Buller Canyon Jet Boating — Attraction in Tasman

Experiences like this help me see the magic of my own country through the eyes of a tourist. Driving through the haunting beauty of the rugged West Coast, you'll arrive by the Buller Gorge Swing Bridge - New Zealand's longest swing bridge. Crossing this high above the mighty Buller River can be unsettling for those with a fear of heights. You'll then meet the inimitable Mark - with his red bandana, partially unbuttoned shirt and black dog by his side, you'd be forgiven for thinking your jet boat driver is a reformed river pirate. Fear not - behind the rapscallion veneer is a consummate professional, albeit with a quirky sense of humour. Hold tight as the Jet Boat accelerates - you will zip past the pink granite walls of the canyon, gentle waterfalls and divers panning for gold. For all you Lord of the Rings fans, you'll even see the section of churning, frothing river where the dwarves float down in barrels. This is truly an unforgettable experience, capturing the people and the places that make this...

After heavy rains stopped the Shotover jet boats running in Queenstown we hit upon another canyon jetboat company on the Buller river as we were travelling the west coast to Abel Tasman. This was the perfect opportunity to try out this activity and turned out to be a much better alternative!! Firstly the driver of the jetboat Mark is the owner of the company and pays extra special attention to the individual enjoyment of each customer. There’s not so many customers at one time and you may even get a bespoke trip like we did. 45mins on the water in comparison to 25mins on the Shotover, and it’s $20 NZD cheaper!! Win win! Mark has a 100% safety record. His knowledge of the Buller and it’s history and nature was outstanding. We had the best fun, the booking office staff were amazing too, professional and engaging. There is a suspension bridge over the canyon to reach the jet boat jetty and there’s lots of walking trails around the locality too. Absolutely recommend to...

Awesome time on the river today with Mark!! The Buller river post-flooding was a sight to behold. Flew over huge rapids on the boat — proper white knuckle ride. Mark is very experienced and knows how to put on a great trip. He’s also knowledgable about the river/history of the area and squeezed in a bit of commentary between the 360 spins 😂 Some of the best fun we’ve had in New Zealand. Small operation. 5* treatment. Great value. Also shared the boat with the guys who run the underground rafting tours from Charleston - they were good fun and that tour sounds wild too if you’re in the area and like a bit of...