Early start to summer season for Glacier Explorers

Warm spring weather has prompted an early start to the iceberg and glacier cruising season for visitors to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park.

Glacier Explorers, which takes passengers on cruises on the Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake, resumed operations today (11 September), the earliest it has ever opened.

Operations Manager Bede Ward says high levels of winter snowfall with an early spring ‘melt’ have caused an early lake thaw which means the company can safely launch its four boats.

“It’s a real bonus for visitors to be able to get out onto the lake at this time of year while it still looks like a winter wonderland,” he says.

Glacier Explorers gives passengers an unforgettable experience in a majestic, high alpine environment. A 90 minute boat trip takes them past constantly moving icebergs, some of which can be touched from the boat, up to the impressive face of the Tasman Glacier.

Iceberg cruising is fast becoming a ‘must-do’ activity for visitors to Aoraki Mount Cook, not only for the up close and personal iceberg experience but also for spectacular views of surrounding mountains and some of the best photographic opportunities in the national park.

A sharp growth in trip popularity has seen Glacier Explorers increase passenger capacity with new and larger state-of-the-art environmentally friendly boats. The new four-stroke engine boats have reduced pollution and the carbon footprint and halved fuel consumption.

The latest 15-seater boat, which arrives by helicopter in late October, will replace one of the 9-seater boats and increase overall passenger capacity.

Another new innovation this season is the Glacier Explorer guide, a basic written commentary of the trip translated into different languages which passengers can refer to during their trip.

For more information visit www.glacierexplorers.com.