Ms Ardern, who is pregnant with her first child, said she was ''bitterly disappointed'' not to be able to take a ride on Ngai Tahu Tourism's newest boat T10 this morning.
The company tried to make it up to her by presenting Ms Ardern with her own life jacket and one for her baby and, much later, one for her partner Clarke Gayford.
She was accompanied on her visit to Queentown by Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis, who did go for a spin on the Shotover River, while Ms Ardern took a short tour of the company's facilities.
In between posing for selfies with tourists and fans, Ms Ardern told reporters it was important to look after ''our places'' as New Zealand's tourism economy continued to grow.
She said the Government recognised more funding was needed for infrastructure.
"It's really just the mechanics. A tourist tax [has been] hotly debated by those experiencing those capacity issues.
"We are looking at a range of options - there's no question we need more investment in tourism infrastructure," she said.
"We are doing the work; it's not a simple thing. There's a range of ways we could do something in that space, but there's no question of the problem.
"I, personally, don't think just creating rules about where you can park a vehicle [is the answer].''
Ms Ardern is to visit Cromwell and Wanaka later today. She will open the 3-day Aspiring Conversations event in Wanaka tonight with a chat with former Irish president Mary Robinson.
