By Jill Innamorati-Varley

As river boating reportedly grows in popularity in New Zealand, Discovery 1, a $1.2-million luxurious riverboat, has made its debut on the Waikato River at Tuakau south of Auckland.

The Discover 1 riverboat has been launched in NZ

Owner Ian Simpson, who owns another riverboat on the Murray River, likened Discovery to a ‘lodge on water’ and he is looking forward to welcoming the first guests late next month. “I’m sure they will love it.  Not only will they have the luxury of the riverboat to enjoy, but also the opportunity to explore the Waikato River and take in some culture and activities such as golf and winery visits if they want,” he said.

Discovery 1 has an expansive top deck for relaxing and entertaining, complete with an eight-person Jacuzzi, barbecue, bar, dining table, sound system and sun loungers. The boat’s main deck features a full size kitchen, lounge, another dining table that seats 12 and large 46-inch LCD TV with SKY DVD player. Below deck are four cabins with queen beds, each with its own en-suite bathroom and sliding door onto the deck.  At the rear of the boat there are two lounge areas that can become two more queen-sized bedrooms with shower and toilet facilities, enabling the boat to sleep up to 12 in luxurious comfort.  

Discovery 1 can cater for 20 to 30 people, with lunches or cocktails on the top deck or forward and rear lounges and is an ideal  ‘floating’ venue for small corporate meetings.

For more information on Discovery 1, click here.