Tour boat business on the Buller River

Tour Boat Business for Sale

An exciting opportunity to purchase a startup tour boat operation on the iconic Buller River, offering a unique mix of scenic tourism, adventure, and heritage experiences.
The vessel is a 5m Cobra Marine jet boat powered by a 1UZ-FE engine coupled to a Hamilton Jet 212. It has recently undergone a comprehensive inspection and service on engine and jet unit and refresh by its original builder, including new paint and upholstery, floating flooring, partial rewiring, new steering components, stereo system, safety equipment, and life jackets.

The boat was previously surveyed for 9 persons and is ready to be returned to Maritime NZ survey. It also features a removable bike rack for up to five mountain bikes, enabling combined river and cycle transfer experiences to the Denniston tracks or Old Ghost Road Trail.

River & Operating Area
The current consent allows operation from Westport Harbour jetty upstream to Lyell (approximately 70km, 1hr 45 upstream & 1hr 15 downstream @ a conservative 40km per hr). Lyell is a well-known gold fossicking area, adding further tour opportunities. The Buller River is highly scenic, historically rich, and reliably navigable, even in low summer flows.
Potential tour offerings include scenic river tours, trout fishing, mountain bike transfers, and gold fossicking experiences.
Operating Locations
The consent permits operation from:
Westport Wharf
Berlins Café (mid-run, Lower Buller Gorge – subject to renegotiation with new owner)

This business is in its startup phase, there is also a unfinished website.

*Expressions of interest/offers are invited, please submit your offer by email before 27th March*

*A second resource consent for another river, plus a 12-seater hull (minus engine & unit) and trailer ready for twin-engine conversion, may also be negotiated into the sale.