A Great Southern Adventure!

Spring into Aoraki Mount Cook and have a great Southern Adventure with Glacier Explorers and The Hermitage Hotel

It’s never too early to plan your Southern Adventure. Aoraki Mount Cook National Park wraps itself up in a white blanket during the Southern Hemisphere winter (June to August), but, our very own icebergs are standing by to give you a taste of the way New Zealand was 500 years ago.

Come the Spring and Summer, at Aoraki Mount Cook, the snow will have melted away and the Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake will have unfrozen to allow the icebergs to gently move around. 

This is the Park at its best, and what better way to enjoy it than a couple of nights at The Hermitage Hotel, continental breakfast, a buffet dinner and a trip on the Tasman Valley Glacier Terminal lake to view those icebergs at very close range.

Glacier Explorers is the only Mac Boat operator on the Glacier Lake, and after a short stroll to the lake from the carpark, you’ll grab your lifejacket, and hop into the boat with your guide for a memorable trip.

Dip your hands into the icy water to capture 500 year old ice crystals – have a taste, hold it up to the light and see it sparkle.  It’s a magical experience to know the ice has taken 500 years to reach your hand.

Earlier this year, the terminal face experienced a number of calvings – when the ice shelf separates and crashes into the water, creating new icebergs.  It’s true what they say, 90% of an iceberg is under the water, so imagine what happens when that berg unbalances and rolls over? 

Ice that has never seen daylight emerges in a real ice-blue colour, that slowly fades as it reacts to the sunlight.  Now we can’t guarantee you’ll see a roll over, but the splendour of the huge icebergs is still a sight to behold.

After your excursion return to the hotel, and take a stroll through the history of Aoraki Mount Cook and the Hermitage in the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre’s museum. 

Go to the Centre’s theatre to see the fascinating documentary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic summit of Mt Everest, enjoy the 3D movie on the Maori Legend of Aoraki Mount Cook or choose from a number of planetarium shows. 

Choose which night you’ll dine at the Alpine Restaurant, explore the village, take in a game on the big screen in the Chamois Bar & Grill and get your own taste of a great Southern Adventure, only to be found in the magnificent AorakiMount Cook National Park.

See our website for details of the Southern Adventure package – valid from 1^stOctober 2011.