Glacier Explorer

All we knew was that this experience involves boarding a zodiac, being taken out on the Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake, seeing and being informed about the glacier and its icebergs.

A pre-requirement is that each person must be able to walk the 1.5kms into the lake (and out again) in 20 minutes on uneven ground.

The tour company bussed us in as far as a car park and then we walked in. The weather was bad. We kept our fingers crossed that it wouldn't be called off. Our driver, Toby, reckoned that, had the weather been a bit worse, it would have been.

Toby alternated between drifting quietly on the water while educating us about the glacier, the formation of the lake and the icebergs, and using the zodiac as a jet-boat. The speed really was necessary as the lake is seven kilometres long and the toe of the glacier is at the other end.

After an hour on the water, we returned to land freezing cold, soaking wet and very happy that we'd done it.

Walked back to car park, boarded our bus and continued on our tour…Read more