The Experience
"A guided tour through The Hillocks, a heritage natural landform never before open to the public. Journey through time with cinematic virtual reality — then venture out on your own AR wildlife safari, taking in the breathtaking Dart River Valley from the Isengard Lookout: the view The Lord of the Rings made famous twenty-five years ago, and Brad Pitt’s Heart of the Beast rediscovered this year. Now it’s your turn."
What to Expect
Duration
Allow 2 to 2.5 hours. The VR tour is 60 to 75 minutes and runs to the clock; the rest of the valley doesn’t. The AR Safari back to the visitor centre is yours to take at your own pace, and the viewing platform is where most of our visitors lose track of time.
Accessibility
No steep climbs, no rough terrain - fully accessible for wheelchairs, pushchairs, and visitors of all ages and abilities.
Clothing
Glenorchy's mountain weather can change quickly - sturdy outdoor footwear and a weatherproof layer will keep you comfortable throughout your visit.
Age
Designed for curious minds from 10 to 110 — and the odd 600-year-old moa.
Why 10? The headset makers say so — young eyes are still developing, and the headsets are built for grown-up heads. Under-10s are welcome on the trail and AR Safari with an adult; Sam has waited 600 years, he can wait a few more.
Interactive Trail Map
01
Arrival at the Visitor Center
Located at the Dart Bridge on Glenorchy-Routeburn Road, we welcome you at our Visitor Center with plenty of parking available.
Experience Part 1 - Guided VR Nature Walk
Step into our custom-built VR Hides for a 180-degree plunge into New Zealand's past, present and possible future.
VR Hide 1 - Ancient Encounters
Travel back to a New Zealand untouched by humans. Stand in the presence of the majestic, extinct Moa as it roams its ancestral home.
VR Hide 2
VR Hide 3
VR Hide 4
Experience Part 2: Self-Guided AR-Safari
After the guided VR tour, explore The Hillocks at your own pace with “The Hillocks Safari” app on your own phone or tablet, bringing the giants of old Aotearoa — and one small survivor — to life in augmented reality along the trail.
Moa Encounter
Come face to face with one of history's most extraordinary birds. Observe, feed, and interact with a life-sized Moa in its natural habitat - an encounter 600 years in the making.
Haast Eagle Encounter
Look to the skies. The world's largest eagle circles overhead, its massive 3-metre wingspan casting a shadow across the landscape. Get closer than you ever imagined possible.
Kiwi Encounter
Get up close with New Zealand's most beloved national icon and lend a hand as it carefully constructs its nest - a rare and intimate wildlife moment unlike any other.
Viewing Platform
Your trail culminates at the viewing platform on the southern hillock, with unblocked views over the entire Dart River Valley: the Humboldt Range to the west, Mt Alfred standing alone between the Dart and the Rees, the Southern Alps all around. It’s the view The Lord of the Rings made famous twenty-five years ago and Brad Pitt’s Heart of the Beastrediscovered last year — and the best place on the trail to stop, sit, and let the valley do the talking.
After dark, the same platform sits inside the Tāhuna Glenorchy Dark Sky Sanctuary, under one of the darkest skies in the Southern Hemisphere. Night-sky experiences are being developed with local operators and accommodation partners; see our Dark Sky Sanctuary page.
Under the Dark Sky
Glenorchy was awarded Dark Sky Sanctuary status in late 2025 — one of the most significant astronomical designations in the Southern Hemisphere.
Our viewing platform offers the perfect spot to experience the Southern Night Sky at its finest. Positioned in the middle of this vast, open valley, it provides unobstructed views in both directions — South and North — framed by the mighty Humboldt Range to the West and the iconic Mount Alfred to the East.
Free from city light, it is among the finest night sky observation points in the Southern Hemisphere.
Exclusive evening experiences for private groups, corporate events, and local lodge partners.
Available for special group & lodge arrangements
Have questions about the experience?
Get in touch to learn more about our VR hides, AR safari, and exclusive night sky experiences.