High in the alps of New Zealand’s South Island, Dart Stables in Glenorchy offers horse-riding excursions across the landscape made famous by The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings series.  

Just 45 minutes drive from the glorious town of Queenstown, Glenorchy is the gateway to the stunning Mount Aspiring National Park – a massive area of wilderness that encompasses glaciers, snowfields, mountains, valleys and wildlife habitats – and home to Dart Stables.

At the head of beautiful Lake Wakatipu, Glenorchy is near the Paradise location where scenes from Narnia, Wolverine, Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit were filmed

Dart Stables offers families the chance to encounter this landscape on one of their guided  Ride of the Rings or River Wild horse riding tours.

Form Guide A two-hour ride with spectacular ‘made-famous-by-a-movie’ scenery…

Yearlings Children ages 7 and over (should be confident riders).

Pace The River Wild is a two hour ride alongside braided, glacial fed rivers and includes river crossings and spectacular views of the Lord of the Rings locations, ‘The Misty Mountains’, ‘The Wizard’s Vale’ and ‘The Mighty Methedras’.

Stables Stay in Queenstown at Azur Lodge for incredible views or The Dairy Private Luxury Hotel for a more central to town location.

Feedbag Breakfast, lunch or dinner is all available at Queenstown’s Vudu Cafe.

Purse The two-hour ride costs from NZ$125 per child and $135 per adult with your own transport to the stables at Glenorchy. Alternatively, you can also include return transport from/to Queenstown with your horse-ride from NZ$145 per child/$155 per adult.

Photography courtesy New Zealand Tourism/Miles Holden