Speed boat in Queenstown: the shark, the jet skis and the fast lake rides

People often ask about a speed boat vs jet boat as if the words were interchangeable. They are not. A conventional speed boat pushes itself with a propeller under the stern, and Shotover Jet notes that propellers are happiest on still, flat water.¹³ A jet boat draws water in through a flush intake and fires it out of a nozzle, with nothing hanging below the hull.¹⁴ On a lake you barely notice the difference; on a river it is everything.

That difference decides where each can go. Shotover Jet quotes 10 cm of water as enough for its canyon boats, and KJet says it runs stretches of the Shotover less than 5 cm deep.^15,16 No propeller boat could follow them. HamiltonJet adds that having no underwater parts reduces drag and makes the boat safer around swimmers and wildlife.¹⁷ Tourism New Zealand says the jet boat was developed to run shallow Canterbury rivers in the first place.¹⁸

It also changes how the boat moves. A jet can brake hard at speed by dropping a reverse bucket over its stream, so drivers can pull up remarkably quickly.¹⁹ The spins people love come from the same freedom: nothing under the hull grips the water. On the open lake both kinds of boat can go fast, but only the jet can take you up a braided river afterwards. That is worth knowing before you book a lake-only ride expecting canyon walls.

The shark has firmer limits than the jet boats. The minimum age is 6, and a parent must sign for anyone under 18.²² Because it is one-on-one, the operator says it only suits children who are happy away from their parents.²⁵ There is a height limit of 192 cm and a weight limit of 110 kg, as everyone must be able to get out of the cockpit quickly in an emergency.²⁸ Tall or broad riders near the limits should ask before booking rather than at the wharf.

Your health counts as well. Pregnancy or a serious heart condition means the operator advises against riding.³⁴ If you want the full ride, it advises against eating a large meal less than two hours beforehand; tell the pilot if you get motion sickness and they will tone it down.³⁰ Nothing loose may go inside the shark, so empty your pockets before you climb in.²⁹ Phones, keys and wallets wait in a container at the kiosk.

Weather can stop it. High swell, heavy rain or storms can cancel the shark, and the operator asks riders to call for a weather check at least one hour before.¹¹ Check your meeting point carefully: the operator's page sends shark riders to the Lapsley Butson Wharf by Earnslaw Park, while the GetYourGuide listing names a kiosk on Steamer Wharf.³⁵ Follow whatever your own ticket says.

Jet skis are the only option here where you do the driving. On the guided tours you ride your own machine while a guide leads the way across the lake.⁷ The tours last about 1 hr on the water and 90 min in total, and run only in summer, from 15 December to March.^24,4 The operator says its skis reach up to 80 kph, with you in charge of how fast you go.²¹ That freedom is the appeal, and also the responsibility.

The rules are stricter than on a jet boat. Drivers must be at least 18 and passengers at least 8, and the maximum combined weight on a single ski is 200 kg.^5,42 Everyone needs basic swimming skills.³³ A credit card stays on file while you are out, to cover damage.³² Life jackets and waterproof gear are provided.⁴³ A basic level of English is also required, so instructions on the water are understood by everyone in the group.

Dress for getting wet. The operator suggests swimwear or light, comfortable clothes, plus a towel and a dry change for later.⁴⁴ Unlike the jet boats, nobody is steering for you, so your own judgement in a bit of chop counts. If you have never ridden one, say so at check-in; the guide will set the pace and keep the group together, and you will be opening the throttle with confidence by the second bay.