Jet Boating on the Dart River in "Lord of the Rings" country



Our group before the jet boat ride



Fun on the jet boat

We spent a gloriously sunny afternoon jet boating on the Dart River. The boat was able to spin in a tight 360 degree circle and veer thrillingly close to rocks and protruding trees. The driver also pointed out places where the "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" movies were filmed.

On a nature walk afterward, the guide let us sit in one of the chairs created for the Hobbit/Ring Trilogy movies that made the actors look much smaller than they really were.  We were shown an open field that has been used in numerous movies filmed at least in part in New Zealand, including White Fang, Wolverine, Hercules, and The Chronicles of Narnia, in addition to the Hobbit/Ring movies.



The names of nearby mountains and towns say it all: "The Remarkables" mountain range, Mount Aspiring National Park, and the town of Paradise. New Zealand is indeed a beautiful country!

 

Mountain where scenes from Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit were filmed

Anne on the over-sized chair created for hobbits