The Queenstown tourism market's latest proposal could have tourists travelling by jet-boat to a bungy centre or Gibbston wine trails.
Jet-boat operator KJet has applied to alter numerous resource consents held with the Queenstown Lakes District Council to allow it to extend its jet-boating route to include a 1.4km stretch of the Kawarau River, downstream from the Arrow confluence, to the Kawarau suspension bridge.
KJet's proposal also includes building a jetty near the suspension bridge for guests to disembark.
''The applicant has identified a strong market demand for trips that combine the various components of Queenstown's visitor experiences, including, in this case, jet-boating, rafting, river boarding, river sledging, bungy jumping, and viticulture,'' the resource consent application said.
AJ Hackett Bungy co-founder Henry van Asch said he would love the Kawarau Bungy Centre, which recently underwent a renovation, to be a hub for the area and fully supported linking the two tourism activities via jet-boats.
''This could push Gibbston over the edge,'' he said, and help the area over a ''hump''.
KJet director Shaun Kelly said he was unable to comment about the proposed venture as he had not talked to all affected parties.
Mr van Asch said the resort ''has got a fantastic position globally but that does not mean we should rest on our laurels'' and New Zealand tourism constantly needed to generate new ideas - and with tightening regulations, he said it was ''increasingly difficult these days to bring new products in''.
He also fully supported the proposed Queenstown convention centre and said delegates could then take a side trip to the bungy centre, as it could cater for up to 800 people for a standing cocktail function or 220 for a seated dinner.
The stretch of river included in the KJet proposal was the location for a scene from the Lord of the Rings, where the fellowship paddled past huge guardian statues.
Mr van Asch said he was aware ''some of the kayakers are a little bit nervous about losing another piece of the river'' but ''there's no way we want to compromise their piece of it''.
KJet's application included extensive safety plans. A ''spotter'' would be stationed above the river and would communicate with all KJet vessels ''regarding their location on the river and the location of other river users'', the application to the council said.
The Smiths Falls were within the proposed new route and the application noted that until the November 1999 flood, the falls could not be easily or safety navigated by jet-boats.
''The 1999 flood changed the configuration of the bed of the rapid and the rapid is now navigable by jet-boats at all river levels.''
KJet has applied for consent to enable all 12 of its boats to operate ''to ensure there is sufficient seating capacity for larger groups or multiple groups'' if there was a conference.
Queenstown Rafting managers did not return calls. A Gibbston winery spoken to was unaware of the proposal but expressed interest in finding out more.
