Jetboating

The shallow waters of small rivers in the flat area of Canterbury were a big challenge to Bill Hamilton. This ingenious and enterprising sportsman and engineer discovered a way of utilising water power that had been unknown until then. He did not use a screw propeller, which is situated beneath the body of a ship, but he placed the propelling unit directly in the ship so that it could literally glide even on very shallow water at a high speed. Thus, jetboats have cruised the shallow rapids of New Zealand rivers for fifty years and many owners of water scooters are using this New Zealand invention without knowing it.
To be on NZ and not to take a ride in a jetboat? That is nearly unthinkable… Regrettably, the local tourist industry offers this type of a ride anywhere (even in places where it does not make sense to an old-time user) but there are still small and medium jetboat operators in places for which the jetboat was created – shallow rivers with rapids. That is exactly where we will happily take you and our clients often rank these activities among the best things they experienced on New Zealand.
Jetboat was originally created as a means of transport (not for entertainment) and it is still used for transport to remote areas. Hikers can use this means of transport to make their journey shorter or to negotiate an impassable part of their route; hunters use this means of transport to take the hunted game home. It is possible to organise a combined event where, for example, you will go deep into the primeval forest by a jetboat and then you will go hiking and then a helicopter will pick you up. Do not be afraid to ask us; we will gladly arrange for similar specialities and include them in your itinerary.

Photogallery