Dart River

Dart River

The Dart River winds through the southwestern part of New Zealand’s South Island, partly within Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, before flowing into Lake Wakatipu. It was named in the 1860s by William Gilbert Rees, and is famous for white-water rafting.

The Dart River is a stunning azure waterway located near Queenstown. Stretching 60 kilometers, it is one of the best places to go rafting. Every visitor is drawn here for an exhilarating jet boat adventure on the Dart River. The Dart River jet boat experience offers a unique and immersive journey, complemented by breathtaking scenery — snow-capped mountains, ancient native beech forests, cascading waterfalls nearly 100 meters high, deep glacial valleys, and a sense of time standing still. Tourists can enjoy thrilling jet boat rides along the multi-branched Dart River for 1.5 hours, including exciting 360-degree spins. One of the most exciting experiences is speeding across the river in a jet boat or paddling a unique inflatable canoe to explore the pristine “World Heritage” natural landscape in a fun and distinctive way.

The strikingly blue Dart River is also a featured filming location for renowned movies. Parts of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy were shot here, and the actress who played Queen Susan particularly loved this section of the water-based scenes. It is also known as the “Mirror River.”

Dart River

Reason to visit: New Zealand’s best river for rafting

Continent: Oceania

Country/Region: New Zealand

Province/State: Auckland Region