Only 3 stars due to lack of coordination on the back-end...
The jet boating up & down the Dart River was safe, fun, thoroughly enjoyable. I would have liked to have given them 5 stars, but part of the tour package was to be provided a drop-off AT our hotel at the end of the day, and that wound up being a major hassle.
Our tour package included hotel drop-off, but there was considerable confusion of logistics in taking the coach back to Queenstown from Glenorchy, approx. 40 km. Over a hundred people were trying to herd onto 2 buses with little direction. When multiple customers, including ourselves, asked about which bus we were supposed to take, the driver, clearly irritated over the lack of internal coordination and communication, barked out at a group of about 15 of us "just get on the damn bus!" While I understand the frustration, one should not be in a customer-facing business if they can't handle their emotions.
To make matters worse, they attempted to drop us in the middle of town, NOT back at the hotel which was clearly in the scope of what we purchased. Luckily, one of the guys from the boating group was there, saw what was happening, and helped us grab a taxi - at no additional cost - back to our hotel.
So while I'd like to give Dart River Adventures a 5 star review, they get docked 2 stars for poor back-end execution. It's a bit unsettling to be in a foreign country, out in the middle of the wilderness, 40 km from your hotel, and have a bus driver yelling at you because of planning and communication inadequacies of his organization. read more