Haast River Jetboat Ride

Our day is to include a jetboat ride and a helicopter flight over the glaciers.  After we leave Franz Josef, we makes a photo-op stop along Lake Hawea.  The beautiful waters and mountains are somewhat obscured, as you can see from the photo below, by inclement weather heading our way.   

Lake Hawea

The brewing storm cancels our helicopter plans, but doesn’t stop us from enjoying the jetboat ride at our next stop -- the Haast river.  We put on our life vests, board an enclosed boat, and take off.  

Sir William Hamilton, a ‘Kiwi”, (it’s a bird, it’s a fruit, it’s a New Zealander*) invented the jetboat in the 1950’s to help navigate the shallow waters of New Zealand rivers. Unlike boats that use rear propellers in the water,  a jetboat draws the water from under the boat into a pump-jet, then expels it through a nozzle at the stern. The jet of water shoots out above the water line with a force that drives the boat forward.  All this eliminates the problem of propellers striking rocks.  

Haast River Jet Boat  (note the sand bar just a short distance 

away...gives you an idea of how shallow the water is)

At full speed—as high as 65 miles an hour—a  jetboat can operate in three inches of water yet remain maneuverable. Yes, that says three inches--this boat can travel in less than eight centimeters of water.

Jetboat along the Haast River.

Even at 65 miles (104 km) per hour , the boat can be reversed and stopped within a matter of feet in a maneuver known as a ‘Hamilton turn’.  Simply put, the boat does a fast and wet 360.  The many benefits of this vehicle turned out to be useful in war time, and the UK knighted Hamilton for his invention.  Then the tourist industry figured out that travelers would love the experience of being taken down a river in shallow rocky water, close to cliff sides, and spin in a circle while threatened with a good, icy splash.  And here we are.

Aside from the excitement of the boat we get a beautiful view the river valley formed by glaciers, lush riverside vegetation, and wooded hills and waterfalls (and increasing clouds). 

As we approach the end of our ride, the pilot lets us know he's going to do a 360 degree turn.  We’re protected from water, enjoy the thrill, and cheer (see video below).  In fact we like it so much we ask for more... the video is just enough to give you the idea.

Video of a 360 degree turn on the Haast River Jet Boat trip  (video courtesy of Gary Sellars)

If you can't see the video on this page, please visit  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YD4fEj_rmI

for my youtube version of it. 

Then the joy-ride is over.   We  return to the coach to continue to Queenstown.

* for those who don’t remember Superman, the shows usually began with people looking up to see something in the sky and they’d say, “It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Superman!”  I felt I should explain for anyone younger than I, which would be--everyone?

For more information. including a video of the Haast River Safari, visit http://www.haastriver.co.nz/