Soar in the frozen sky: New Zealand Day 7

Thursday, December 15, 2022

New Zealand Day 7

I will let the pictures do all the talking. :)

First destination: Air Safaris @ Lake Tekapo

We chose the 45 minute helicopter ride, NZD550 per adult and NZD450 per child (3 years old to 12 years old). I initially paid for Yuanyi because he is 3 years old, but once we reach there, they close one eye and regard Yuanyi as below 3 years old and refunded me the money for Yuanyi.

Highlights include:

Seeing the turquoise blue water of beautiful Lake Tekapo and the local rivers that fed into the lake.
Mt John Observatory.
Glenmore & Godley Peaks High Country Sheep Stations.
Wind your way through the steep, rugged mountains and passes of the Cass, Fork and Jollie Valleys, home to the merino sheep. Your pilot will tell you all about how these sheep are farmed and show you the remote musterers huts.
Look down into dense milky waters of the Tasman Terminal lake at the bottom of the Tasman Glacier.
Marvel at the large icebergs below an the Tasman river formed by the melting ice as it flows down into Lake Pukaki.
Wonderful panoramic views across towards Aoraki Mount Cook & Mount Tasman.
Cross the lower part of the Murchison glacier to the Liebig Range.
Experience a wonderful alpine snow landing on Liebig Dome at 7700′ (landing location can change depending on weather conditions – your pilot will advise on the day) to get the chance to get out and take in panorama views of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, or if you prefer take the totally unique opportunity to land at one of the remote musterers huts in the Cass Valley on Glenmore Sheep Station. Snow may be limited in the middle of summer from Feb – March. (THIS IS THE MAIN HIGHLIGHT)
Lake Alexandrina with it’s fresh spring fed water contrasting starkly with glacial fed Lake Tekapo.
Ancient glacial deposits including massive “erractics” left behind as ice melted during the last ice-age.