Shotover Jetboat Queenstown, New Zealand
One of the things you will probably want to do when visiting Queenstown New Zealand is experience the rush of a shotover jetboat ride. These unique speed boats were designed and built in New Zealand. They are extremely powerful and engineered to race over super shallow water. They also make sharp turns at high speeds and are capable of doing 360 degree spins. Yes, you very well may get wet, but it will be worth it.
Shotover Jetboat Queenstown
Jetboat rides are available in several places around Queenstown. However, only one company is allowed to run their boats through the narrow Shotover River Canyons. Shotover Jet is a Maori owned business. Before the arrival of Europeans this canyon and river were essential to the lives of the Maori people. This is where I wanted to go. I wanted to get a look at the sheer walls, beautiful rock formations and clear shallow water in the canyon. Shotover Jet was a great way to see this area while experiencing a bit of a thrill ride at the same time.
When you see how close these boats get to the rocks in the river and the sides of the cliffs, it seems quite dangerous. Then, when you see one of the boat go into a complete 360 degree spin, you might start questioning your decision. My analysis was simple. I figured there was no way the company would risk damaging their boats or harming passengers. I took a leap of faith and went for it.
Safety First
It turns out that no one drives these boats with guest aboard, until they have had over 120 hours of training. That’s nearly 3 times the amount of training required by NZ Maritime Law. Our driver explained how much training is involved to be able to drive a jetboat. She also described how the boat. It has two engines, each about the size of something you would find in a muscle car from the 1960’s. Exactly how these boats, with the weight of the engines, hull and passengers can glide over water less than a foot deep is still a mystery to me. This clearly involves hydrodynamic engineering at its best.
It is also possible to get picked up in town if you are staying in Queenstown. Just check the website to determine which times offer this option. The boats run every half hour, but not all time slots come with in town pickup. If you have transportation, you can book whatever time fits your schedule. The departure point is only 15-20 minutes from Queenstown’s Central Business District. The boat ride itself is about 25 minutes long. Visit the website for more info – https://shotoverjet.com
ETG encourages you to visit New Zealand’s official tourism website – https://www.newzealand.com
