adventurethroughtravel: April 18th, Queenstown

Today is adrenalin day! We were off by 8:15 to go jet boating with Skippers Canyon Jet in Skippers Canyon. Two shepherds found gold in Skippers Canyon in 1862 and within two months there were 4000 gold miners there. There has been more gold discovered there than in any other canyon in the world.

We traveled by bus on a road carved by the gold miners in the 1880’s. It is a one lane, twisting and curving dirt road over the mountains and into Skippers Canyon with no guard rails and with near vertical drops of up to 3000 feet! At times the bus wheels must be less than one foot from the edge. The driver told us he has driven this route in snow with chains. It is without a doubt the scariest ride I’ve ever taken as a passenger. The scenery is fantastic with grass covered mountains but few trees and the Shotover River winding between the steep rock walls of the canyon. The same company also owns a bungee jump bridge there.

There were eight of us plus a driver in the aluminum jet boat. The engine produces 450 HP driving a water jet pumping 25,000 liters per minute. The boat blasts up the shallow curving river through tight canyon walls at over 80 kilometers per hour through rapids and over rock beds just inches below the surface. We were often less than two feet from vertical rock faces. Skipper Canyon is the narrowest canyon that allows a jet boat operation. In addition the boats can do 360 degree turns in just over their own length.
A fantastic adventure!