Shotover Jetboat Adventure

It was still Day 2 of our New Zealand holiday.  After a morning of Canyoning, we refueled at the famous Queenstown restaurant, Fergburger.  There is always a long line here any time of day.  We went around 3:30 PM, after the lunch rush and before the dinner crowd, so our wait was just 10 minutes.

After lunch, we were ready for another dose of adrenaline.  It was time to try the Shotover Jetboat.  If you go to any tourist destination with a large body of water, odds are you will find a jetboat attraction.  They are the super fast boats that hold about 20 or so raincoat-clad people.  You see them zip around in circles, flying over waves and are a huge splash, literally.  I see the Sydney Jetboat all the time in the harbor but have never done it.  So, why do the one in Queenstown?

BT's POV for the ride

The Shotover Jetboat runs on the Shotover river.  The fact that it's not on an open body of water and instead along a river and inside a canyon adds even more excitement to the ride.  We get so close to the canyon walls, it was insane.  I sat on the left side, directly behind the driver and thought for sure we were going to hit the rocks several times.

My face for most of the ride

It was a blast.  Our driver, Niam skillfully maneuvered our boat through the canyon.  We did 180's, 360's and, yes, we all got wet.  Shotover, might not have the waves to jump like a boat on an open body of water (This was fine because I wasn't ready to taste more Fergburger.).  However, the thrill of going through the canyon is something those other jetboat attractions don't have.

But nevermind my description of it.  See for yourself in the video below.  Brian sat up front and center next to the driver to get the footage below.