Queenstown tourism company Thunder Jet has been granted consent by the Environment Court to operate four jet boats on the lower Shotover River, carrying up to 34 passengers each.
Thunder Jet director and jet boat pioneer Neville Kelly said he was thrilled to get the good news.
“We’ve proved to the court that we can safety operate in this area and are delighted we can now offer the Lower Shotover as an option.”
Neville Kelly
Family-owned the Queenstown-based company operated business with a 25 year history in the local tourism and transport industry.
Thunder Jet has been operating for five years and it has expanded its business through market demand and the acquisition of high-speed, state-of-the-art jet boats.
Thunder Jet’s most popular experience is its high-speed one-hour adventure from either Frankton Marina or Queenstown Bay. Passengers skim down Lake Wakatipu, twisting and turning at up to 90km an hour on the lake and in the clear, shallow waters of the Kawarau River.
A drawcard is the river component where passengers see untouched, inaccessible and often dramatic natural scenery with a few of the famous Thunder Jet 360-degree ‘Hamilton’ spins thrown in for good measure.
Mr Kelly, a Southlander who has been in Queenstown since 1986, said he and the team were passionate about jet boating, the local area and providing customers with an enjoyable and memorable ‘Kiwi’ experience.
“This latest decision is testament to our ability to offer thrilling adventure experiences, to our impeccable safety record and to our high levels of customer service,” he said.
Being in the industry for a long time, Mr Kelly knows Queenstown attracts people of all age, which is why he focuses on offering a great experience for each individual.
