Few things can match the excitement of an adrenalin fuelled jet boat ride through the fast moving shallow rivers of New Zealand's Southern Alps. Adventure tourists to the South Island can't get enough of the white knuckle exhilaration of jet boating down a canyon gorge.
What makes a jet boat different from a run-of-the-mill speed boat? Jet boats do not have an external propeller. The propulsion system that drives a jet boat is something called an impeller, which is essentially an internal propeller.
Jet boats accelerate forward when water is ejected at great force from nozzles located at the rear of the vessel. This water is drawn in from specially placed inlets at the bottom of the boat's hull. Turning the nozzles simultaneously allows the boat to change direction, and gives jet boats their amazing manoeuvrability.
The lack of any external propellers allows jet boats to operate with very little clearance under the hull. The internal propulsion system is also what gives the jet boat its impressive turning abilities. Jet boats have been known to make 360 degree turns effortlessly.
Jet boats have no problems in extremely shallow waters and can function just fine in places where the water is just a few centimetres deep. This opens up entire new avenues for adventure and exploration as jet boat operators can take their vessels through otherwise inaccessible places. A jet boat ride in one of New Zealand's shallow, fast flowing rivers is something you will cherish for the rest of your life.
Anyone who has gone jet boating will remember his or her first experience. Once the driver accelerates the adventure begins and doesn't let up until the very end. Passengers on a jet boat will be simultaneously thrilled and terrified as their vessel skims through ankle-deep water, barely missing the jagged rocks a mere inches below the hull.
Zooming through scenic gorges and treacherous rapids, getting soaked with the spray from every twist and turn as the driver expertly steers the boat from yet another rock or cliff wall, and feeling the wind rush across your hair as the boat spins a full 360 degrees across the water are some of the memories you can expect to come away with.
Jet boating is an all inclusive activity, and open to participants of all ages and fitness levels. Furthermore, jet boating is not a seasonal activity, and can be enjoyed throughout the year.
Jet boat fans should not miss Shotover Jet and the Kawarau Jet on the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers. Both of these operate out of the South Island resort town of Queenstown and offer the best jet boating experience in the country. Other great jet boat sites in the South Island include the Waiatoto river near Haast, the Wilkin and Dart rivers in Mt Aspiring National Park and the Buller River near Westport.
North Island jet boat rides can be found at Waikato, Whanganui and Rangitaiki and Motu rivers. A trip to the Hole in the Rock involves a great jet boat ride around the Bay of Islands in Northland. Sprint jets can be the Agrodome in Rotorua and also in Waitomo.
What makes a jet boat different from a run-of-the-mill speed boat? Jet boats do not have an external propeller. The propulsion system that drives a jet boat is something called an impeller, which is essentially an internal propeller.
Jet boats accelerate forward when water is ejected at great force from nozzles located at the rear of the vessel. This water is drawn in from specially placed inlets at the bottom of the boat's hull. Turning the nozzles simultaneously allows the boat to change direction, and gives jet boats their amazing manoeuvrability.
The lack of any external propellers allows jet boats to operate with very little clearance under the hull. The internal propulsion system is also what gives the jet boat its impressive turning abilities. Jet boats have been known to make 360 degree turns effortlessly.
Jet boats have no problems in extremely shallow waters and can function just fine in places where the water is just a few centimetres deep. This opens up entire new avenues for adventure and exploration as jet boat operators can take their vessels through otherwise inaccessible places. A jet boat ride in one of New Zealand's shallow, fast flowing rivers is something you will cherish for the rest of your life.
Anyone who has gone jet boating will remember his or her first experience. Once the driver accelerates the adventure begins and doesn't let up until the very end. Passengers on a jet boat will be simultaneously thrilled and terrified as their vessel skims through ankle-deep water, barely missing the jagged rocks a mere inches below the hull.
Zooming through scenic gorges and treacherous rapids, getting soaked with the spray from every twist and turn as the driver expertly steers the boat from yet another rock or cliff wall, and feeling the wind rush across your hair as the boat spins a full 360 degrees across the water are some of the memories you can expect to come away with.
Jet boating is an all inclusive activity, and open to participants of all ages and fitness levels. Furthermore, jet boating is not a seasonal activity, and can be enjoyed throughout the year.
Jet boat fans should not miss Shotover Jet and the Kawarau Jet on the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers. Both of these operate out of the South Island resort town of Queenstown and offer the best jet boating experience in the country. Other great jet boat sites in the South Island include the Waiatoto river near Haast, the Wilkin and Dart rivers in Mt Aspiring National Park and the Buller River near Westport.
North Island jet boat rides can be found at Waikato, Whanganui and Rangitaiki and Motu rivers. A trip to the Hole in the Rock involves a great jet boat ride around the Bay of Islands in Northland. Sprint jets can be the Agrodome in Rotorua and also in Waitomo.
About the Author:
The Queenstown jet boating specialist Thunder Jet offer a exhilarating ride up the Kawara river that runs out of lake Wakitipu. Jetboating Queenstown is a must when visiting the resort and is a fantatic way to see the local area.
