Beguiling, Beautiful, Ballistic and Billowy Boating in New Zealand

by Emma McCrow

“That was choice”, I hear a very enthusiastic Kiwi exclaim as we depart. “I reckon it’s time to put my jandals back on, have a nice cool L&P from the esky, and eat some fish and chips for lunch.” Ah, the Kiwis! Believe it or not, these are the exact words I heard uttered from the lips of a New Zealand born lady as we concluded our adventure boat ride. They’re a funny bunch, and we Aussies certainly like to ‘take the mickey out of them’, but as I am a Maori descendant from New Plymoth, I have a lot of love and respect for these people and their country.

When you think of New Zealand, you may picture it as the birthplace of the Lord of the Rings. You may associate it with the All Blacks or the Haka. You may immediately think of a country entirely governed by sheep, but indeed it is much more than that. New Zealand is one of the most beautiful, lush, diverse and serene landscapes in the entire world, friends of mine have even referred to it as the ‘Promised Land’ (they’re Kiwis and slightly biased, of course). Also known as ‘the land of the long white cloud’, New Zealand has a brutal history, where once Maori tribes fought bloody battles against one another, and on occasion, ate their enemies. Despite this, New Zealand has now become a popular, safe, and diverse tourist spot offering an array of attractions and activities one can’t experience anywhere else. One of the best attractions New Zealand has to offer is adventure boating. Instead of the usual 20-30 minute Shotover Jet ride that is over before it even began, I want to show you that there are plenty of other boating experiences that are affordable, exciting, unique, picturesque and value for your money. Here are my top 4:

1. Haast – Jet Boating with a Difference:

Also known as the ‘Waiatoto River Safari’, this is the worlds only ocean to alps jet boating experience. Exploring the Te-Wahipounamu World Heritage area rich in Maori history, the Waiatoto River Safari is an eco friendly boating experience that pauses long enough to capture the picturesque magnitude of snow capped mountains and unpopulated beaches through the lens of your camera. What’s unique about this boating experience is that not only do you get the thrill of a jet ride dodging rock obstacles, attempts at steering up white rapids and driving through dangerously shallow waters, but you also get a relaxingly paced history tour of the region and get to explore areas that only the safari boat can go. Operated by Neill Ross in his custom built boat, this is an experience the whole family can enjoy. There are two sessions every day that can last anywhere from 2.5 – 4 hours all year round including night sessions during the months of October to March. Prices vary and there are packaged deals available, but generally its $199AUS for adults and $139AUS for children.

For more information and booking details visit this page.

2. Queenstown – Historical Chug Along:

To most, Queenstown is known for its slathers of extreme sporting adventures like bungee jumping and snowboarding, but there is also an incredible historical adventure just waiting to be discovered. Step back in time with the T.S.S Earnslaw, a vintage steamship which has been sailing since 1912 and is the last remaining steamship to float along the blue waters of Lake Wakatipu. Named after Mount Earnslaw, the T.S.S Earnslaw has carried onboard the superior likes of Queen Elizabeth and has even been featured in the movie ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’. An experience for the whole family, this smooth, relaxing ride allows you to play the role of a time traveller as you explore what it would have been like to sail on a steamship in the early 1900’s. There are several experiences available depending on the size of your pocketbook and taste in adventure. If you simply fancy a sail across the lake, cruises are run throughout the day all year round lasting 1.5 hours. However, if cruising simply isn’t enough for you, in my opinion you can’t go past the Walter Peak High Country Farm experience. Including a moreish barbeque lunch at the Colonel’s Homestead and followed by a striking and breathtaking tour of the farm and its glorious gardens as well as a sheep shearing demonstration, this experience will cost you $55AUS + lasting 3.5 hours or more.

Check out these links for more information on Walter Peak Farm Tours, the history of the TSS Earnslaw, and other adventures available in Queenstown.

3. Mt. Cook/ Tasman Lake – The Glacier Experience:

Possibly the greatest boating experience of my life, the ‘Mt Cook Glacier Explorers’ boat trip is a must. Located on Tasman Lake at Mt.Cook, this experience allows you to get up close and personal with 100+ year old glaciers formed into icebergs. Not only do you get to drive over and see these magnificently formed glacial icebergs (including being the actual driver if you’re lucky like my brother), you also get to touch and eat them, yum! If you’re like me you may even experience your very own Titanic flashback with the unique opportunity of running over an iceberg in a blow up speed boat risking the chance of falling into the below freezing icy water and potentially dying. Just kidding, you won’t die as they provide you with hideous orange suits to keep you warm in case this happens. $128AUS for adults and $62AUS for children out of pocket, the experience will last over 3 hours including a fairly easy slow 30 minute walk to and from the car to the boat.

For more information and booking details visit this page.

4. Milford Sound – Scenic, Smooth and Easy:

This is for the laid back, slow paced, cruisy, photographic enthusiasts of the world. With stunning mountainous landscapes, large streaming waterfalls, and sunbaking seals, the fjord of Milford Sound is renowned for its unbelievable beauty. After heavy rain, hundreds of waterfalls can be seen streaming down the rock faces of cliffs along the sides of the river. As one of the most visited tourist locations in New Zealand, you have the option for a day or overnight cruise. Day cruises last for 2 hours at the cost of $70AUS and travel at a slow pace allowing you time to take in the 360̊ scenery from the comfort of a luxurious modern boat with heated observation lounges for those who prefer to view the world from a more comfortable standpoint. For more adventures, the sound is also home to an underwater observatory where you can marvel at the rare sight of black coral usually located in deeper water.

For more information and booking details check out this page.

If you wish to book a holiday to New Zealand which includes all the incredible adventures listed here and more, as well as accommodation and transport, I would recommend booking with ANZCRO.

 

Author’s Bio: Emma McCrow is an International Development, Photomedia and Journalism student from Brisbane, Queensland and Ytravler’s Adventure Columnist. As a travel junkie, Emma has been to over 19 countries travelling extensively through Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and parts of the Pacific. Emma loves exotic foods, unique travelling (go figure), and bundles of adventure.