For the people, for the land. It's written on our boats — here's how we live it.
We operate inside Mount Aspiring National Park, Te Wāhipounamu, a UNESCO World Heritage Area. That's a privilege, not a right. Our sustainability plan follows the Qualmark Sustainable Tourism Business Criteria (recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council) and aligns with the work of Southern Lakes Sanctuary. But mostly, it follows common sense: leave the place better than we found it.
For every trip we run, we plant one native tree on land at Hāwea, restoring native vegetation and improving water quality across the Upper Clutha. Guests are welcome to get their hands dirty too: through Southern Lakes Sanctuary you can join a planting day and leave something growing behind you.
It's a simple equation we're proud of: the more people experience this valley, the more trees go in the ground.
We run an active stoat-trapping programme in the Matukituki Valley and monitor the river and its birdlife year-round — kea, whio and the rest of the locals. Our guides log what they see, every trip, building a record of the valley's health.
We also maintain river rescue capability for the whole valley — when someone's in trouble on the Matukituki, it's usually our boat that goes.
On every wilderness walk we follow national park guidelines to the letter, including protecting the archaeological and culturally significant sites along the river.
Trips run with reusable water bottles and compostable packaging, and we work with Waste Busters Wānaka to recycle what's left — targeting 90% of trip waste diverted from landfill. Our boats are progressively upgraded to fuel-efficient models, routes are optimised, and we monitor fuel use monthly to keep emissions as low as a jet boat honestly can.
We won't pretend a jet boat runs on good intentions — but every litre is counted, and every trip pays its way in trees.
Our guides are trained in local Māori history — the significance of the Matukituki and Tititea Mt Aspiring — working with local cultural advisor Brent Pihama. Māori place names and stories are woven into every trip commentary, because the landscape makes more sense when you know who named it.
Closer to home: our crew get biannual sustainability and safety training, our catering comes from Wānaka businesses, and $5 from every trip goes to Southern Lakes Sanctuary. Local company, local money, local good.
We report progress annually — trees planted, fuel use, waste diverted — and we'll happily talk numbers on the boat.
✓ Free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure, and a full refund if we cancel for weather.
You'll confirm live availability and pay on our secure booking system (RTBS).
Demo note: calendar availability is simulated. The live version reads real availability from RTBS.
