Kiwi innovation in tourism
Ingenuity and innovation are characteristics Kiwis are renowned for and the tourism industry in New Zealand is no exception. The Hamilton jet, the ski plane, bungy and Zorb are all examples of Kiwi inventions that have pushed traditional boundaries of travel and embodies the Kiwi sense of adventure. These examples have provided more unique ways for travellers to experience some of New Zealand’s most scenic locations.
The Hamilton jet is just one of many examples of Kiwi innovation. William Hamilton, a farmer, developed the jetboat in 1954 to allow navigation of the shallow Canterbury rivers. Hamilton’s invention revolutionised conventional boating and it soon developed into a thrill sport that has spread throughout a range of New Zealand’s most scenic rivers and lakes. Hamilton led the way in creating a vehicle for visitors to see some of New Zealand’s most breathtaking areas and jetboat operations are now situated all around the country from Waikato’s Woodlyn Park to the Dart River in the Southern Alps.
New Zealand Tourism Award Winner Shotover Jet is the only company permitted to operate amidst the scenery of the Shotover River Canyons - home of shallow water jetboating. Shotover Jet provides an iconic way to experience Queenstown, complete with 360 degree spins. The Shotover Jet group also owns Dart River Safaris in Glenorchy and Huka Jet in Taupo. All of their boats are powered by Hamilton Jets.
Also situated in Queenstown, Kawarau Jet is the world’s longest established commercial jetboat operation. Since 1960 Kawarau Jet has provided a unique way to take in the local goldmining history of the Shotover River and the illustrious tourism history of the Kawarau River and Queenstown region.
In Glenorchy, just outside the Southern Alps, the Dart River Safari combines wilderness jetboating along the glacial Dart River, a walk in the ancient beech forests of the World Heritage Area Te Wahipounamu and a back road journey through the high country farmland and forests around Paradise - a key location from Peter Jackson’s film trilogy, ‘The Lord of the Rings’.
Taupo’s Huka Jet provides an adventurous way to see Huka Falls up close. Travelling at speeds of up to 80 kilometres an hour, the trip takes in the scenery of the Waikato River, the base of the impressive Huka Falls, the Wairakei Thermal Power Station and the Aratiatia Dam.
In the heart of Whanganui National Park, Bridge to Nowhere Jetboat Tours follow the route of the turn of the century riverboats to the Mangapurua Valley, home to some of New Zealand’s early European pioneers. The half-day trip travels through fern clad river gorges and combines a 40 minute walk through native bush.
Fiordland’s Hump Ridge Jet takes in one of New Zealand’s most remote and untouched rivers, the Wairaurahiri River and Lake Hauroko, the deepest in New Zealand. The thrill of 27 kilometres of grade three, rock strewn white-water rapids contrasts with the scenery of million year old virgin beech forest to provide one of the best jetboating experiences in New Zealand.
For a unique way to take in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, people can experience the world’s only fixed-wing glacier landing. It took years of perseverance and famous Kiwi ingenuity by Sir Henry Wigley to create the first retractable skis for an aircraft, but Mount Cook Ski Planes made aviation history in 1955 when Sir Henry made the first snow landing on the Tasman Glacier, the longest glacier in the Southern Hemisphere.
Renowned Kiwi innovators AJ Hackett and Henry van Asch have seen the growth of ‘this rubber thing’ into one of New Zealand’s most iconic adventure tourism activities. Inspired by a Vanuatu ritual involving tribesmen leaping off structures with vines attached to their ankles, AJ Hackett Bungy developed unique bungy cords that now allow adventure-seekers to launch themselves from some of New Zealand’s striking locations.
Located in both Queenstown and Auckland, AJ Hackett Bungy launches from Nevis Highwire (the highest in New Zealand, 134 metres), the Kawarau Bridge (43 metres, with a water touch), Skippers Canyon (71metres) and the Auckland Harbour Bridge (40 metres, with water touch).
Another example of Kiwi ingenuity is the Zorb. What began as an attempt to walk on water, developed into a unique adventure activity. Kiwi brothers Davis and Andrew Akers and former scientist Dwayne van der Sluis are the creative minds behind the Zorb, which can be described as a giant, hollow plastic ball surrounded by a thick air cushion. When thrill seekers enter the ball, it is then rolled down a hill at speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour.
The Zorb can be done either wet or dry and travels in both straight and zig zag paths over a 180m terrain. Although the Zorb originated in Rotorua, it can now also be found just outside of Paihia in Northland.
New Zealand’s miles of sandy coastlines and offshore winds provided inspiration for one of the latest adventure sport crazes, the Blokart. Papamoa inventor, Paul Beckett, crafted the three-wheeled land-yacht in his garage in 1999 and now exports the vehicle internationally. The Blokart's user friendly, portable nature mean that Blokarts are right at home anywhere from beaches to parking lots, sport and recreation grounds and even on ice. When thrill seekers have finished reaching speeds of up to 90 kilometres an hour, the Blokart easily folds up into a suitcase sized bag.
Beckett’s home town of Papamoa plays host to Blokart Heaven, which features a purpose built track specifically for Blokarts and is the location for the annual New Zealand Blokart Open, in October.
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