SOUTH ISLAND GLACIER ADVENTURE
Adventure in the South Island!
Experience the wonder of New Zealand's South Island! Surrounded by majestic mountains and nestled on the shores of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is home to awe-inspiring scenery. You are not just here for the scenery though! Queenstown is also known as the adventure capital of the world and for good reason. There are endless opportunities to get your heart racing and your adrenaline pumping – whether you want to jump, fly, race or hike, there is something here for you!
You will begin your South Island adventure with a day of luge and zip lining. The Skyline Luge sends you racing down a winding track through the trees. Have a go racing your friends around the bends, or pull in for a breather and enjoy the awesome views. Burn it up on the advanced track or cruise down the scenic track. Then hop on the chairlift and do it all again. After an intense morning of racing around on the ground it will be time to take to the trees! Get ready for an afternoon flying from tree to tree as you venture on a journey through the forest that combines exhilaration, adventure, and an exciting eco-experience.
Land of the Lord of the Rings
Next you will head towards Wanaka, where you will embark on a thrilling jet-boat tour of the surrounding lakes and rivers. Like race cars on water, the jet boats use high speeds and sliding turns to navigate this shallow, rocky river system. Feel the excitement as you race your way past towering mountains, waterfalls and areas featured in the Lord of The Rings trilogy – this is a jet boating adventure like no other! For those who want to get up close and personal with the glaciers and experience the thrill of a helicopter ride, optional flights are available from the jet boat. Your helicopter will land on the snow at high altitude overlooking magnificent Mount Aspiring.
The Stunning Franz Josef Glacier
From Wanaka you will travel on through more spectacular scenery as you head towards the township of Franz Josef and its accompanying glacier. You will visit Lake Matheson, famous for its reflective lake. The lake is a photographer's dream as its crystal waters create a mirror image of New Zealand's highest peaks, Aoraki (Mount Cook) and Mount Tasman. Later you will indulge in the glacier hot pools before settling in for the evening.
You will wake up early the next morning and put on your boots and crampons – it's time to hike a glacier! You will get to experience the magic of climbing on one of the world's fastest moving glaciers. This mighty moving river of ice falls a little over 8,000 feet on its journey from the base of the Southern Alps to the West Coast. Not only are New Zealand's glaciers among the fastest moving, they are also some of the most accessible glaciers in the world. Your journey to the top begins in an area of rainforest and takes you on a short hike out to the glacier ice – this is where your crampons will come in handy! Crawl through crevasses and ice caves as you explore this amazing icy land.
After all your mountain exploration you will head back to Queenstown for a day of optional activities and sightseeing. If you haven't had enough adrenaline, this is your chance to do some more heart-stopping activities before you depart New Zealand. You can skydive, bungee jump, paraglide, hang-glide, or take a ride in a stunt plane! For those of you who are looking to take it a little easier, Queenstown has all sorts of interesting places to explore!
For more information about the South Island Glacier Adventure please contact newzealand@rusticpathways.com.
