Wanderful World: Dart River Adventures

Glenorchy, population 341, home of farmland and super close to the entrance of the Mount Aspiring National Park, aka gorgeous-ness! We ended up taking a bus over bumpy az roads to get into the national park, crossing the Arcadia Farm, which had been established prior to the formation of the national park. The owners of this farm make BOATLOADS of cashing by leasing out their property for $800 per day to film crews for movies and advertisements. LOTR, the X-Men/Wolverine franchise, and Milka Chocolate all have spent money to have Mt. Alfred and Mt. Earnslaw be in their film rolls. We learned about the local flora [matagouri tree needles were traditionally used for Maori tattoos] and we tasted the “pepper plant”. The scenery was drop-dead gorgeous [see photos, my words will not do it just, and frankly the photos do not even do it justice].

The sandflies were BLOODY AWFUL in the national park. Despite putting layers of insect repellent on, I still got bitten. I bonded with several other trampers [NZ for hikers] about our hatred for sandflies; apparently only the female of the species bites, and she needs a blood meal before she is able to lay her eggs. I met the most adorable couple from Manchester [English husband, a retired cardiologist, and Irish wife, a career-long nurse] who asked me all about my future plans for medical school. We discussed all the vaccine controversies [deciding that people who did not vaccinate are idiots] and they explained why younger people are actually more susceptible to altitude sickness [the older you get, the thicker your blood vessel walls are, which means less blood leakage].

The jet boat down the Dart River was exhilarating, although probably less adrenaline-pumping than other jet boat experiences. However, the scenery definitely made up for it. Plus, I am 90% sure that this is where the Fellowship of the Ring canoed down the river after finding their way to Galadriel and the Lothlorian, which I am so stoked about! Plus, I saw the Pass of Caradhras [where Saruman sends all sorts of enchantments to prevent the Fellowship from crossing, forcing them into the Mines of Moria]. Granted there was no snow, but still, PRETTY COOL! This was all in addition to traveling at speeds up to 95km/hr next to rock walls and doing 360 degree turns!

I got home in time for dinner, completely exhilarated by my day!