‘Your Wildest Adventure’ is a series featuring thrilling tales from travel writers while jaunting around the world. This week’s edition is a story from Isabelle who brings us down south to the shores of New Zealand in her quest to find some action. She blogs over at Isabelle’s Travel Guide.
A trip to New Zealand and Fiji last year gave me the opportunity to be really adventurous. In New Zealand I joined a guided tour to see the Southern Island. Various important spots were on the itinerary: Dunedin with world’s steepest street, Christchurch, Milford Sound … and of course, Queenstown. Queenstown is known as the world’s favorite adrenaline destination. From skydiving, bungee jumping, jet boating to whitewater rafting, adventure seekers are spoilt for choice here.
Because I was there with a guided tour, skydiving was more difficult to organize. I’ve skydived before at my hometown, but being able to jump from a plane in NZ must have been spectacular. I decided to do something else. Okay, it’s not as exciting as jumping out of a plane or bridge, but I wanted to know for myself what this thrilling experience the brochures were talking about really was.
It’s a boat that can pick up a lot of speed, but it was more than I expected. I’ve been on speed boats before in the Caribbean. It’s nice, it goes fast. But that’s in the open sea. This is something different!
Jet boating involves an adrenaline pumping ride on a boat that goes at lightning speed. You are usually seated with 20 others and the driver. You need the driver, trust me! And then it starts, the boat takes you over Lake Wakatipu with stunning views over the remarkable mountain range. But the excitement begins at the Shotover River, where your driver navigates the shallow channels of the river. At speeds up to 52 miles (85 kilometers) per hour in water often less than 3.9 inches (10 cm) deep! The excitement doesn’t come from only the speed, navigating close to the rocks just gives you a heightened sense of exhilaration. The adrenaline pumps through your veins. You think you’re going to hit something, but of course the driver knows what he’s doing.
The thing I loved most, besides the speed and the close navigating, was when the driver made a round circle with his hand. That meant he was going to do a 360° spin with the boat! Do keep in mind, if you’re in the back or sitting on the sides of the boat, you will get wet.
Just thinking about it, gets me all excited again. It’s the combination of the speed, the closeness to the edges of the river and the 360° spins that makes this an experience you have to try if you get the chance.
Some practical information: The jet boating trip takes about an hour. The departure point is in the centre of Queenstown.
Photo credits: Flickr by Michael Schmatz
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Check out Isabelle’s Travel Guide for inspiration on travel destinations. You can find information, travel tips and personal experiences from trips in the USA, Caribbean and Europe. Everything to make your next vacations memorable! You can find Isabelle on Twitter.
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I have been on the shotover jet, and it was great fun. The drivers are pretty skilled and provide a good laugh too. I would highly recommend the new zealand jet boats!
so nice post and thank for that.