The Landsborough River is located on New Zealand's West Coast, flowing from the heart of the Southern Alps near Mt Cook National Park. It is a remote, wilderness river with no road access, no cell reception, and no nearby facilities, making it one of the more committing multi-day paddling destinations in the country.

Access has traditionally been by helicopter, with parties flying in to Kea Flat, which marks the upstream limit of air access due to the boundary of the Hooker Landsborough Wilderness Area, where landings are generally not permitted beyond that point. Alternatively, paddlers can hike in on foot, though this adds considerably to the commitment of the trip. The take-out is accessible by road, and the helicopter shuttle typically runs from the take-out to Kea Flat.

The river is rated Class III/IV and is regarded as one of the best advanced packrafting trips in New Zealand, as well as a destination for commercial multi-day rafting expeditions. The upper section contains more technical water, including a canyon section known as Upper Gates Gorge with major rapids that many parties choose to portage. There is also a canyon just downstream of Zora Creek, referred to in guidebooks as containing six waterfall drops and considered an expert-level challenge. The lower sections ease somewhat but maintain consistent gradient and pace. At lower to moderate flows, a competent Grade III team can manage the river by being diligent about scouting and eddying out ahead of larger features.

The surrounding landscape is heavily glaciated Southern Alps terrain, with thick native forest, glacial-colored water, and large mountain scenery. The river itself carries the characteristic blue-green color of glacial meltwater.

Commercial multi-day rafting trips run from November through to the end of March, with high water levels typical during spring snowmelt in November. Weather windows are an important planning consideration given the remote nature of the trip and the influence of West Coast rainfall patterns.

The Hooker Landsborough Wilderness Area designation affects helicopter landing permissions upstream of Kea Flat, which is a key regulatory consideration for trip planning. Guided packrafting trips are available through at least one commercial operator for paddlers who want experienced leadership on the river.