Jet ferries from Queenstown to Remarkables Park are hoped to be up and running by this time next year, Remarkables Park chief executive, Alastair Porter says.
An application for resource consent to run jet ferries along the Kawarau River was expected to be filed by the end of the year.
"This is a win-win for visitors and the people in the town. Visitors get to take a ride along the river and it will reduce congestion along Frankton Rd," Mr Porter said.
The exact number of ferries planned to be in operation could not be confirmed until the application was filed, but a number of different-sized boats would be used, Mr Porter said.
The bigger boats would accommodate more than 40 passengers.
"We need a ferry that will operate 364 days of the year. The bigger boats will be able to run through summer and winter," Mr Porter said.
Unlike existing jetboats operating in the Queenstown area, Mr Porter said the ferries would use "deep-V" construction to ensure a smooth ride.
"Jet boats have a flat bottom so they can spin around. These deep-V ferries are designed to cut through the rough conditions and give a less bumpy ride."
Mr Porter said the ferries would operate "very frequently to a scheduled timetable" from the existing ticketing office on Steamer Wharf.
The cost of a ferry ticket could not be confirmed until the application was filed.
Mr Porter said express trips on the bigger ferries were expected to take 10 minutes.
He said the reason for launching the operation was to increase visitor numbers to the Remarkables Park Area and take advantage of the increasing number of visitors to Queenstown.
The jet ferry proposal comes after a resource consent application was filed last week by Remarkables Park to construct a 6000sq m Pak'n Save supermarket and fuel outlet.
