About Fiordland Jet
A farmer and a lobster fisherman walk into a pub...it may sound like the beginning of a bad joke, but it’s where it all began for Fiordland Jet.
Owners Chris and Jerry grew up together in the Southland playing rugby and exploring the natural beauty of Lake Manapouri and the Waiau River, and have since - along with their better halves Sue and Kelli - raised two beautiful families near the waters where Fiordland Jet now operates.
In 2017, after acquiring 2 boats, a bus and exclusive consents for scenic trips on Lake Te Anau and the Upper Waiau River, the two families embarked on a new adventure into the world of tourism and Fiordland Jet was born!
At Fiordland Jet, we’re taking tourism back to what it used to be! With small groups of up to 13 guests per boat, we specialise in interactive, nature-focused tours for those looking for an in-depth immersion into an area rich in history and packed with amazing scenery – not just a thrill ride. Fiordland Jet has been committed to the same core principles since its inception: stay safe, treat every guest like the VIP’s they are, and have FUN!
Come meet our team of local guides (plus 1 American 😉) and experience a fresh, eco-friendly and authentically Kiwi adventure with heaps of laughs, classic Kiwi banter and no crowds!
Chris & Sue Adams – Co-owners
Chris is a local Southland farmer who has always spent loads of time in beautiful Te Anau. He considers Fiordland his backyard. Holidays are spent on the lake for Chris and his family, where they spend time water skiing, boating, fishing and enjoying each other's company. Chris and his wife Sue (who co-owns Fiordland Jet) have three grown children, Matthew, Rebecca (one of our boat drivers) and Nicole that spend as much time in Te Anau as possible. They love this pristine area of the world and want to share their backyard with visitors to New Zealand.
For Chris, Fiordland Jet is about meeting new people and showing them this part of paradise that he is lucky enough to call home. He enjoys having a chat to learn about the people he meets and their unique culture, as he has travelled extensively. He’s part of this business to have some fun, because after all, fun is good!
Jerry & Kelli Excell – Co-owners
Jerry Excell spent all his childhood holidays on lake Te Anau, and has worked out of Fiordland as a commercial cray fisherman for over 25 years. In fact, for the last 10 years Jerry has been a Fiordland Marine Guardian, which is a government appointed position to maintain and protect the Fiordland Marine area for its users. He has participated in fisheries research and management to work towards sustainable fishing practices in Fiordland.
Jerry has an infectious enthusiasm for jet boating, and for him safety is paramount He has spent 15 years as the safety boat for Jet Boat Racing New Zealand. Jerry enjoys the energy and enthusiasm people in the New Zealand tourism industry have, and is looking forward to sharing his enthusiasm for Fiordland with visitors to New Zealand.
He has spent countless hours fishing, diving, water skiing and jet boating around lake Te Anau with his wife, Kelli (Fiordland Jet co-owner) and their two children; Holly and Jake. He’s passionate about living and playing on the water, and sharing this beautiful and fun recreational spot with the world.
Adrienne Moffat - Office Manager
With a passion for fitness and the outdoors, you'll often find Adrienne out on the bike and running trails in the area or shuttling her two sons to and from their various activities.
She is highly involved in the Te Anau community - most notably for founding and organising the 'Te Anau Enduro,' which brings 150+ people to town to enjoy the beauty of Fiordland while they break a sweat biking, running and kayaking.
Visitors to Fiordland Jet will be greeted by her infectious smile as she kits them out for their jet boat tour or shares a local's insight into the best way to spend time while in Fiordland!
Chris Hansen - Operations
With over 4,000 hours of commercial jet boating, Chris is an experienced driver beyond his years. He has driven on countless rivers and lakes all across Southland and Otago, but has recently made Te Anau his home.
Born and raised down the road in Invercargill, he's got heaps of local knowledge and a knack for story-telling - We'll let you be the judge of what's true or not!
On his days off, Chris is sure to be found out in his backcountry 'playground' diving for paua and crayfish, fishing, mountain biking or perhaps all of the above!
Abby Rankl - Sales & Marketing Manager
Our token American and self proclaimed 'Original FJet Team Member' - came to New Zealand in 2017 to travel for just 2 months - she still hasn't left - and we just can't seem to get rid of her! Like most people, Abby fell in love with Fiordland and especially the people of Southland. Although very new to the tourism world, she's excited to welcome visitors and show them the same kindness and hospitality she enjoyed while traveling.
Abby does a bit of everything around here - from sales and marketing, to driving the bus and even boats (we think she's the only female-American with a NZ Commercial Jet Boat License).
On days off, you'll find her out exploring Fiordland as she discovers even more to love about this amazing area.
Lex - Driver
Lex has been boating the Waiau River longer than most of us have been alive - well not quite, but he does know this area like the back of his hand! He and his wife reside in Manapouri and are lucky to have the stunning back drop of Fiordland National Park as the view from their front yard.
He's a keen fisherman, helps keep the boats in pristine condition and keeps us all on our toes. With his vast knowledge of Fiordland and smooth handling of the boat, he's sure to give his passengers an unforgettable experience complete with smiles galore!
Jen Foote - Driver/Guide
Our one and only North Islander is the newest addition to the team!
She's been in the Fiordland area for over 10 years now and has a wealth of knowledge to share. She's been working out of Doubful/Dusky Sound and Milford Sound and is known to regale her passengers with Maori legends and a few 'Jen facts.'
If you find her in the office, she's likely researching some obscure history or getting in-depth with the native flora and fauna. But catch her on days off - she's likely fanging down a hill on a mountain bike, out in the bush or strolling around town with her best bud (a rescue pup), Boy.
Did we mention she's even got a full Skipper's ticket... meaning she's also qualified to Captain 'Big Girl' boats! Although she prefers jet boats ;-)
Rebecca Adams - Driver
Rebecca has been driving jet boats for as long as she could see over the wheel - and is the youngest female to every get their commercial license! She's always on the go whether it's water skiing, playing netball and rugby or swimming, you'll find her spending all her spare time being active - which also results in injury more often than we'd like to admit.
Rebecca is currently based in Christchurch to study criminal justice at the University of Canterbury, but will be back with us during breaks to guide trips.
As a born and raised Southlander, she knows the area well and is keen to share her love of Fiordland with others. Don't let that sweet smile fool ya, she knows how to go flat out to ensure all her passengers have FUN!
Nathan Benfell – Driver
Nathan wears many hats these days - from driving jet boats for us to scrubbing toilets and cooking eggs at the B&B Shakespeare House, which he and his partner own here in Te Anau.
These new ventures have been an exciting new twist from his previous career as an animal genetics manager and he's taking full advantage of the move to such a beautiful area: walking the Milford Track is one adventure he will not soon forget!
Although the B&B keeps Nathan very busy, we are lucky to pull him away for a few 'special guest appearances' guiding trips - you can imagine he's quite keen to ditch the cleaning brush for a few hundred horsepower and some crisp Fiordland air.