Shotover Jet

The jet boat was invented in New Zealand by Bill Hamilton in the 1950s to run the shallow braided rivers of Canterbury, and Shotover Jet has operated commercially since 1965. It holds the sole licence to run the narrow Shotover Canyons - other operators use different stretches of river - and that section is the point: rock walls close on both sides, the boat runs in as little as ten centimetres of water, and the drivers take it within about a metre of the canyon walls at up to seventy kilometres an hour, with 360-degree spins thrown in. The ride is roughly twenty-five minutes on the water. Spray jackets and life jackets are provided; you will get wet, and in winter that means cold. Booking matters in summer. The company is owned by Ngai Tahu Tourism.

What you actually see

• The canyons - sheer rock walls the boat runs between.
• The close passes - about a metre from the rock, at speed.
• The spins - full 360-degree turns on the water.
• The shallow running - the hull clearing water only centimetres deep.

When to go

Any season - it runs year-round. Winter rides are cold and wet; dress for it. Book ahead December to March. Departures are frequent through the day.

Honest expectations

Twenty-five minutes on the water for the price. You will be soaked by spray. Not suitable for people with back or neck problems or in pregnancy. High water can suspend operations.

Nearby

Arthurs Point and the Shotover bungy bridge are close; Queenstown is south.