Manawatu Gorge Tours - Jet Boat Tours with Hiwinui Jet

The jet boat is a New Zealand success story, it has come a long way since it was invented by a South Canterbury high country farmer come highly successful engineer, Bill Hamilton in the early 1950s - www.hamjet.co.nz

The Lodge at Hiwinui Country Estate was established in 2002 and because of its close proximity to the Manawatu Gorge, private jet boat trips were given to guests.

 The original boat owned by Hiwinui Country Estate was a Hamilton 141 hull powered by a V8 350 Chevrolet motor .This boat was used extensivly before being replaced by a John Murphy built hull powered by a 4.2 Lexus V8.

In 2004 a commercial jet boat operation in the gorge commenced under operation in the Hiwinui Jet brand.

Hiwinui Jet exceeds all maritime safety requirements and is a member of the NZCJBA and the New Zealand Tourist Industry Association.