Dart River Safaris are located in the small frontier town of Glenorchy, just 45km from Queenstown, New Zealand. Our journey takes us 37km further up the Dart River Valley, into the corridors of the Mount Aspiring National Park.

Discover ice-capped mountains and glaciers, cascading waterfalls and crystal clear streams and pools. Walk in the ancient native forests of Mt. Aspiring National Park World Heritage Area. Each Safari product provides a new world of enchantment and enrichment, only 45 minutes, but a world away from Queenstown. Door to door transfers are available from all Queenstown accommodation properties. Three trips are offered

The Dart River Safari

A Dart River Safari is more than just a jetboat ride. It is a true New Zealand wilderness experience. We travel deep into the corridors of the Mount Aspiring National Park, a World Heritage Area. We explore this area by jetboat, 4WD coach and on foot to give you the best possible sights and sounds of New Zealand's native landscapes and see more of this unique alpine environment than anyone else. Our informed friendly guides provide a lively, informative and enriching experience allowing you to explore Native New Zealand Wilderness at its best.

A "Jetboat Safari" with longer jet boat ride is also offered

Please Click Here for more information on both trips

The Dart River Funyaks Safari

Arguably the best way to explore the Dart Valley. A full day option, lunch included. Jetboat, back roads and easy canoeing.

Please Click Here for more information

The Dart River Valley is part of the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, "Te Wahipounamu".

Te Wahipounamu is one of the best examples in the world of a dynamic mountainous landscape, created by the great buckling forces along the plates which make the Earth's crust.

The name Te Wahipounamu (which means place of Greenstone) was chosen in recognition of the great cultural significance of the area to Maori, especially as an ancient source of the prized Pounamu (Greenstone). Te Wahipounamu was granted it's world heritage title by the World Heritage Convention in 1991.
The plaque commemorating this states:

"Te Wahipounamu is one of the world's great wild and scenic landscapes, a priceless remnant of the flora and fauna that once inhabited the ancient super-continent of Gondwanaland."

The great tracts of wilderness in Te Wahipounamu contain plants and animals which evolved in isolation after New Zealand separated from Gondwanaland 80-100 million years ago. This was before the evolution of predatory, browsing and grazing mammals, and many of the plants and birds did not evolve defence mechanisms.

A visit into this area provides visitors with the opportunity to walk amongst beech forests, which according to the experts are the only living relatives of the fossilised "Antarctica Beech", and so proving the existence of Gondwanaland.