When spinning out takes on whole new meaning

Racing down the river, cliffs and bush flash past and the wind whips the hair across my face.

Up ahead a punga log protrudes from the water. The boat heads straight for it then at the last second deftly nips left, missing it by inches. Moments later, we launch into a 360-degree spin. We're all cheering, smiling and laughing.

When the Hukafalls Jet boat finally makes it upriver to the mighty Huka Falls themselves, they're astounding from this angle. The light green foamy water roars over the falls and into a 20m-deep hole at a rate fast enough to fill an Olympic swimming pool every five seconds.

Today I'm one of 831,000 passengers who have taken the Hukafalls Jet ride, and with the company celebrating its 21st birthday last month, it expects to pass the million-customer target within the next three to four years.

The company had its beginnings in 1990 as a subsidiary of Queenstown's Shotover Jet and originally had one boat operating from a shed on the banks of the Waikato River near Taupo.

Now it has a purpose-built site and four twin-engine boats, custom-designed for Hukafalls Jet.

Hukafalls Jet sales executive Steve Ming, who has driven for the company for 10 years, says the boats' design means they will perform full 360-degree spins and drifts, and are more manoeuvrable than a standard jet boat.

He says the feel of the boats is something people really enjoy.

"It's a really foreign feeling, you can't do those things in a normal boat or a car - it's just a complete surprise and exhilarating."

The 30-minute Hukafalls Jet ride takes in the Waikato River downstream to Aratiatia Dam and upstream to the base of Huka Falls, passing hot springs, cliffs, bush, the Prawn Park and the Wairakei geothermal power station en route, with plenty of spins and thrills to keep people on their toes.

Steve says people come off the jetboats "absolutely buzzing".

"It's a really unique and special ride."