GLACIER EXPLORERS

08/02/2024

A magical, misty morning on the Tasman Glacial Lake today.

21/09/2023

We're excited to announce that we are a winner of the Travellers Choice Award 2023 and rated in the top 10% of attractions worldwide on TripAdvisor. Glacier Explorers is a unique and unforgettable experience on the Tasman Glacial Lake and we feel very privileged to share this special part of the world with all our guests. Thank you for joining us in 2023.

15/09/2023

Two weeks back on the water and the weather, lake conditions, icebergs and guests have been amazing.

If you’re thinking of joining us on a Glacier Explorers boat trip this spring/summer, we recommend booking ahead to avoid disappointment. We're looking forward to more exciting trips, and happy faces!

25/08/2023

The countdown is on, Glacier Explorers is back in 7 days! Who is joining us on the Tasman Glacial lake this spring?

15/06/2023

And that's a wrap! Today was the last day of our season and what a season it was. HUGE ice calving's, lots of sunshine, calm days on the lake, and amazing guests made it one for the books. Did you join us this summer on the Tasman Lake? What was your highlight?

18/05/2023

With only four weeks left of the 2022/23 season we're reliving some of our favourite moments from the summer. Did you visit us this summer?

02/05/2023

This iceberg broke off from the terminal face of the Tasman Glacier, above water, where the wall is nearly 40 metres tall. While we stay at least 500 metres away from the terminal face, we could see exactly where the iceberg broke away from. This really puts into perspective just how big the Tasman Glacier is. We're always marvelling at Mother Nature in Aoraki/Mount Cook.

27/04/2023

Have you ever wanted to touch an iceberg? On Glacier Explorers our guides will get you so close to the icebergs you can reach out and touch them, you might even get to hold a small piece. With only 7 weeks of the season left, time is running out to experience the most unique boat ride in New Zealand before our boats come off the water for winter.

18/04/2023

Moody, magic on Tasman Lake this month. This iceberg rolled about 30 minutes before this shot was taken. The blue section you see had just come up to the surface due to a large chunk breaking off from above and causing the iceberg to roll. A special sight for our guests to see.

26/03/2023

Ready and waiting for you!

17/03/2023

It was the summer that just kept on giving this year. We've had some pretty impressive icebergs recently, ones so big that they hold large rocks frozen inside that are almost the same size as our boats. As the iceberg slowly melts, this large rock will end up on the surface.

31/01/2023

Sometimes there's too much of a good thing and that means unfortunately we have had to cancel all trips today.

The change in wind direction has pushed the large amount of icebergs we currently have, in a direction that has blocked our boats in.

We hope to be back up and running as soon as possible, so that we can share this incredible phenomenon with you.

22/01/2023

If you’ve been thinking about doing Glacier Explorers, there’s never been a better time as we’ve just had a huge ice calving overnight!

With the settled weather and the amount of ice on the lake, conditions are perfect. For those of you who have already booked to come on board, you’re in for an absolute treat.

13/01/2023

Will 2023 be the year that you tick Glacier Explorers off your bucket list?

26/12/2022

Thank you to everyone that spent their Christmas Day out on the lake with us yesterday. The sun was shining & the icebergs were in fine form.

Wishing everyone a safe & happy festive period!

21/12/2022

Last, but not least, meet Kim! Kim hails from Dunedin and when she's not guiding on boats for Glacier Explorers, you'll find her deep in concentration with a paintbrush in hand, as she's a wildlife artist.

Ask Kim what her favourite thing about the job is and she'd say it would have to be blue walls! "The fact we don’t get them very often makes them super special, they are the most stunning colour and so smooth. Once the blue wall is exposed to the sun, the blue starts to disappear within only a few minutes as the sun heats up the air bubbles, the air bubbles expand, and the ice loses its density/blue colour. It's a real privilege to witness. Nature is awesome!"

14/12/2022

Emily's the newest member of the Glacier Explorers team, having moved over to be a guide from our housekeeping team earlier this year. It only took one visit to Aoraki/Mount Cook in November 2021 for Emily to realise the National Park was a place she wanted to call home and returned to live shortly afterwards - a true love story!

Emily is a big fan of geeky facts and her favourite one is that the Aoraki/Mount Cook mountain range is often referred to as the 'weetbix range' due to the loose rock (Greywacke sandstone) that is the result of a freeze thaw process. Make sure you catch up with Emily on the water to hear some more gooduns!

