Destination guides > Pacific Islands > New Zealand > Otago > Glenorchy
Glenorchy
Glenorchy is at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu at the mouth of the Dart and Rees River valleys. This rural frontier settlement, a spectacular 45-minute drive from Queenstown, sits below Mount Aspiring National Park. It is most popular with hikers tackling the Caples, Greenstone, Rees, Dart and Routeburn Tracks, and much of the time the village has a good buzz about it with hikers coming off the tracks. There are not many facilities in town and it is advisable that you bring groceries and supplies with you, especially if you are planning a long hike.
Practical information
Glenorchy Information Centre
Oban Street, Glenorchy
Tel (03) 441 0303
Website www.glenorchyinfocentre.co.nz
Coming & going
Backpackers Express (tel (03) 441 0303) run minibuses between Queenstown and Glenorchy and they also operate a jet boat service to Kinloch Lodge and bus and boat services to the main walking tracks.
Hostel accommodation
Glenorchy Backpackers Retreat
Corner Argyll & Mull Streets, Glenorchy
Tel (03) 442 9902
Glenorchy Holiday Park
Oban Street, Glenorchy
Tel (03) 442 7171
Kinloch Lodge
862 Kinloch Road, Kinloch
Tel (03) 442 4900
Activities
Canyoning
Routeburn Canyoning (tel (03) 441 3003) run a full-day canyoning trip to Mount Aspiring National Park that involves descending through a semi-granite canyon. This canyoning trip costs $215.
Jet boating
Dart Wilderness Adventures (tel (03) 441 0303) have a jet boat trip that travels the Dart River between Glenorchy and Sandy Bluff. This 70km adventure is a much longer than most other jet boat trips in New Zealand making it a good value way to see the river.
Dart River Safaris (tel (03) 442 9992) operate a three-hour trip that includes a 90 minute jet boat ride on the Dart River and a guided forest walk for $199. There is also a jet boat trip that gives you a full three hours on the river for $229 and an inflatable kayak trip that costs $279. This is a seven-hour scenic trip that starts with a 75-minute jet boat ride upstream with a two-hour return journey by inflatable kayak, which tackles some grade two rapids.
(Departs from Queenstown)
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