I’d had a Western Southland jet boat ride on my ‘must do’ list for a while and the day was perfect for my adventure. The weather was sublime and the conditions on Lake Hauroko were amazing.
We left Invercargill at 8.00am and took a drive through the western leg of the Southern Scenic Route to Lake Hauroko. What a drive it was, the coastline was dazzling and the countryside looked picture perfect. It never ceases to amaze me how much people enjoy the Southern Scenic Route, but this day simply reinforced why it’s so popular.
We arrived at Lake Hauroko at 10.00am; it was a casual two-hour drive as we made sure we stopped for coffee at the Beach House Café in Riverton. At the lakeside, we were greeted by two things; 15 builders from Balclutha on their Christmas work party and mosquitoes!! If I could give you any travel advice when making this trip, it would be: take insect repellent, the mosquitoes are ferocious and a sense of humour if you happen to be on a trip with the lads.
Roffy is the man behind the Hump Ridge Jet boat and he does a fantastic job. He has years of experience and it shows through his casual, yet assured manner. First the boat was loaded onto a flat-as-a -pancake Lake Hauroko, life jackets were on, safety messages done and we were off. It was simply gorgeous cruising across the lake, the sun was beaming and the Fiordland ranges looked as majestic as ever. 
Then we came to the fun part. We were at the mouth of the mighty Wairaurahiri River and it was time to really start the journey. Whizzing down and around through every bend gave you a real rush of adrenaline. The sun was steaming down and the lake was a beautiful deep, forest green that was matched only by the surrounding trees and fauna. You feel completely at ease in Roffy’s care as he safely (and somewhat effortlessly) manoeuvres you downstream with just the right amount of sharp corners and spin-outs to keep you on your toes.
After about an hour and a half, we had conquered 27 kilometres of grade 3, rock-strewn rapids. We were now at the mouth of the sea and I was hungry and ready for lunch. How lucky I was, as Roffy was about to prepare lunch for us all at Waitutu Lodge and what a lunch it was! We were extremely spoilt and treated to tender venison, garlic prawns, fresh bread and lovely salads. The lads were even so kind to provide me with a cold beer. It was a great feast!
While we were waiting for lunch we decided to have a look around as there are some great bush walks to explore in this area. Western Southland has some of the best bush walks and hiking opportunities in the country, so it was a real treat to get a quick glimpse.
After lunch, the second leg of my trip began in a Southern Helicopter. I’m in love with helicopters, so this was a total dream for me. If you want to experience the beauty of Western Southland and its coastline, then riding in a helicopter is the way to do it. We took off and then after what felt like 3 seconds, we were suddenly high in the air cruising towards the Percy Burn Viaduct.
Once there, we landed on a hillside to the right. It’s amazing what helicopters can do, it was the tiniest of spaces and yet our pilot Sam made it seem as though we were landing in a canyon. Once back on land, we were free to quickly check out the Viaduct. Heading out there for a hike or a helicopter trip is well worth it, it’s an incredible feeling standing centre staring down at the water below and the surrounding landscape.
Back into the helicopter and along the coastline. My videos don’t do it justice, but the sea was a beautiful blue and it was completely flat. From the coast we headed inland and started our journey home across the bush.
I couldn’t recommend this journey more; it’s a great day out and a wonderful way to experience our region. The trip is extremely accessible and it would be suited to all ages as long as you’re comfortable getting on and off a jet boat. It’s just one of few trip options Hump Ridge Jet provides, if you want to know more information please check out their website www.humpridgejet.co.nz or phone 0800 270 556.
I promise you if you love the outdoors with a hint of adrenaline, then this is the trip for you!
About Hannah Fraser
Hannah works as a Tourism Marketing Coordinator at Venture Southland, she is new to Southland and has recently returned to New Zealand after travelling and living overseas. Hannah is enjoying getting to know the region and thinks we have a pretty special place down here.
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