07/12/2022

Meet Sam, another crew member who has made his home amongst the mountains in Aoraki/Mount Cook for summer and Queenstown for winter. Sam used to be a ski instructor in China, but sadly COVID put a halt to that. China's loss is our gain though as it's meant Sam's stuck around New Zealand to be a guide for Glacier Explorers.

It was the allure of the Tasman Glacier that brought Sam to the region. The reality of spending every day out on the terminal lake paired with the super quiet lifestyle and incredible hikes available was enough to seal the deal. We're thrilled to have been able to welcome Sam back for a second season, he's a valuable member of our team and hopefully someone you'll get to meet if you're planning on visiting this summer!

01/12/2022

Still searching for the perfect Christmas gift?

Surprise your loved ones with a gift voucher for a Glacier Explorers boat tour! The only trip of its kind in NZ where you can get up close to the glacial wall and whizz around in custom boats, stopping to admire the occasional iceberg and for some, breaking off a small chunk of ice to enjoy as a refreshing snack. Most importantly, amongst all the adrenaline and fun, you'll learn about the glacial environment and be immersed in some of mother earth's finest beauty.

The Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki/Mount Cook are now selling gift vouchers for a range of accommodation packages, dining experiences and activities. Simply head on over to the website to find out more and book!

28/11/2022

We'd like to introduce you to our very own Jess, who's one of our guides at Glacier Explorers. Jess is originally from Arrowtown and spends her winter seasons teaching snowboarding up the mountains, and then swaps the snow for glacier ice as she re-joins us in Aoraki for summer!

Jess counts herself lucky to have lived in multiple different places, making Mount Cook Village the 10th location she's called home. Her favourite thing about life in Aoraki is the easy accessibility to all the walks in the National Park, and like many, she is in love with the spectacular sunsets you witness over Aoraki/Mount Cook. If you're lucky enough to have Jess as your guide on one of our tours, ask her to recommend some of her favourite spots to witness the glowing skies at sunset.

25/11/2022

Intrigued about the Tasman Glacier and our Glacier Explorers boat trip? We recommend you check out this article from the Gisborne Herald which gives you a comprehensive overview as to what you can expect, and why this is arguably one of the best experiences in the South Island of New Zealand!

On my holiday I tasted an iceberg. It’s not a line you often hear people use, but if you want to come up trumps in post-holiday office convos, it’s a hard one to beat. And you don’t need to travel all...

24/11/2022

Meet our Glacier Explorers Operation Manager, Pancho.

Originally from Mexico, Pancho came to NZ in 2015 to expand his outdoor pursuits and shortly after arriving he found himself in Aoraki/Mount Cook, working for Glacier Explorers.

It’s been almost seven years of guiding on the Tasman Lake, and according to Pancho, with far too few holiday escapades in between! Variety is the spice of life and his favourite thing about the job is that no two days on the lake are ever the same. A healthy dose of blue ice walls keep Pancho intrigued & keeps his passion for NZ’s longest glacier alive. Pancho has dedicated his work life to facilitating exploration and sharing the stories of the Tasman Glacier with all those who visit… or anyone in general really! Being a boat driver on the Tasman Lake means you’re constantly learning on the job and discovering new things.

Two fun facts about Pancho. Firstly, if there’s ever an all-Spanish speaking group Pancho will conduct the whole tour in his native tongue. (Go on, test him!) Secondly, Pancho has probably lost more items in the lake than anyone else… so remember team, hold onto your items tight or risk losing them, because your guide’s not jumping into the 3-degree water to retrieve them!

12/10/2022

There's no mistaking where this photo was taken...

10/10/2022

We're regularly asked, why is the colour of the Tasman Lake such a distinct colour?
The Terminal Face of the Tasman Glacier is currently in a melting and calving phase, meaning that the ice breaks from the face and falls into the water producing icebergs! The meltwater coming from the glacier and icebergs contains lots of tiny rock particles which in turn, give the lake its striking and unique milky colour.

Have a myriad of other questions about the Tasman Lake and all things to do with glaciers and icebergs? Our team are the experts in their field and are fantastic guides. Planning a trip to the Mackenzie Region before next winter? Book on a tour, we guarantee you won't be disappointed.

24/09/2022

Get up close on your ice adventure.

Thinking of joining us on a Glacier Explorers boat trip this spring/summer? We recommend booking ahead to avoid disappointment. We're looking forward to more exciting trips, and happy faces!