Jet Boating on the Waikato River

After a really long walk in the morning out to the beautiful bubbly Huka Falls (3 hrs return), we did some jet boating. Jet boating for those unaware is traveling down a narrow river at very high speeds and narrowly adverting major crashes. Amelia was pumped and ready to go. No convincing or pep talk needed. Let’s just go. Bridget on the other hand needed some reassurance. She has been very concerned about “bonking” into things when on water. We knew that it was a tricky sell for her. We knew that she would love it once she was on the boat. We told her that we wouldn’t take her on an unsafe ride and the drivers have had tons of hours of practice before they even got to have people on the boat. Also that the last time I was on a jet boat, I was scared and got going so fast that I slipped off the seat. We get there, life jackets on, photo taken and then she decides that she needs to go to the washroom moments before we are scheduled to get on the boat. She is told that she has to hold it. (Something about a nervous Nelly tummy.) She got on the boat with a little hesitation, but was totally at ease when the young driver smiled and talked directly to her. She was good to go.

Off we went like a flash of light and Bridget starts to laugh. She never stopped the entire 30 minute adrenaline rushing ride. We are heading straight for ducks on the river and cliffs on the side and the fallen trees in the water and just at the last second, the driver would just miss the object. This brought about screams of laughter from both girls. When the driver raised his hand in the air and made a circle with it, that is when the real fun happened. He was telling us he was about to do a 360 degree turn at top speed. Every time he did we would all get soaked with the spray. Which of course would bring out more laughter and squeals. It was so much fun watching the pure enjoyment on the kids faces. It was the most laughter that we all had shared together in a long time. The only bad part of the ride was that it ended! We all wanted to go again, especially Bridget. As we were retelling the events to one another, Bridget made us stop. She didn’t want to talk about it anymore. When asked why she replied, “I can't think about it anymore because it just makes me want to do it again and I can't!” It was too funny. To help heal her pain, we said if they were good, we could do it again in Queenstown on the Shotover Jet. Don’t tell her, but I think we have to just to see her and Amelia’s face like that again.

Almost back to Gisborne soon, just a short stop at Lake Waikaremoana for some back country life.

Carolyn