Latest news with #QueenstownJetBoat
Otago Daily Times
22-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Lake ‘sharks' ready to go
A Hydro Attack submersible in Queenstown Bay. Photo: Gregor Richardson An American Silicon Valley entrepreneur has added what has been billed as "Queenstown's most unique water activity" to his increasing stable of Lake Wakatipu-based businesses. Iraj Barabi last week settled on Queenstown Bay-based thrill ride "Hydro Attack", the world's first commercial operator of semi-submersible "sharks". Mr Barabi, who developed Queenstown Marina, has been on an "acquisition binge" to bring more life to the lake for both commuting — hence his purchase of Queenstown Ferries — and watersports. He said he wanted the resort to become a "watersports capital" to complement its reputation as the world's adventure capital. Mr Barabi recently bought RealNZ's jetboat company, Queenstown Jet Boat (formerly Thunder Jet), Queenstown Paraflights and Queenstown Boat Charters. The Hydro Attack attraction will continue to operate from the council-owned Lapsley-Butson wharf, even though Mr Barabi owns the neighbouring Convelle Wharf. Last month, Hydro Attack Ltd went to the Environment Court to appeal the Queenstown Lakes District Council's decision to refuse consent for a proposed 42m-long wharf accessed from St Omer Park, further along Queenstown Bay. The council had also declined the company's request to review the reserve management plan for the bay, which does not permit commercial activity on the proposed wharf site. The company was seeking an alternative wharf after the council increased the rent on its current wharf from $36,000 a year to nearly $120,000.
Otago Daily Times
24-04-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Silicon Valley tycoon's Queenstown 'acquisition binge'
An American Silicon Valley entrepreneur who calls Queenstown his second home is determined to bring more life to Lake Wakatipu — for both commuting and watersports. Iraj Barabi, who developed the Queenstown Marina, takes over Queenstown Bay's Convelle Wharf, Queenstown Ferries and Queenstown Jet Boat (formerly Thunder Jet) from tourism company RealNZ next Thursday. He has also bought Queenstown Paraflights, Queenstown Boat Charters and another venture, which he will announce soon, under umbrella company, Watersports Ltd. And he has bought Jarrod Johnston's Queenstown Marine to service the marina. What he called his "acquisition binge" served two purposes, Mr Barabi said. First, he was out to relieve Queenstown's chronic traffic congestion "by diverting a significant portion to the lake". "Is it not clear that the topography of the area and the roads cannot possibly handle the growth, no matter how many traffic lights and roundabouts are built? "The solution is obvious — the lake is the answer." Mr Barabi said he was negotiating with the Otago Regional Council, which provided a subsidy, to expand the frequency and breadth of Queenstown Ferries' water taxi business. He was also talking to the developers of Jack's Point and Hanley's Farm about providing a new service for their residents, and those who would live in Homestead Bay. Shotover Country was also in his sights, though access via the Kawarau River would be more challenging, he said. But he had been evaluating different types of boats, such as electric and hydrofoil, both in New Zealand and abroad. He was also keen to complement a scheduled service, using bigger boats, with an on-demand option — "something like Uber taxi boats". His second initiative, complementing Queenstown's reputation as the world's adventure capital, was for it also be known as "the watersports capital". "We will do this by improving and expanding the activities the public will be able to enjoy." This included a new product, which had just arrived in New Zealand and would debut here midyear. Coming from Idaho, where he has a lakefront home, Mr Barabi said he was surprised how little lake life Queenstown had when he first arrived. "Such a lake in the United States would be full of boats, pontoon boats, houseboats, ski boats, float planes and all that — we think this lake really is not being utilised." Meanwhile, Mr Barabi said though he and his sisters paid almost $15.5million for Queenstown's Brecon St mini-golf course, he was satisfied to keep it. "Finance is not my primary goal — I've done that. "Right now I want to do things that give me satisfaction." He was also looking forward to Tim McMahon's hot pools complex he was building on his land beside the mini golf. He was also dusting off plans the late Kevin Carlin had for an escalator beside the Brecon St stairs to improve pedestrian access to Brecon St activities, including Skyline's gondola, for particularly children, older adults and the physically impaired. "Some people that want to get to Skyline take their cars instead of climbing those stairs, so we want to actually see if we can realise that."
Otago Daily Times
23-04-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Big plans to make more use of lake
An American Silicon Valley entrepreneur who calls Queenstown his second home is determined to bring more life to Lake Wakatipu — for both commuting and watersports. Iraj Barabi, who developed the Queenstown Marina, takes over Queenstown Bay's Convelle Wharf, Queenstown Ferries and Queenstown Jet Boat (formerly Thunder Jet) from tourism company RealNZ next Thursday. He has also bought Queenstown Paraflights, Queenstown Boat Charters and another venture, which he will announce soon, under umbrella company, Watersports Ltd. And he has bought Jarrod Johnston's Queenstown Marine to service the marina. What he called his "acquisition binge" served two purposes, Mr Barabi said. First, he was out to relieve Queenstown's chronic traffic congestion "by diverting a significant portion to the lake". "Is it not clear that the topography of the area and the roads cannot possibly handle the growth, no matter how many traffic lights and roundabouts are built? "The solution is obvious — the lake is the answer." Mr Barabi said he was negotiating with the Otago Regional Council, which provided a subsidy, to expand the frequency and breadth of Queenstown Ferries' water taxi business. He was also talking to the developers of Jack's Point and Hanley's Farm about providing a new service for their residents, and those who would live in Homestead Bay. Shotover Country was also in his sights, though access via the Kawarau River would be more challenging, he said. But he had been evaluating different types of boats, such as electric and hydrofoil, both in New Zealand and abroad. He was also keen to complement a scheduled service, using bigger boats, with an on-demand option — "something like Uber taxi boats". His second initiative, complementing Queenstown's reputation as the world's adventure capital, was for it also be known as "the watersports capital". "We will do this by improving and expanding the activities the public will be able to enjoy." This included a new product, which had just arrived in New Zealand and would debut here midyear. Coming from Idaho, where he has a lakefront home, Mr Barabi said he was surprised how little lake life Queenstown had when he first arrived. "Such a lake in the United States would be full of boats, pontoon boats, houseboats, ski boats, float planes and all that — we think this lake really is not being utilised." Meanwhile, Mr Barabi said though he and his sisters paid almost $15.5million for Queenstown's Brecon St mini-golf course, he was satisfied to keep it. "Finance is not my primary goal — I've done that. "Right now I want to do things that give me satisfaction." He was also looking forward to Tim McMahon's hot pools complex he was building on his land beside the mini golf. He was also dusting off plans the late Kevin Carlin had for an escalator beside the Brecon St stairs to improve pedestrian access to Brecon St activities, including Skyline's gondola, for particularly children, older adults and the physically impaired. "Some people that want to get to Skyline take their cars instead of climbing those stairs, so we want to actually see if we can realise that."
