High Speed Thrills

Imagine travelling 80kmph in this Towards this! That's what happens when you step into a Huka Falls Jet Taupo June 2010. Ajr www.hukafallsjet.com

Have Jet, Will Scream

When you're racing toward a rock wall at 90 kilometres per hour in just 6 inches of water, you can be forgiven for screaming.

That's the deal when you leap aboard the Thrillseekers Jet, near Hanmer Springs. Me? I'm a speed junkie, so I ALWAYS love jet boats. They make so much more sense to me than throwing yourself off a bridge attached to a bungy cord...... but more about that in a day or two.

In my role as the writer of the travel guide Frommers New Zealand, I've been lucky enough to enjoy many jet boat rides. It's part of the job after all. But until recently, I'd never taken the Thrillseekers Jet up the very pretty Waiau River. The ride itself may not be as dramatic as some I've been on but our driver was terrific and the scenery stunning. I love the South Island's braided rivers and there's something awe-inspiring and unbelieveable about boats that skim across just a few inches of water. You can literally look over the edge and see the river bottom. And then there's the famous 360-degree spin - a feature of jetboat technology...technology I might add, that was invented in New Zealand. If you were ever sitting there thinking it was all too easy, then the spin is sure to wake you up in a hurry. www.thrillseekers.co.nz

An Untouched World

Images supplied by Dart River Safaris

Anyone following this blog will remember that I've featured Dart River Safaris before ....just click on their name in the index line below this posting to see other fabulous photos. These two shots put the adventure in context - in a remarkable untouched landscape that dwarfs anyone in it. There are many good jet-boating operations in New Zealand but few that transport you into territory like this. www.dartriver.co.nz

An Adventure Worth Having

Images Supplied by Dart River Safaris

In the course of writing the travel guide Frommers New Zealand, I think I've been on almost every sort of boat there is - from steamships and yachts to cruise vessels, fishing boats and jet boats. One of the most memorable adventures MUST be Dart River Safaris, who whisk you into the remote reaches of the Dart River, 40 minutes from Queenstown. If you get the chance, don't say no! www.dartriver.co.nz http://www.frommers.com/

High Speed Thrills in the South

Shotover Jet in Shotover River Canyon. Image Courtesy Ngai Tahu Tourism

Racing through narrow rocky canyons at crazy speeds may not be everyone's cup of tea but if you want to wake yourself up in a hurry, this is just the way to do it. Join the Shotover Jet team for more squeals and screams per minute than you thought yourself capable of. www.shotoverjet.com

For Speed Freaks......

Images supplied by Shotover Jet and Ngai Tahu Tourism.

When it comes to sheer, blinding terror and excitement, there's not much around to beat Queenstown's Shotover Jet experience. The big red boats race through narrow, rock-walled canyons, up shallow rivers and just when you think you can relax, they spin you 360-degrees in the middle of the river. It's not for the faint-hearted but if you're in the mood for 'blowing the cobwebs out of your life' this will do the trick nicely - and over two million people who've taken the ride since 1970 can attest to that. www.shotoverjet.com

Adrenalin Rush

Image Supplied by Dart River Safaris

I love the adrenalin rush that comes with speed and one way to enjoy that without getting a speeding ticket, is to join Dart River Safaris on one of their fabulous jet-boating excursions up the stunningly beautiful Dart River – a place of jagged mountains, ancient beech forests and moody Lord of the Rings filming locations forty minutes from Queenstown. It’s an adventure that takes you into dramatic unspoiled landscapes you wouldn’t otherwise have access to – and there’s a lot to be said for that in my view. www.dartriver.co.nz

Flying High

It was the perfect day for it – 26-degrees, brilliant blue skies and one of the most gorgeous Canterbury landscapes you’ll find – and that’s before we even get to the jet boat and helicopter! Terrace Downs High Country Resort is a heaven-on-earth location roughly an hour inland from Christchurch. Perched high above the Rakaia Gorge it comes complete with classy villas and chalets, one of New Zealand’s top18-hole golf courses and a location that will take your breath away. Given that I’m mad about both jet boats and helicopters, I felt very spoilt today in being able to do both at the launch of the Terrace Downs Discovery Jet on Rakaia River. After being raced upstream on water unbelievably turquoise, through landscapes unbelievably pristine, we were picked up by Mt Hutt Helicopters and whisked back to Terrace Downs for lunch and, in my case, rather manic attempts to get a hole-in-one in a light-hearted putting contest. I have to say it was one of the loveliest little jaunts I’ve had in ages and I hope everyone is going to make a beeline for this fabulous location. I can’t believe how lucky we are to have it so close to Christchurch. www.terracedowns.co.nz