Discover the untamed beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mount Aspiring National Park on this full-day Dart River 'funyak' (inflatable canoe) and jet boat tour from Queenstown! Travel by coach to Glenorchy, where your adventure begins, and then hop aboard a jet boat and ride up the picturesque Dart River. Speeding through a landscape of outstanding natural beauty, your tour passes the 'Middle-earth' countryside that featured in the popular 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy. In a secluded stretch of the river, swap the boat for your own easy-to-handle funyak and then paddle behind your attentive guide before stopping for a buffet lunch in the great outdoors!
No previous canoeing experience is required on this tour, and your guide will paddle at a leisurely pace to suit the group.
No previous canoeing experience is required on this tour, and your guide will paddle at a leisurely pace to suit the group.
Highlights
- Full-day Dart River funyak canoe and jet boat adventure from Queenstown
- Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mount Aspiring National Park on this exhilarating tour
- Follow your guide on your funyak canoe and discover hidden streams and rock pools
- Soak up the park’s incredible countryside scenery -- featured as Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings film series
- Enjoy a buffet lunch in the great outdoors
- Lifejacket and wetsuit provided
Useful Information
Jet boat adventure on the River Dart
Travel by coach to Glenorchy, located 28 miles (45 kilometers) from Queenstown. You'll enter the Mount Aspiring National Park, a region characterized by towering mountains, dense forests and of course, winding river valleys – perfect for exploring by canoe and boat!
After a comprehensive safety briefing get kitted up with equipment: lifejacket, wetsuit with booties, fleece and a dry bag. Then, hop aboard your jet boat and hold on tight as your guide speeds you through the waters of the Dart River, while explaining the countryside’s highlights.
Once you've ventured deeper into the wilderness of the park, swap the jet boat for your inflatable canoe (seats 2 or 3 people max) and paddle out behind your guide in a flotilla, exploring the hidden side streams, rock pools and chasms that make the Dart River so special. Stop for a buffet lunch laid out on tables in a grassy area and surrounded by the gloriously isolated scenery of Mount Aspiring National Park – featured in the Oscar-winning films of The Lord of the Rings series.
After lunch, continue along the Dart River in your canoe, soaking up the gorgeous countryside and watching out for rare fauna and wildlife like red deer and yellow-crowned parakeets. At the end of this exciting adventure hop back on board your coach and relax on the return journey to Queenstown.
After a comprehensive safety briefing get kitted up with equipment: lifejacket, wetsuit with booties, fleece and a dry bag. Then, hop aboard your jet boat and hold on tight as your guide speeds you through the waters of the Dart River, while explaining the countryside’s highlights.
Once you've ventured deeper into the wilderness of the park, swap the jet boat for your inflatable canoe (seats 2 or 3 people max) and paddle out behind your guide in a flotilla, exploring the hidden side streams, rock pools and chasms that make the Dart River so special. Stop for a buffet lunch laid out on tables in a grassy area and surrounded by the gloriously isolated scenery of Mount Aspiring National Park – featured in the Oscar-winning films of The Lord of the Rings series.
After lunch, continue along the Dart River in your canoe, soaking up the gorgeous countryside and watching out for rare fauna and wildlife like red deer and yellow-crowned parakeets. At the end of this exciting adventure hop back on board your coach and relax on the return journey to Queenstown.
Recent Reviews of this Tour
Reviewed by Scaddeo, March 2013
That was such a fantastic day out! Can't really describe the beauty of the surrounding landscapes.. it seriously left me out of words!!!
After a 45-minute bus journey to Glenorchy, the morning began with an exhilarating jet boat tour and a fun guide that would stop in-between exciting spins to explain the locations and point out where some of 'The Lord of the Ring' scenes were filmed!
As the morning mist cleared out we met some other guides that briefed us about the 'Funyak'! Its name really explains it all: it is FUN! And is not really hard to paddle on it, although it requires some team effort at times! Our guides were great. Very helpful when needed and so much fun to spend the day with.
What else can I say? You have to try it yourself to understand what I mean.. So worth it!
A little piece of advice: bring some sun protection (sun glasses/hat/sun screen) and warm clothes - it is chilly in the morning! And don't forget your insect repellent: sand-flies are evil!!!
Reviewed by Joseph J, March 2013
You can't beat this experience ......the water was so incredible
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