ADV229 online

Glacier Heli-Hiking and Snow Shoeing: Surprisingly, kiwis really
haven’t discovered glacier heli-hiking or snow shoeing yet. It’s
popular with international visitors but the domestic market hasn’t
really caught on to fact that you can come and experience incredible
glacial ice caves and formations without needing to know how to
ski. It’s something I’d really like to see more kiwis do. You need to
be able to walk but as most of its downhill, you don’t need to be
physically fit. It’s a fantastic day out.
Heli-skiing and glacier skiing: skiing the glacier has been popular
with kiwis for decades. It’s an incredible experience and accessible to
most intermediate skiers – the blue-green equivalent runs makes it
great for most abilities and families. The words heli-skiing tend to put
a lot of people off. They don’t realise that we can match runs to their
abilities, and you don’t have to be an expert skier. Skiing in Aoraki/
Mount Cook is an absolute bucket-list experience.
CHARLIE HOBBS
Charlie Hobbs founded and is the chief
guide for Southern Alps Guides which
holds the highest international certification
for mountain and ski guiding. Southern
Alps Guides operate small personalised
group guiding experiences in Aoraki/
Mount Cook National Park. Charlie and
his wife Mary also run the popular Old
Mountaineers Café which pays tribute to
the mountaineering history and pioneering
spirit of the region. Visit www.mtcook.com.
Local tips? What are the other must do’s in the National Park?
The magic is being outside. There are so many walks in the region
with great views of Aoraki and the glaciers. It’s an incredibly special
and unique experience – there’s nothing quite like hearing the
avalanches, particularly at lying in bed at night.
You can obviously explore the glacier in the ways we’ve discussed,
as well as by boat and 4WD. There’s a range of scenic flight
providers if you fancy something a little less active.
The DoC Visitor Centre provides an amazing history of the area. You
could spend hours in there learning what this region is about; and
The Hermitage’s Sir Edmund Hilary Centre is a must visit too. You’re
really in the elements in the National Park so it’s good to have some
places to hunker down if the weather is bad. We’re in the world’s
largest gold dark sky reserve here and The Hermitage offer a great
stargazing experience at night.
Of course, I’ll always recommend a stop in at the Old Mountaineers
Café for a bite to eat and genuine kiwi hospitality!
70//WHERE ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS/#229