Specific options for seeing New Zealand glaciers Most of the tour companies require participants, fully geared up (this includes the safety gear), to weigh under 120 kg. Aoraki/Mount Cook Two cabins on Aoraki/Mount Cook Before booking a helicopter tour Look closely in the second shot, and you should see two cabins at about one-third of the way up this photo. The views are incredible, although I lost a bit of perspective from the air. As we stared down at the snow-covered peaks and occasional rocky surfaces, it became difficult to comprehend the mountain’s size until the pilot pointed out two cabins. In retrospect, it would have been worth the extra money, especially if you are travelling up the west coast and not visiting Mount Cook any other way. The other couple on our tour booked at the same time slot wanted to see Mount Cook, so the four of us were upgraded to the top package. The flyover Mount Cook was only in the highest-level package option. We initially selected a mid-priced adventure over both Fox and Franz Josef glaciers that included the walk on the glacier. We added a helicopter tour of Aoraki/Mount Cook While you can touch glacial ice, you are missing out on quite a bit if this is your entire glacial experience. A short stroll from the car park will allow views of the glacier terminus (the lower end) from the ground. Experience the New Zealand glaciers while kayaking on a glass-calm glacial lake surrounded by massive mountains.Ī no-cost first stop for any visitors just remember to respect the safety partitions that are in place for a reason. Ideal for energetic people with a moderate level of fitness and comfort around water. Our girls on the glacier Running in the freshly fallen snow Jeff and I on Fox Glacier From the fabulous views during our helicopter ride to the opportunity to walk on the glacier at our leisure, this was an ideal family activity. This is the option we chose, and we loved it. Like all helicopter flights, it’s not cheap. Physically, this option is suitable for most people, although the tour description states a moderate level of fitness. The hiking options range from shorter walks with glacier views to several day hikes that recommend campers include a personal locator beacon in their gear. This is the option for budget-conscious visitors or experienced hikers. Check for discount heli-hiking on Franz Josef Glacier Note that the provided safety gear can weigh up to 5kgs. Heli-hiking begins with a helicopter viewing, followed by a glacial landing, then a 3-hour guided hike through ice caves, arches, or other ancient glacial formations.
The main options include:Ī popular option ideal for energetic adventure seekers with a moderate level of fitness, although not open for children under age 8. There are multiple ways to see the glaciers, with different options appealing to everyone. Which type of New Zealand glacier viewing is right for you? However, in total, there are 72 named glaciers on Mount Cook.Ĭheck out the webcams for Fox and Franz Josef glaciers.
It contains nearly one-third of New Zealand’s glacial ice.
Both the Tasman and Franz Josef glaciers are located inside Te Wahipounamu National Park, while Fox Glacier is just outside.Te Wahipounamu’s Māori meaning is “the place of greenstone”.It’s part of Te Wahipounamu, the UNESCO World Heritage site that covers 26,000 km². New Zealand’s tallest mountain, Mount Cook (Aoraki in Māori), peaks at 3,754 metres.In contrast, the Tasman Glacier flows towards the Mackenzie Basin therefore, it is more often accessed from the east side of Mount Cook. Both Frans Josef and Fox glaciers flow from the Southern Alps towards the Tasman Sea and can be accessed from the west coast. It’s formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow on mountains or near the poles. About New Zealand glaciers: Franz Josef, Fox, and TasmanĪ glacier is a river of ice that is slowly moving downhill. Blue glacial ice on one of the New Zealand glaciers.
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