Shotover Jet

Shotover Jet

Shotover Jet is one of Queenstown's most well known adventure tourism activities. This breathtaking, action packed, thrill ride is perfect for a family or anyone who is searching for a thrill seeking 30 minutes of pure fun. The bus ride is excellent with speakers down the isles where the bus driver speaks to the whole bus and informs the bus about the history of the Shotover River and how it was formed, its cool how the bus has speakers because you get so many other tour buses that don't have the speakers and you cannot hear what the driver has to say. The trip from town only takes 10 minutes to get to the Shotover River base.

360 on the Shotover Jet

When we arrived at the building we were taken straight down to the container which is used as the shed to house the lockers, life jackets and spray/wind breaker jackets. We jumped into the boat when they were ready and the driver gave the passengers a rough outline of what he was going to do and the hand signals for when he was going to put the boat into the 360 spin. This was the circling finger in the air from the driver which meant hold on tight and brace to be spun.

When we got going we went up to a open area and did our first 360 spin then came back past the dock sideways for a photo shoot then carried on down the river. The amazing thrill of getting so close to the canyon rocks but never hitting them was simply breath taking. The driver drifts in snakey's down the river dodging oncoming rocks and fallen branches. There was one point down the river where the driver had to get through a narrow space between two rocks and he did it with such ease it looked like he was on a Sunday cruise.

Drifting around one of the easy corners

It's not just the one jet going up and down the river at once, there are 5 boats running all at once and they have it timed perfectly when having to pass each other. One to two boats travelling up river will wait at a designated stopping area for the boat coming down river to pass. The drivers take the time to talk to the passengers and have a chat then your off again on another heart stopping experience.

Shotover Jet has evolved into a very unique and efficient business which has created perfect timing between boats passing each other when some are zig zaging up river and others skipping down at over 80 kph. A awesome family excursion to cater for almost all ages.

For more information and additional feedback go to:

http://trevaskisadventures.blogspot.co.nz/p/canyon-swing.html