Delta Discovery in New Zealand

The South Island of New Zealand is the most beautiful and pristine places I’ve ever visited. Our whole purpose for the trip to New Zealand was to hike the Milford Track, but we had a few days to spare before the trek began so we ventured to Glenorchy. It has a quiet country vibe with farms and the gorgeous Dart River surrounded by picturesque mountain views.

“Find a way to allow visitors of all ages access to this unique wilderness area without impact on the environment.
Have fun, learn, and enjoy the freedom to explore, in complete safety.”

-Delta Discovery Mission Statement

Lord of the Rings

The Dart River, is located on the southwestern side of the South Island of New Zealand. If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, this is the place to visit. I wish I could tell you I’ve seen them all, but I haven’t. Actually, I’m not sure that I’ve seen any (was there more than one?).  All that I can tell you is they picked one beautiful location for their movie scenes.

100% Pure Eco-Friendly Adventure

This adventure was one of my favorite parts of our trip. We had spent a three day trip riding horses through the New Zealand bush, which was amazing but truth be told, a little exhausting for this girl that hadn’t been on a horse in over ten years. When my husband suggested yet another horse back ride along the Dart River, while it sounded pretty incredible, I wasn’t completely on board. He spotted Delta Discovery and thought it would be a great way for us to explore the river in a more relaxing way.

Computer Guided Tour

We were guided along the Dart River with an on-board computer and a well groomed trail. There was no chance of getting lost on this journey. The Scottish owner was back at the barn making sure that we didn’t get off the beaten path. This was one of the safest things we did on our entire journey aside from the petting farm. The 4WD is completely eco-friendly and I think I mentioned quiet…for that very reason. It’s an excellent expedition for the entire family.

The views were spectacular everywhere we looked. We were able to drive through little streams which made us feel more adventurous than we actually were that day. The pictures are deceiving because it was seriously, so chill. In fact, you can’t go all wild on these guys.

The entire ride was beyond peaceful other than the Jet Boats that would blast through the area. Even so, it was entertaining to see the looks on their passengers faces as they did a full 360 turn. If it hadn’t been so cold that day we would’ve taken a ride ourselves because it looks like so much fun.

We at JUST LIVE JOY, highly recommend this little adventure if you’re visiting the South Island of New Zealand. It’s a great way to spend a few hours with gorgeous mountain and river views to take in. Furthermore, you can feel good about knowing that it’s an eco-friendly experience. For more information on Delta Discovery tours, visit their website here.

Disclosure: We are not affiliated with Delta Discovery in any way. We’re simply sharing our enjoyable experience.