Experience the thrill and excitement as you propel yourself through the water with speeds of up to 100km/h. Whether you're by yourself, or with a friend, the best jet ski tours in New Zealand are sure to leave a smile on your face. Featuring brands such as Seadoo, Yamaha and Kawasaki, jet skiing is a favourite among travellers and locals across the country during the summer months. Get involved with a tour, or a self-drive rental for as low as $100 per hour.
With many different tour companies claiming to be the best, we took it upon ourselves to checkout the 5 highest rated, most popular companies. Plus to help you make an informative decision, we've included sample pricing.
Best New Zealand Jet Ski Tours
1. Jet Ski Hire Auckland
Cost: Adult $140.00 - $500.00
Age restriction: 15
"Jet Ski Hire" is one of the licensed Jet ski rental businesses in Auckland. It has been operating since 2010 and approved for safety by New Zealand Maritime.
Jet ski rentals and guided tours launch from Maraetai with crystal blue bays and access to Waiheke and Hauraki Gulf islands.
You may ride your jet ski with or without a guide and explore islands, rest on a white sand beach, or try out soft-bait fishing from a jet ski.
You can pick one of the tour options: City Cruise (4-hour tour), Island Hopper (half day tour), and Waiheke Island (Foul day tour).Rentals are from 1 hour up to 6 hours and all rentals require a $1000 refundable insurance bond per jet ski.
The extras include "Wetsuit, 2-Seater Sea Biscuit, 3-Seater Banana, Wake Board, Knee Board, Water Skies, Fishing Rig, Snorkel and Dry Bag."
Customer Review
"What a great experience. Everyone loved it, from speedsters to a gentle cruise, they were so much fun!! Beautifully maintained jet skis, great people, and so accommodating."
writes "Karen S" on TripAdvisor after hiring jet ski for 4 hours at Maraetai Beach.
Address: Maraetai Beach Public Boat Ramp, Maraetai, 2018
Phone: 021 022 61474
2. Hibiscus Jet Ski Hire
Cost: Adult $80.00 - $550.00
Age restriction: 18
Established in 2018, "Hibiscus Jet Ski Hire" is a family-owned and operated business; They provide a safe and affordable jet ski experience for all their customers.
They are New Zealand Maritime approved and certified in CPR and First Aid.
Hibiscus Jet Ski Hire is based on Hibiscus coast, but they also operate their jet ski rental all around Auckland including Takapuna, Mission Bay and beyond.
Their website presents weather forecasts for the next 3 days, so you can easily pick the best time for booking your jet ski experience in the best weather. The jet ski adventure starts from 30 minutes up to 6 hours.
They also offer jet ski rentals with the additional fishing kit. The fishing kit costs $50 and includes two Shimano soft bait rods, reels and a 50L chilly bin, so you can have all the fun on the jet ski while catching your fish.
You may also add on a sea biscuit rental to your jet ski hire for only $25. The sea biscuit hire Can tow up to 2 kids, or up to 2 adults.
So how is the experience like?
Customer Review
"We had such a blast today riding the jet skis. They are brand new and very easy to ride. The owner is extremely nice and helpful. An overall excellent experience. They made us feel like family, great people!!"
writes Cindy Schatz online.
Address: 17 Alec Craig Way, Gulf Harbour, 0930
Phone: 022 685 7409
3. Tango Jet Ski Tours
Cost: $160-$460
Age restriction: 8
"Tango Jet Ski Tours & Hire Paihia" prides itself on being a family-owned and operated business and indeed the family vibe has been a pleasant experience for their customers during their exciting tours.
They provide jet ski hire and offer guided tours through the Bay of Islands. They are Travel and Hospitality award winners and they received the certificate of excellence back in 2017 from TripAdvisor.
Tango jet ski offers four types of tours:
1-1/2 hour Express: It is the best option for kids. You would head out to the calm waters of Moturoa Island and you will pass the historic Waitangi treaty grounds.
2-1-hour Island Blaster Tour: It is worth visiting the Captain Cook's first landing, and then you will head around delightful Moturua Island and back.
3-2.5-hour Bay Bonanza: This tour also includes visiting Captain Cook's first landing and you will travel through the bay until you arrive to Urupukapuka Island where they stop at the only island Café in the Bay.
