Ongoing investment in Dart River Jet attraction

The Glenorchy-based Dart River Jet is continuing to reinvest in equipment, technology and the environment while putting the northern part of Lake Wakatipu on the map as a ‘must do’ authentic New Zealand experience.

In the last year Dart River Jet has brought on six new 32-seat 4WD buses that are used to transport guest to jet boats on the Wilderness Jet and Glenorchy Discovery trips. The 4WD is needed for navigating the river beds and back roads the buses travel on their way past Paradise to Mount Aspiring National Park.

Also on the water just in time for Chinese New Year was a new, purpose-built 14-seat jet boat. With a nose loading ramp, twin engines, bucket seats and tiered seating for the best viewing experience, the boat is the first prototype for the future Dart jet boat fleet.

At the Glenorchy base area new drying rooms, improved changing spaces and lockers and increased administration and storage space have enabled the business to cope with record customer numbers over the summer season.

The Wilderness Jet trip now caters for five additional languages with an expanded Kruse GPS- triggered commentary system as of early January. French, German and Spanish cover off the main European languages, with Chinese and Japanese the first two Asian languages available.

From an environmental perspective, Dart River Jet has ‘adopted’ the corner of the National Park where the majority of Dart River Jet’s bush walks take place. Starting with secure stock fencing, it is now being followed up by the replanting of over 1,000 native seedlings a year and a mixed trap line for opossums, rats and stoats. Staff are noticing the return of native bird life, particularly fantails and bush robins.

Dart River Jet Business Manager Andrew Husheer says that as part of Ngâi Tahu Tourism, the core values of manaakitanga (hospitality) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship) are central to the company’s philosophy.

Husheer explains “the investment in equipment and technology is about improving our customer experience (while) the investment in our environment is simply about looking after where we live and work.

“It’s well known that Dart River Jet has experienced significant growth over the past two years and there are no signs of demand slowing up.

“Dart River will continue to invest to ensure that when people visit this incredibly scenic area they receive a truly memorable New Zealand experience.”

The Dart River Jet is owned and operated by Ngâi Tahu Tourism, one of New Zealand’s premier tourism operators and the parent company of an extensive portfolio of eco-tourism and adventure experiences.

Images show the new Wilderness Jet boat (top) and local birdlife on the Dart River (below). Lower image courtesy of Camilla Rutherford.

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