The Dart River flows through the Mount Aspiring National Park which is a region of historical significance to the Maori people as the only inland source of Jade. Jade is sacred to the Maori and local carvers carry on the tradition of creating jewelry using the stone for family and tourists alike. Given the significance of this place the surrounding landscape is pristine and closely guarded.

There is only one tour operator licensed to take tourists up this beautiful river. They offer jet boat experiences which allow visitors to quickly explore the environment at high speed. Each boat has a knowledgeable guide who shares the region’s history and significance throughout the ride. These jet boats are designed to fly up and down the river even over very shallow spots which would ground most boats. The tour operator also offers a mixed experience which features a jet boat ride up and “funyak” (inflatable kayak) floats down the river. This combined option was the main activity today for Jay and his mom.

The day started with the jet boat ride which started in Glenorchy and ended at the drop in point for the funyak float. While flying up the river the guide would make rapid 360 degree turns which would douse the passengers with the icy glacial waters. Sorry no videos of the turns as it took both hands to hold on! The hour long ride was an adrenalin rush.

After a moment to catch our breath the funyaks were put into the water and the next portion of the adventure began. This peaceful downstream float featured exceptional views of the river valley and adjacent mountains. A highlight of the trip was a paddle into what is known as the “chasm.” The chasm is well known for its pristine glacial waters and peaceful serenity (check out the pictures below and in our gallery). Exploring the Dart River was a perfect activity for the non-horse riders in the group.

After morning coffee, Stephanie set out on an all-day trail ride on horseback with a local guide and one other tourist from London. Our guide was a 25 year-old Aussie from Perth who was fed up with her office job after three years and set off to live her life to the fullest, starting with outdoor adventure guiding in western Australia then moving to New Zealand for this summer and winter seasons. Her next goal is to work as crew on a yacht in the Mediterranean. It is apparently very easy to move between Australia and New Zealand and find work, so her story is common among the guides we have had here.

The ride started out with walking and swimming through the pristine riverbeds of the Rees River (separated from the Dart River by a small mountain range). As we climbed the surrounding hills, we were able to stretch the ride into a trot and canter (running), which is incredibly unique to international horseback riding experiences. In the States, commercial horseback riding is almost exclusively limited to walking in tour groups in a straight line due to liability issues. In less litigious areas of the world, riders are able to ‘let the horses run’ and experience a less structured riding experience. For experienced riders, this is the only true way to experience horseback riding.

Stephanie’s horse’s name was Kumara, the Maori word for sweet potato. He apparently acquired this name due to his ’round’ nature, reminiscent of a potato. His brother, Spud, is also on the farm. Kumara lived up to his name as he was very interested in munching grass and trees on the move – always interested in a snack. When we arrived at the ‘running hill’, all of the horses got very excited to run up the steep incline to the viewpoint. Kumara immediately took off like a shot out of a cannon; however, he quickly tired going up the hill! Stephanie told him that maybe if he didn’t have so many snacks, he could have the stamina of the other horses. He gave it a good go and continued to run up the hill after a few short breaks.

The ride offered breathtaking views and we even got to herd some sheep (unplanned). The ride was a wonderful experience and made Stephanie want a horse of her own even more!