4-3-hour Island Explorer: You will explore caves, tunnels, sparkling lagoons, and beautiful beaches. You will also visit the famous "Hole in the Rock".
Customer Review
Dave Kearney one of the tour guests, shares the memory of the trip with his partner:
"Great trip, great guide and a whole lot of fun. The hour was an adrenaline-fueled adventure."
Address: 1 Sullivans Road, Paihia, Bay of Islands 0200
Phone: 0800 2 538 754
4. Foxton Jetski
Cost: $50-$1000
Age restriction: 16 (Children must be accompanied by an adult)
Based in Foxton Beach, "Foxton Jetski" started operating in 2018 and offers all sorts of jet ski hire with a different price range. All the adventures with the Foxton jet ski hire are affordable and currently, they even offer %20 discount on all jet ski hires.
You can hire a jet ski from one hour and if you don't want the fun to end, you can extend it all through the weekend (the services are available during the week as well).
They also offer "Tour de River" with Foxton Jet ski. The tour will launch from Manawatu Boat Club in Foxton Beach and will guide you to a scenic tour up the Manawatu River.
Their website is always up to date with local weather and surf forecast. You should make sure to choose a proper weather for your adventure. However, if you go on a really cold day, do not panic.
Last note: The Foxton jet ski also specializes in jet ski repair and maintaining service. If you need to buy any spare parts of a jet ski or a brand-new jet ski, several items are available on their website.
Customer Review
Francis Leppard writes on google reviews:
"Had an awesome day. Was quite cold, given full head to toe gear so warm had the best day out! Highly recommended. Very professional. Has the best gear and new skis!!!!"
Address: 1 Pinewood Road, Foxton Beach 4815
Phone: 027 721 0112
5. Jet Ski Wanaka
Cost: $175-$215
Age restriction: 18
"Jet ski Wanaka" is a locally owned family business. It offers jet ski hire and a tour to explore lake Wanaka. Lake Wanaka is New Zealand's fourth-largest lake, and some would say that it is the most picturesque one.
Guided tours take 60 minutes on the latest jet skis on the market. There are three main routes to travel and you will have freedom to explore more on the lake.
If you are driving a jet ski for the first time, the jet ski hire in Wanaka is a great option for you. You will be riding the latest watercraft equipped with Seadoo’s intelligent braking system.
All equipment is supplied to make your experience safe and comfortable.
Several options are available for spicing up your adventure when you travel to lake Wanaka including Jet Boat ride (from $125), Boat hire (from $200) and Kayak/Sup hire (from $20).
Customer Review
Hamish M wrote about his experience on TripAdvisor:
"Exciting, informative, laid back but professional style. Adrenaline rush guaranteed. Particularly enjoyed surfing the standing wave. Be prepared to be up close with your fellow adventure seekers when doing a 360 spin."
Address: Lake Wanaka Waterfront, 100 Ardmore Street, Wanaka
Phone: 03 443 7495
How much do jet ski tours cost?
You'll likely pay anywhere from $100 - $250 per hour for a jet ski tour. Most companies charge higher prices due to a range of factors including insurance premiums for this rather dangerous activity. Further the cost of maintenance is higher than land based motorsports. Jet skis have similar servicing requirements to dirt bikes and have an hour calculator on their use. Once a jet ski reaches around 100 hours of use, it's value drops dramatically and resale values are much lower. Most companies want the very best models for their clients, and will on sell skis after a number of hours, hence the higher prices.
You can usually rent a jetski yourself for a lower price than a tour. Some companies provide a trailer and let you take it to the lake yourself, while others have rental outfits located on the beach, or lake, ready for fast rental.
The biggest drawback for most jet ski tours or rentals is the high bond often required. This usually costs $500 - $2000 depending on the company, and is off-putting for most young renters, students and those earning lower incomes.
However it's an experience everyone should do atleast once! It's much cheaper than buying and maintaining your own jet ski.
How old do I have to be to rent a jet ski?
Often the minimum age to drive is 18 or if you're lucky 16, depending on the company. Some companies require a car license, while others require no license at all. Passengers can usually be any age if accompanied by an adult (<15 years), unless the rental companies insurance permits and if so it's usually around 15 years old.
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