Description
A fascinating insight into the story behind New Zealand’s internationally renowned tourist jet boat venture which launched Queenstown’s adventure tourism industry in 1965 and has thrilled over three million passengers in its first half century of operation. Jet boating arrived in New Zealand in the 1950s with the invention of the Hamilton jet unit by pioneer CWF (Bill) Hamilton. Tourism pioneers quickly identified the potential in Queenstown for commercial jet boating and in 1965 the Shotover Jet Boat Service Ltd was launched. During the following 50 years the trip through narrow and challenging Shotover Canyons has developed into a flagship New Zealand tourist activity – billed as the “world’s most exciting jet boat ride”. Shotover Jet has attracted many celebrities and received the royal stamp of approval and worldwide exposure when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge rode the canyons during their 2014 New Zealand tour. This book is more than just a story about a high profile tourist jet boat company – it is a captivating history reflecting the indomitable New Zealand pioneering spirit and early risk taking tourism entrepreneurs. Accompanied by superb historic and contemporary photographs, [this] captures one of the most exciting times in New Zealand’s tourism history.
