Mountain rivers to the Tasman Sea
Posted by Ruth Atherley on June 5, 2009 at 2:54 pm
I headed to Waiatoto River Safari for a tour of the rivers running through the area. It is New Zealand’s only sea to mountain jetboat safari adventure, exploring Te Wahipounamu – The South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. I was also excited when I heard earlier that I would end up in the Tasman sea. Well, not in the sea – but you know what I mean!
I met Neil Ross at the river. He is the owner of Waiatoto River Safari and is in the process of handing the business over to his daugher Catherine and her husband Garry. He seemed quite excited to be keeping the business in the family. It’s one of the special things about New Zealand and especially on the West Coast. Family is very important and so is the love of their land and country. To be able to share such a passion with your children must be something incredible and from the look on Neil’s face as he described handing the business on, it is a dream come true.
The West Coast of New Zealand is a very special place. It is rugged, rural, isolated and incredibly beautiful. As we headed up the river, I was amazed at the silence. This is a very different experience than the one I had in Queenstown with Kawarau Jet – which was fast, fun and exciting. And while this can also be fast, fun and exciting, it’s more about the nature around us than the boat ride.
It felt a little like being in the bayous of Louisianna (but no gators to worry about!). The forest is leaning over you and you really feel connected to nature. At one point—and it was impossible to stop to take a photo—the sun was shining in just the right place and the reflection of the trees and bush on the water was so incredible, I got a little unsettled for a split second. I couldn’t tell which was the real thing and which was the reflection – it was a little bit like having a hallucination, I think! It was an amazing experience.
I was also treated to a four-wheel ATV experience along the beach at the Tasman Sea. The team at Waiatoto River Safari will offer this next year – and I was lucky enough to check it out. It was fun! Driving along the beach on the Tasman Sea at sunset is an experience I will never forget. They are also in the midst of creating a B&B accomodation that will be ready next year. It looks like keeping the business in the family was a smart idea!
Click here to see images.
