Welcome to New Zealand: The Birthplace of Jet Boating

While you can go jet boating in just about any large-enough body of water, there are few places as renowned for the sport as New Zealand—and for good reason! This Pacific island nation is where jet sporting got started, and where it’s persisted as a popular pastime more than 50 years later.

In today’s blog, we will be looking at the fascinating origins of jet boating—as well as a few of the reasons why New Zealand was (and is!) the perfect place for the sport to call “home.”

The need for a new kind of boat

They say that necessity is the mother of invention—and the case of the jet boat is no exception! Sir Bill Hamilton is credited with creating the water jet mechanism that allows jet boating to happen the way it does. He wanted a boat that could successfully navigate the shallow, fast-moving rivers found throughout his home of New Zealand, and the streamlined design of his jet boat allowed for just this since there was no need for a bulky propeller to jut out from the boat’s stern.

Jet boating opportunities throughout New Zealand

If you want to head to New Zealand and see, for yourself, the place where jet boating got started, you’re in luck! The country is still a thriving spot for jet boating excursions of all kinds, so you can be sure that there’s an experience waiting for you here. You can try…

• Jet boating your way through some of New Zealand’s most notable rivers. One such river, the Clutha, happens to be the largest on New Zealand’s South Island and the fastest-moving in the entire country. The Clutha River is famous for its enjoyable ride and, of course, beautiful scenery—depending on where you are on the river, you’ll be able to see sweeping mountain views of the Southern Alps, vibrant foliage, and picturesque orchards and vineyards, too.
• A jet boat tour. If you want to enjoy the thrill of a jet boat ride on some of New Zealand’s greatest rivers, but prefer to experience it as a passenger, try a jet boat tour! The country is filled with opportunities for you and your family to hop on board and enjoy the sights and sensations of a brisk river adventure.

We hope that today’s blog has given you a better understanding of the origins of jet boating. It’s always interesting to know that, while jet boating is such an integral part of our lives on the water, it’s actually a relatively new sport!

Be sure to let us know if you’re looking for the perfect Vortex boat to take on your next on-the-water adventure—whether it be to New Zealand or your local lake. We look forward to hearing from you soon.