Glacier Explorers opens for a 'trip of a lifetime'

The iceberg and glacier cruising season at Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is set to open tomorrow (10 September) promising visitors its most spectacular show of nature yet.

Glacier Explorers, which takes passengers on cruises on the Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake, will resume operations for the season following an early spring melt and an extraordinary shift in the glacier's terminal face.

Denis Callesen, General Manager Tourism for Aoraki Mount Cook Alpine Village Ltd says the season launch is the beginning of the most spectacular iceberg and glacier cruising he has ever seen.

“Our first trip of the season is at 2pm tomorrow. We are expecting the most amazing season ever here, with stunning viewing of nature in action. The iceberg calving that took place in August has given us ice to study for the next two seasons at least.”

“We have counted twenty icebergs measuring more than one hundred metres long in the lake, the largest iceberg measures approximately 300 metres long, it’s pretty incredible.”

Glacier Explorers gives passengers an unforgettable experience in a majestic, high alpine environment. A 75-minute boat trip takes them past constantly moving icebergs, some of which can be touched from the boat.

Iceberg cruising has fast become 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 boats which produce fewer environmental impacts. The new four-stroke engine boats, introduced last year, have reduced the per passenger carbon footprint and halved fuel consumption.

For more information visit www.glacierexplorers.com.