Dart River, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
The Dart River, Te Awa Wakatipu in Māori language
, flows through rugged forested country in the southwestern South Island
of New Zealand
. Partly in Mount Aspiring National Park
, it flows south-west and then south for 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) from its headwaters in the Southern Alps
and the Dart Glacier, eventually flowing into the northern end of Lake Wakatipu
near Glenorchy
. It was named in the 1860s by a runholder, William G Rees, who chose the name for the river's swift flow.
Several popular tramping tracks are found nearby, notably the Rees-Dart Track, which follows the valley of the Dart and the nearby Rees River. Jet boats operate on the river.
The Dart River, as many other areas in and around the Glenorchy
and Queenstown
area, has also been the location for many scenes filmed for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
. Examples of these locations are Isengard
, filmed at Dan's Paddock and Lothlórien in the forests slightly further north.
The upper valley was the site of one of one of New Zealand's worst light aircraft accidents in 1989, when an Aspiring Air
Britten-Norman Islander
crashed, killing all ten people on board.
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
, flows through rugged forested country in the southwestern South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Partly in Mount Aspiring National Park
Mount Aspiring National Park
Mount Aspiring National Park is located in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand, north of Fiordland National Park, and between Otago and south Westland. The park forms part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site.-Geography:...
, it flows south-west and then south for 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) from its headwaters in the Southern Alps
Southern Alps
The Southern Alps is a mountain range extending along much of the length of New Zealand's South Island, reaching its greatest elevations near the island's western side...
and the Dart Glacier, eventually flowing into the northern end of Lake Wakatipu
Lake Wakatipu
Lake Wakatipu is an inland lake in the South Island of New Zealand. It is in the southwest corner of Otago Region, near its boundary with Southland.With a length of , it is New Zealand's longest lake, and, at , its third largest...
near Glenorchy
Glenorchy, New Zealand
Glenorchy is a small settlement nestled in spectacular scenery at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand's south Island. It is approximately 45 kilometres by road or boat from Queenstown, the nearest large town....
. It was named in the 1860s by a runholder, William G Rees, who chose the name for the river's swift flow.
Several popular tramping tracks are found nearby, notably the Rees-Dart Track, which follows the valley of the Dart and the nearby Rees River. Jet boats operate on the river.
The Dart River, as many other areas in and around the Glenorchy
Glenorchy, New Zealand
Glenorchy is a small settlement nestled in spectacular scenery at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand's south Island. It is approximately 45 kilometres by road or boat from Queenstown, the nearest large town....
and Queenstown
Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains....
area, has also been the location for many scenes filmed for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers and The Return of the King .The films were directed by Peter...
. Examples of these locations are Isengard
Isengard
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, Isengard , a translation of the Sindarin Angrenost, was a large fortress. Both names mean "Iron fortress" In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, Isengard , a translation of the Sindarin Angrenost, was a large fortress....
, filmed at Dan's Paddock and Lothlórien in the forests slightly further north.
The upper valley was the site of one of one of New Zealand's worst light aircraft accidents in 1989, when an Aspiring Air
Aspiring Air
Aspiring Air is an airline based in Wanaka, New Zealand. It operates charter pleasure flights around New Zealand's Southern Alps and scheduled services three times daily to Queenstown, connecting with Air New Zealand...
Britten-Norman Islander
Britten-Norman Islander
The Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a 1960s British light utility aircraft, regional airliner and cargo aircraft designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. The Islander is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft types produced in Europe. Although designed in...
crashed, killing all ten people on board.