The Wairaurahiri River falls 180 metres to sea level over 27 kilometres of grade 3 white water rapids — commonly described as New Zealand's longest waterfall.
The Wairaurahiri River Jet services the South Coast of Fiordland National Park, including Lake Hauroko and the Wairaurahiri River. Lake Hauroko is the deepest lake in New Zealand and is drained by the Wairaurahiri River.
Aboard the jet you will speed over Lake Hauroko and then dive into the intake of the Wairaurahiri River — one of New Zealand's most remote and untouched rivers, flowing through virgin beech forest over a million years old.
Along the way you will speed past bush-clad banks and through rock-strewn rapids — a journey deep into the southern wilderness of Fiordland. You also have the option of a short walk over the Wairaurahiri Swing Bridge into the ancient temperate rain-forest.
Where the South Coast meets the end of the Wairaurahiri River, trek inland to view the mighty Percy Burn Viaduct or just sit back and take in the abundance of wildlife found on New Zealand's South Coast.
Owner and operator Paul Roff (Roffy) has over 30 years experience jet boating and knows the region intimately — local history, bush-craft and the river itself. He spent many of his earlier years competing in the world-renowned motor sport of 'jet sprinting', placing 3rd in the NZ standings for the Modified Class.
A member of the NZJBA and NZCJBA, Paul started the business in 1994, providing transport for hunters and trampers. Since then it has grown into one of the best jet boating experiences in New Zealand.
During the early 1900s, Port Craig was New Zealand's largest and most modern sawmill. Logs were brought to the mill via a tramway from the terrace forests between the Wairaurahiri River and Port Craig. Huge viaducts were built to carry the tram lines over steep-sided ravines, made from Australian hardwood able to withstand the harsh South Coast conditions.
The largest — the Percy Burn Viaduct — stands some 36 metres above the creek bed and is 125 metres long. High costs and isolation bankrupted the company in October 1928, and its 140 residents were evacuated overnight. A ten-month attempt to restart the mill ended for good in November 1930 under the Great Depression, and by 1938 the town had been dismantled. Today all the viaducts have been fully restored.
We have been operating on the Wairaurahiri River for over 30 years and are the original operators — the only ones who can truthfully claim a 100% safety record. We don't aspire to be the biggest jet boat operation in New Zealand, just the best. Our jet boat undergoes an annual safety audit by Maritime New Zealand, and every driver is qualified for emergency first aid.
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