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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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14 - 19 of 252 reviews
Reviewed 4 January 2023 via mobile

First up, I’m not a boat person, I don’t like speed much and my type of boat cruise is something very sedate on a lake.

So, today I was brave and we went on a jet boat tour!

I would definitely recommend this tour. The guide / driver was super experienced and sensible and I felt very safe. There were no spins / 360s etc. Most of the river was pretty calm, though there were a few rapids at one point and some boulders that I saw at fairly close range.

The scenery was magical from start to finish. Such a beautiful and isolated part of the world!

We went for a walk in the rainforest halfway through and had a cuppa and a homemade scone 🙂 which was lovely!

It was a great few hours and I’d recommend it!

For lunch we went to the nearby Craypot which was delicious!

Thank LakesideChick
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 1 February 2023

Lovely to hear that you were brave enough to try us out. You describe the tour well. We say the jet boat is just the mode of transport, it is a comfortable and easy way to access the back country and what an amazing area it is! All the best, Ruth & Wayne.

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Reviewed 4 January 2023 via mobile

This was a really informative trip up river. We stopped at a kiwi reserve & heard of the locals efforts to ensure this area is protected then went on to see the clear marking of the alpine fault. Our driver was knowledgeable and experienced.

Thank Meander787318
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 1 February 2023

Great to hear from you and very happy you enjoyed our magical area. The Alpine fault is a very interesting and rare site and it was a pleasure to take you out. Kind regards, Ruth & Wayne.

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Reviewed 17 December 2022 via mobile

Brilliant trip up the river with lots of stops for informative talks on a wide range of regional topics. Beautiful scenery, and a boat that you don’t get wet in when it rains!! Great trip.

1  Thank annieapple99
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 1 February 2023

Thanks Annie! Yes that roof is handy but with open sides, it is perfect to see the rainforest in its pristine natural state....in the rain. All the best, Ruth.

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Reviewed 6 November 2022 via mobile

Didn’t really know what to expect but it was very interesting. Local knowledge makes all the difference. Beautiful surroundings.

Thank thetapdancer
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 8 November 2022

Thank you for taking the time out to write a review. It is appreciated. We enjoy taking people deep into the back country to experience the amazing scenery. All the best for the rest of your holiday. Ruth.

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Reviewed 21 October 2022 via mobile

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Ruth today. Amazing scenery, Ruth’s knowledge and skills are very impressive. Highly recommend if you love nature and getting off the beaten track. Every kiwi should experience this special area. Very good value. Thank you Ruth.

1  Thank R7339WGdebbieb
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 30 October 2022

Thank you for your kind review. We love showing Kiwis and people from all over the world our unique and pristine area. I am pleased you found the tour good value, we strive to provide an amazing experience. All the best, Ruth.

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