A grey day with rain forecast later. We walked into town and booked ourselves on the Shotover Jet boat then hopped on the shuttle bus for the five minute ride to the gorge.
A very slick operation – we were briefed by TV in the bus and kitted out with spray jackets and life jackets when we arrived at the edge of the river. The boats are smart and very high-tech with twin v8 engines and a top speed of 85km/h. The gorge is spectacular (gorgeous?) with the river running very swiftly through its craggy walls.
The ride was wildly exciting, skimming by the rocks at great speeds with just inches to spare and rushing over shallow gravelly bits. The piece de resistance (or coup de grace?) was the 360-degree spin. The driver would warn us with a wave, then send the boat spinning. You had to hold on tight to prevent yourself being thrown out into the water. Yee-hah!
The only down side was some bumpy bits which were a bit jarring for people with bad backs, but we all survived unscathed.
Altogether an unforgettable experience in spectacular scenery.
