Glenorchy - South Island, New Zealand

A scenic 40 minute drive northwest from Queenstown is Glenorchy. Set against the picturesque mountains at the western end of Lake Wakatipu, this remote, peaceful town is the gateway to Mt Aspiring National Park and can be a perfect retreat for a couple of days.

The town itself is limited to a petrol station, a post office, a couple of pubs and cafes, a grocery store and a limited range of accommodation. Even though there are only a few cafes and pubs, you can always find a good hearty or healthy meal.

For trampers, Glenorchy is the starting point for some of New Zealand's finest tracks: a circuit of the Rees and Dart Rivers, which is a loop along the courses of these glacier fed waterways, all lined with beech forest.

The Routeburn Track which is considered second only to the Milford Track as New Zealand's best tramping adventure. And the Greenstone and Caples Tracks which circuit the valleys of the Greenstone and Caples Rivers.

Another main attraction to this special part of New Zealand is that this was the backdrop for much of the Lord of the Rings movies. There are Lord of the Rings (LOTR) tours you can take to see specific shooting locations.

In addition to the tracks, there is plenty of adventure activity to attract you to this little paradise.

Glenorchy Accommodation

Glenorchy has a reasonable range of accommodation to suit most budgets, including a campsite, a lodge, a hotel and a motel.

Glenorchy Activities

Glenorchy's biggest non-tramping attraction is Jet Boating on the Dart River, a two hour journey which takes you through shallow braided riverbeds amid the grandeur of snow capped mountains, ending in a gorge of dense bush on the edge of Mt Aspiring National Park.

In addition to a jet boat adventure, some operators offer a combination, with jet boating, a bush walk and a 4WD ride in a coach through stunning scenery including some Lord of the Rings locations.

Another "combination" involves a jet boat trip up the Dart River then a descent back down in a "funyak", an inflatable 3-seater canoe suitable for absolute beginners.

You can also take in the views from horseback with various operators offering two hour, full day hoof or overnighters which take you through the surrounding countryside, crossing rivers while also seeing Lord of The Rings locations.

Landrover tours are also on offer, which involve a 3-hour drive in remote wilderness up the Rees Valley to the spectacular Lennox Falls.

You can experience the true grandeur of the region from the air with a sky dive. The most popular deal being the four thousand meter jump combined with Routeburn canyoning.

Almost all organised activities offer shuttles to and from Queenstown for a small surcharge.

LooknbookNZ can organise your Glenorchy accommodation and Glenorchy activities allowing you and your family/friends have a fantastic holiday in this sylvan place called Glenorchy.