The price for both buggies is the same, so the choice mainly depends on your group size. You can also combine the buggies if you’re travelling as a larger group.
No. Ride-along is the easiest option – no licence, no bond, no driving required.
- Ride-along buggies: 4+ as a passenger
- Best Value OFFROAD Combo: 6+ (includes quad bike driving)
Yes – all ride-along buggy activities are suitable for families and mixed groups. Passengers can join from age 4+. If you’re unsure about younger passengers, get in touch and we’ll advise.
We provide everything needed:
- Return transport from the Queenstown shop to the buggy site
- Local experienced guide
- Top of the line machines
- Helmets, eye protection and gloves
- Wet weather gear (rain jacket, rain pants, gumboots) if needed
- Dress for the conditions in clothes you don’t mind getting a bit dusty
- Bring any drinks and snacks you need for the duration of the tour
- A camera or a GoPro if you’d like to capture your own photos and video
Our buggies run year round and are brilliant in all weather – fun in the sun and the wetter the better. Full wet weather gear is available at no extra cost.
If conditions are unsafe, we may delay, amend, or cancel the tour. We’ll always keep you updated.
Safety is our priority. Every tour starts with a briefing, safety gear, and training, and you ride with an expert guide throughout.
All guides are First Aid certified to the highest level required for off-road activities and carry first aid kits, phones and radios at all times during tours.
For more detail, see our Safety page.
Only minimal English is needed for ride-along buggies. Your guide does the driving, keeps instructions simple, and makes sure you know exactly what’s happening, so it’s easy for international visitors.
Pregnancy, back problems, recent injuries, medical conditions and/or allergies may affect your ability to join the tour.
If you’re unsure, please contact us before booking so we can advise. You’ll also be asked to discuss any of these at check-in.
Parking on Shotover Street is limited to 30 minutes and there is no parking directly in front of the shop.
We recommend the Man Street multi-story carpark (about a 2-minute walk).
Absolutely. We are set up for groups and have extensive experience accommodating all sizes. If you are booking 3 or more buggies, simply get in touch and we will help lock in the best timeslot and discuss private tour options.
- Standard bookings: 48 hours – applies when you have up to 2 buggies and up to 10 guests
- Larger groups: 7 days – applies when you have 3+ buggies or 11+ guests
No refunds will be issued for cancellations or reductions in guest numbers within these periods. Rescheduling is also not possible within this timeframe.
Yes. If conditions change (including weather, terrain, or operational requirements), we may adjust the route, timing, or experience – or cancel if it is not safe to run. Safety always comes first, and our guides will make the call on the day.