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Review Highlights
Great day out

This was a really wonderful day out. They were very helpful with communication prior to our trip... read more

Reviewed 5 April 2024
touringstrongs
,
Brisbane, Australia
via mobile
Loved It!

Beautiful excursion on jet boat into pristine river valley on western side if South Island. Guide... read more

Reviewed 8 March 2024
Lisa S
,
McKinney, Texas
via mobile
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Reviewed 20 February 2022

Ruth was an excellent guide & Jet boat driver. Her local knowledge kept us well informed throughout the tour. Amazing views. Well worth a visit. Great value for money.
Thanks. Jan

Date of experience: February 2022
1  Thank jwilsonnz
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ruth-Wayne, Owner at Waiatoto River Safari, responded to this reviewResponded 23 February 2022

Hi Jan, thank you very much for taking the time to write a review. I am thrilled you thought it value for money, I really enjoy sharing our beautiful area and I am happy you stayed a while to see more that this rich region has to offer.
All the best, Ruth.

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Reviewed 31 January 2022 via mobile

Absolutely stunning scenery with great boat ride and educational talks with short walk if wanted. This is s8moly best attraction I’ve done, period.
They have a POP if you are NZCMA members at the starting point.
Afterward head on to Jackson’s bay fir late lunch.

1  Thank Tamarilloinnelson
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ruth-Wayne, Owner at Waiatoto River Safari, responded to this reviewResponded 2 February 2022

Thanks for your fantastic review. We are enthusiastic NZMCA members and are pleased to offer a POP finally and it is free to stay when you come on the boat tour. Off to the iconic Jackson Bay for beautiful lunch cooked by two local sisters and swimming ta Neils Beach with the Hector dolphins - is a win all around!

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Reviewed 8 January 2022 via mobile

This is a great way to experience this part of the country. Wayne will jet boat you from the estuary to the mountains and back in a morning. He'll stop many times along the way to point out features and tell stories. At the turnaround, you'll go for a short bushwalk with more stories to tell. Then after hor drinks and scones it's an exhilarating ride back down to the estuary.
Then don't miss out on a late lunch at the Cray Pot at Jackson Bay!

1  Thank Brightsidejon
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ruth-Wayne, Owner at Waiatoto River Safari, responded to this reviewResponded 19 January 2022

Yes don't miss out lunch at the Craypot! Or iconic Jackson bay as it is the end of the road on this side of the South Island. Well described and thanks very much for supporting us and leaving a review. Kind regards, Ruth & Wayne.

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Reviewed 5 January 2022 via mobile

Great experience up and down the Waiatoto river, unspoiled scenery all the way. Learned a lot about the countryside, thoroughly recommended. Delicious scones too !

Thank Limier
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ruth-Wayne, Owner at Waiatoto River Safari, responded to this reviewResponded 19 January 2022

Thanks for your delightful review. The scones are wood fire oven scones and the apricot seems to hit the mark!
All the best, Ruth & Wayne.

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Reviewed 1 January 2022

Fantastic! Despite the light rain we had a fun trip up the river. Very informative host, delicious scones and white bait tasters. Only downside was the smoke fumes from the engines coming in towards those sitting in the back seats. Choose a seat up front.

Date of experience: December 2021
Thank Ngaire W
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ruth-Wayne, Owner at Waiatoto River Safari, responded to this reviewResponded 21 January 2022

Thanks for your review, the boat tour can be amazing in the rain which is all part of living in a rain forest.

The 'fumes' you describe is steam as the engine is water-cooled for efficiency, the steam comes from a condenser that is expelling the water after it has been through the water jacket. It can be little more noticeable in the cooler weather as the steam takes longer to evaporate.

All the best, Ruth and Wayne.

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