The Shotover River is located in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand.

The Shotover River flows south from the Southern Alps, running through the Skippers Canyon, before draining into the Kawarau River about ten kilometres east of Queenstown.


In the early years of the settlements of the Queenstown area, the Shotover River played an important role as it was one of the richest gold bearing rivers in the world. Arrowtown was a majour gold mining town on the shore of the Shotover River.
Today the Shotover River is a goldmine for tourism. There are bungy jumping sites near the head of the river around Skippers Canyon. Commercial white water rafting trips operate out of Queenstown. Companies like The Shotover Jet company run New Zealand's famed jetboats over the Canyon river as a major tourist attraction.

The name correctly suggests that this 60 kilometre-long river is fast flowing, with numerous rapids. Another highlight of the river rafting experience on the Shotover River is the Oxenbridge Tunnel. This short tunnel was part of a plan to divert water in order to recover gold from the bed of the river.