HUKA JET BOAT RIDE..hold on tight and bring a change of clothes.
Feb 12 '02 (Updated Jan 21 '03)
The Bottom Line This ride is fun.
Location
Just off the main highway ~ Highway 1 ~ between Rotorua and Taupo you will see the signs for Huka Falls. If you are travelling from Rotorua it is a 45-minute drive, if coming from Taupo it's about 10 minutes from downtown.
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Being the worlds biggest wuss I was a bit apprehensive about this ride. I had seen the jet boat racing up and down the river, spinning 360’s left right and centre and I was beginning to have serious doubts about the fun element of this ride.
I was a bit nervous as the jet boat raced up and unloaded the people before us. Everyone seemed in high spirits and the only ones complaining were those that had got wet during the ride. I listened carefully to the advice from the wettest people who suggested sitting up front and in the middle. We were all given life jackets then photos were taken of the various groups before we boarded the boat.
The driver welcomed us with a cheery smile and jovial remark about “not losing anyone out of his boat so far … today”
The boat was capable of carrying about 15 passengers; I sat in the middle while my husband took the outside seat in the back.
We headed off at a rather sedate pace initially, the driver told us he would do a few practice 360 spins and to watch for his hand signals which would let us know in advance to hold on tight. I relaxed after realising that I wasn’t at risk of being thrown from the boat. In fact the boat felt like it could handle anything the driver threw at it, it was as steady as a rock.
Now the driver had lulled us into a sense of security he increased the speed and startled hurtling towards the right hand bank… FULL SPEED AHEAD. In the nick of time he whizzed under the branches of the overhanging trees dodging submerged logs and with a quick warning hand signal, threw in a 360 to finish the stunt with flair.
The most unnerving thing was seeing the submerged logs sticking up; the boat was weaving in and out amongst these logs, throwing tight corners and 360’s with ease.
The ride lasted for 30 minutes and we went from the jetty to the Aratiatia Dam at the northern end to Huka Falls at the southern end.
Huka Falls are a major attraction in this area. The falls are small yet spectacular, with almost 250,000 litres of the Waikato River ~ ( the North Islands largest river ) ~being squeezed through a narrow chasm the falls make a great sight. The roaring, foaming water is as clear as daylight and the water even smells fresh. The falls are the most amazing colour of pale turquoise.
From the walking track the falls seem quite tame but from the jet boat you can feel the bubbling turmoil in the depths as the water churns deep below the surface.
When the ride was over everyone got off in various degrees of wet I was as dry as a bone as I was in the middle but those at the sides were quite wet and those on the back left hand side were soaked through. As it was the middle of summer the drenching was part of the fun but in winter it would be freezing. The drivers can control the amount of splashing the passengers get and as my husband was at the extreme rear left, he got the wettest. As he was the cheekiest person on the boat I think the driver knew exactly what he was doing.
FAQ’S
PRICE ---(NZ)$59 per person = (US)$24.50
WEB SITE--- www.hukajet.co.nz
PHONE---(07)374 8572
FREEPHONE---0800 4852538 (NZ only)
WHAT TO BRING.
1. sense of fun
2. cameras are okay but leave your video camera’s behind.
3. appropriate clothing. If it’s mid-winter warm clothing, hats and gloves are a must.
WHAT IS PROVIDED
1. life jackets
2. spray jackets are available on request
3. action photos are available for purchase after the ride
GUY STUFF.
The jet boats are powered by 496 cu inch 8.1 litre Chevrolet engines running on LPG.
The 212 Hamilton Jet unit thrusts 380 litres of water per second.
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More reviews.
Taupo - http://www.epinions.com/content_71503941252
Rotorua - http://www.epinions.com/content_71490506372
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Epinions.com ID:
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Member: Christine
Location: New Zealand
Reviews written: 144
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