Hukafalls Jet celebrates 25th birthday

Hukafalls Jet celebrates 25th birthday

Taupo, 2 November, 2015 – Iconic jet boat operator Hukafalls Jet in Taupo has just turned 25 and celebrations are well underway.

One of New Zealand's pioneer adventure tourism businesses, Taupo based Hukafalls Jet opened its doors in 1990 and has grown from a one boat operation, working from a small wooden shed on the banks of the Waikato River, with a 'brick' of a cellphone and minimal staff, to a four boat business with a purpose built base, and more than 750,000 passengers through its doors.

Hukafalls Jet, Business Manager Simon Thew says, "We're proud to be an integral part of the Taupo tourism offering, with our passengers experiencing the thrill of a jetboat ride as well as viewing the spectacular Huka Falls from below, while sitting in the river itself. Of course no Hukfalls jetboat ride is complete without our trademark 360 degree spin."

To celebrate, Hukafalls Jet is giving its customers the gifts with everyone buying a ride online via hukafallsjet.com in with a daily chance to win back their ticket purchase price. The deal finishes onSaturday November 14.

Hukafalls Jet offers a unique and spectacular jetboating experience as the only jet boat operator on the river offering a ride right up to the base of the thundering Huka Falls - one of New Zealand's most visited natural attractions.

It's also the only North Island commercial jetboating company to boast a female driver, who has just celebrated her one year anniversary with the company.

Sarah Van Glabbeek graduated from Queenstown Resort College with an Adventure Tourism Management diploma in early 2014 and shortly after headed north to join Hukafalls Jet in a customer services role. Soon after arriving, Hukafalls Jet founder Phil Ball spotted a keenness and willingness to learn in Sarah that he liked and suggested she start training as a jet boat driver.

Four months of training later, as well as ongoing mentoring by Phil, Sarah qualified as a commercial jet boat driver and loves taking people out on the river.

Originally known as Huka Jet the company began as a subsidiary of Ngai Tahu owned, and Queenstown based, Shotover Jet. It rebranded in December 2006 to Hukafalls Jet at the same time launching four new state-of-the-art, twin-engine jet boats designed by Shotover Jet and built by 3D Design in Queenstown.

The engines are supercharged V6 Buick motors which put out a combined 520hp, with twin Hamilton Jet units thrusting 640 litres of water a second. With a third more power and thrust, this translates directly to enhanced acceleration and speed.

Hukafalls Jet is going from strength to strength translating not only into a substantial economic benefit to the Taupo region but also offering around 9 full-time jobs for locals as well as work experience opportunities for students and school leavers. Hukafalls Jet also works closely with other local tourism operators to promote Taupo as a tourist destination both domestically and off-shore.

In 1999 Christchurch based Ngai Tahu Corporation invested in the Shotover Jet Group and since then has taken full ownership of the group and has also expanded it with new acquisitions. Ngai Tahu Tourism now includes Hukafalls Jet, Shotover Jet, Dart River Safaris, Rainbow Springs, Kiwi Encounter, Franz Joseph Glacier Guides, the Hollyford Track and a joint-venture with Agrodome in Rotorua.

ENDS

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