Sacred Stone Welcomes Visitors to Dart River Jet Safaris

A sacred Maori pounamu stone now welcomes visitors to Dart River Jet Safaris’ Glenorchy Visitor Centre, the starting point for New Zealand’s most sensational journey.

The large stone was installed and blessed at a special ceremony earlier this year.

Visitors are invited and encouraged to touch the stone to add a cultural dimension to the welcoming experience to the centre. The placement of the pounamu strengthens the local Maori tribe’s link to the iconic Ngâi Tahu Tourism experience.

Dart River Jet Safaris Manager, Clark Scott said the Dart River (Te Awa Whakatipu) was an area of significant cultural importance to the Ngâi Tahu tribe’s Southern groups, who have a very strong relationship with the area, and the stone was a powerful symbol of the tribe’s relationship to the land.

“It enables us to showcase Ngâi Tahu traditions and share local stories with visitors to the pristine Dart River Valley, and those visitors from all around the globe are always fascinated to learn some of the history of this stunning area,” he said.

Interpretative panels and imagery tell the story of Te Koroka, the special protected area that is the source of this and other precious pounamu, Ngâi Tahu traditional links with the area and the overall beauty of the landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Area.

Mr Scott said the company’s Wilderness Safari and Funyak Safari trips took visitors on the region’s longest and most sensational jet boat rides into Mt Aspiring National Park, and were unique combinations of breathtaking scenery, exhilarating wilderness jet boating, Maori heritage and inspiring adventure.

“Visitors love to be able to embark on a rare journey retracing the footsteps of the first Maori people of this land who discovered this rugged, beautiful and unique environment,” he said. “It was here they explored for food and discovered the precious pounamu which became highly valued for tools, weapons and adornments.”

Ngâi Tahu Tourism has recently launched its new nationwide ‘Go Pass’, a discount card exclusively for independent travelers offering savings on 17 iconic New Zealand activities.

For more information about Dart River Jet Safaris, visit www.dartriverjetsafaris.com