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Dart River Jet Boat and Wilderness Experience: A Scenic Adventure in Mt Aspiring National Park

4.7

397 Ratings

Glenorchy

Embark on a thrilling jet boat ride through the stunning Mt Aspiring National Park. Immerse yourself in breathtaking scenery, Māori legends, and the rich history of New Zealand.

Duration: 4 hours

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Dart River - Journey deep into the heart of world-renowned Mt Aspiring National Park, where myth, heritage and fantasy come to life.

The ultimate, original half day Wilderness Jet boat adventure takes you on an unforgettable journey along the braided, glacier-fed Dart River. Experience the unique combination of breath-taking scenery and an exhilarating ride as we take you deep into Mt Aspiring National Park
An unmissable journey through spectacular scenery where mythology, heritage & fantasy meet reality.
Where else can you pack so much into a half day of adventure and exploration?

Your trip:
2 hours of wilderness jet boating and spectacular scenery across the braided, glacier-fed Dart River
Learn about flora, fauna & history of the land
Learn about the Pounamu (Greenstone) that made the Dart River a key trading route for our Ngāi Tahu ancestors, the early Maori of the area
Hear tales of rich farms carved from the rugged landscape by early settlers

What's Included

Jet boat ride
Round trip transport from Queenstown (selected departures)
Professional Guide
Use of Life-Jackets (Mandatory) and optional spray jackets

What's Not Included

Food and drinks
Gratuities

Additional Information

Embark on a genuine New Zealand escapade navigating through the core of the globally acclaimed Mt Aspiring National Park, an impeccably preserved and distinctive realm. This is more than just a jet boating experience, but a blend of activities curated to bond you with the real essence of New Zealand.
Relish 2 hours of stunning landscapes and raw jet boating on intertwined, glacier-fed rivers in this UNESCO World Heritage Area. Our knowledgeable guides enrich the experience with tales about the past, the Greenstone trail and Māori legends from our own Ngai Tahu forefathers. An unforgettable passage through grandiose terrain where folklore, legacy and fantasy align with reality.

Where else can you condense such abundant adventurous exploration into a half-day journey?

Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately and wear a warm outer layer (Extra layers on colder days)
Minimum child age 3 years old and minimum height of 3’3.5’’(1 meter) applies irrespective of child’s age
Life jackets are mandatory and supplied along with optional spray jackets
It is recommended that you wear comfortable, supportive close-toed shoes

Location

Dart River Adventures

Mull Street

If you choose to self-drive to Glenorchy, please check-in at the Dart River base in Glenorchy 15 minutes prior to your selected trip time.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.7

(397 Ratings)

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Ravi_s

Apr 10, 2024

Fantastic experience. It... - Fantastic experience. It was raining and we were skeptical, but it turned out to be an awesome experience with waterfalls and swirling currents we otherwise wouldn't have experienced. The views were amazing. And Dan, our guide was masterful on the boat and extremely friendly. Highly recommend this to anyone.

Review provided by Viator

Enriqueaplus9

Apr 7, 2024

Such a great experience - Amazing experience. Daniel our boat driver made the most of the scenery and took the time to show us around this beautiful part of the world. This is a must do whilst in Queenstown and/or surrounding areas. Will be back!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Explorer657243

Apr 7, 2024

Approachable adrenaline fun! - Was super fun. I went in a bit nervous as I'm a bit of a chicken when it comes to these things but I actually loooved the speed and the spins that we did :) The sun was out and the views were stunning. The skipper John was great and made sure we all had a great time while teaching us about the surroundings. Was a highlight of my NZ trip for sure. Make sure you dress warm and bring sunnies ;)

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Scrumptioussolent

Mar 31, 2024

What a fabulous experience! - We loved our jet boat existence with Pedro today! Just the right balance of spins and speed, topped off with interesting insights about the river itself and history of the local people. We felt exhilarated, yet safe, in Pedro’s hands as he navigated the windy and shallow river over 30 kilometres. We had the opportunity to get out the boat for a short walk and to capture some photos too! Definitely take the recommended extra fleece lined coat provided on arrival as the wind is very strong and cold when you’re powering up the river. You’ll also get a life jacket and a good safety briefing too! Good for all ages - the children on our boat had a blast as did the grandparents! A great two-hour trip, with a lovely 45 minute coach trip to the departure point in Glenorchy. Our coach driver gave us a great commentary on the way so we learnt more about the local area and history. A brilliant half day out - left the pick up point at 8:30 and back by 12:45.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Jeffb

Mar 24, 2024

Our guide was awesome... - Our guide was awesome very friendly and knowledgeable. Alkasy kept us informed on what was happening

Review provided by Viator

D6846fhstevenh

Mar 21, 2024

Best Jet Boat experience in Glenorchy. - Been on his now twice. Once in 2019 and again this year. Due to a major landslide we could not complete the entire Dart river upstream. Our driver John was great in making the shorten ride enjoyable and informative. It was a bit different in 19 with a bus ride back to base and a couple of stops sightseeing. I missed this ride back and hope they incorporate it in again later down the track.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Jjo

Mar 20, 2024

Great scenery - We aren't big fans of speeding around in noisy vehicles, and took this trip primarily for the chance to get into Mt. Aspiring National Park. The scenery lived up to our hopes, and I have to admit, the boat stuff was kinda fun. But mainly this was the chance to view some beautiful mountains that would otherwise be hard to see. The boats, the guides, and all aspects of the operation were very well done.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Gailrb3716ru

Mar 18, 2024

Dart River adventure - We had a fun time with Dart River Adventures. We rode a bus (45 minute trip) from downtown Queenstown to Glenorchy where we boarded the jet boat. From there we traveled up the Dart River through Mt Aspiring National Park. Our driver would signal when he would do a 360 turn so you could brace. We were in less than 4 inches deep water sometimes and you could hear the rocks scraping the bottom. Beautiful scenery along the braided river.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Msbarb5

Mar 17, 2024

GREAT jet boat ride with Pedro - My husband and I did the Dart River Jet Boat ride from Glenorchy - we were fortunate enough to have Pedro as our driver!! This was our first experience with a jet boat and we're spoiled for life now!! Pedro was a wealth of information, and gave us a thrilling, but safe ride! All of the Dart River Adventures employees that we came in contact with were wonderful to deal with! Would do this ride again in a heartbeat!!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Bernard_b

Mar 27, 2024

I believe it’s overrated - The scenery and the 360. The driver was super nice but it was not exilerating! White water rafting beats in hands down. Plus the boats are very old

Review provided by Viator

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up to 9 guests

1 Adult