Discover the glacier-fed waters of Dart River on a half-day tour from Queenstown. Enjoy courtesy transfers to Glenorchy, a thrilling 1.5-hour jet-boat experience, a guided nature walk, and a back-country off-road tour.
About this activity
- Free cancellation
- Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
- Mobile ticketing
- Use your phone or print your voucher
- Duration 6 hours
- Check availability to see starting times.
- Instant confirmation
- Live tour guide
- English
- Optional audio guide
- Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Japanese
- Pickup included
- Transportation from Queenstown departs 1 hour before the Jet boat activity begins in Glenorchy. Please be ready and visible in your hotel lobby 5 minutes before the advised pickup time. If meeting at the Station Building, please go inside and check in at the local partner's desk. If you are self driving to Glenorchy, Please allow for 1 hour of travel before activity start time. The local partner's customer service team will confirm the pickup time when booking has been made.
- Small group available
Experience
Highlights
- Enjoy a spectacular scenic and hassle-free drive by courtesy coach to Glenorchy
- Skim the glacier-fed Dart River on the longest jet boat experience from Queenstown
- Immerse yourself in local culture, history, and wilderness on a guided forest walk
- Follow famous backdrops from iconic films on a backroad tour of Paradise Valley
Full description
Discover breathtaking World Heritage scenery, exhilarating wilderness, thrilling jet boating, and Maori heritage on a half-day adventure. Travel deep into the heart of the world-renowned Mt Aspiring National Park with the only jet boat operator allowed on the Dart River. Throughout the day, your experienced guides will add a personal touch, sharing the area’s history, the Greenstone trail, and Maori legends.
Your half-day adventure begins with a courtesy transfer to Glenorchy from Queenstown. Admire lakeside scenery as your local driver shares entertaining commentary about Lake Wakatipu and its legends. The spectacular 46-kilometer drive is considered one of the world’s top 10 scenic drives. Arrive at the Dart River visitor centre and be equipped with everything you need for your jet boat experience. Climb aboard and discover a unique combination of breathtaking scenery matched with thrilling high speeds.
Enjoy 1.5-hours of thrilling high-speed on a jet boat ride through Dart River’s wilderness. Skim across braided, glacier-fed rivers into the Te Waipounamu World Heritage Area. You’ll travel as far up the river as possible, before returning to Paradise and hopping off the boat for a guided 30-minute forest walk. Wander amongst ancient beech forest unchanged for 80 million years. Then, climb aboard a back-country bus tour of Paradise Valley to immerse yourself in scenes and backdrops from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Return to Glenorchy and join the courtesy transfer back to Queenstown.
Sample Itinerary:
08:00 AM Courtesy transfer from Queenstown to Glenorchy
09:00 AM Dart River jet boat experience
10:30 AM Guided forest walk
11:00 AM Back-country bus tour through Paradise Valley
12:00 PM Return to Glenorchy
12:30 PM Depart Glenorchy on courtesy transfer bus
1:30 PM Arrive Queenstown
Includes
- Courtesy transfers between Queenstown and Glenorchy. Transfer will depart Queenstown 1 hour before activity starts
- Live commentary
- Professional, experienced guides
- 1.5-hour Dart River jet boat experience
- Waterproof jackets and life jackets
- 30-minute guided nature walk through native beech forests
- 1-hour back-country bus tour through Paradise Valley
- Food and drinks
Not suitable for
- Pregnant women
- People with mobility impairments
- People under 3 ft 3 in (100 cm)
Select participants and date
Participants
Date
Prepare for the activity
Important information
What to bring
- Comfortable shoes
Know before you go
- Children must be at least 1-meter tall and 5 years or older
- Infants (under 5 years) travel free of charge if they are at least 1-meter tall
- You’re welcome to self-drive and join the experience from Glenorchy - contact the local operator after booking to discuss
- Professional photos are captured during the jet boat experience and are available for purchase on the day
- You are welcome to bring your camera to capture your own images throughout the day
- Guided walk requires moderate fitness. The walking track is mostly well-formed; some sections may be steep, rough or muddy
