informative in describing the areas we
flew over and the guide on the tour was
equally knowledgeable and experienced.
We did get delayed by a day due to
inclement weather but the
communication was great and the tour
itself was very professional and all went
to plan.
Q: What aspects of the adventure
stood out for you?
A: It was completely unique. Queenstown
is breathtaking just being in the town but
experiencing it in a helicopter and then
snowmobiling acrossthebeautifulGarvie
Plateau, was amazing.Q: Did you bring gearwithyou?
What sort of haberdasherydoesa
snowmobile riderwear?
A: All the gear you needis supplied
including coveralls,helmets,glovesand
boots. All you were requiredto bringwas
warm clothes, sturdybootsandyour
camera. QueenstownSnowmobileshavea
permanent site nearwhereyoulandthat
has a number of shedsholdingallthegear,
a garage for the snowmobilesandsometoilets.Yougetaninformationbriefing
whilechangingintoyourgear.Q:Wouldyousaya snowmobileis a
moderndayupgradeto thehumble
dog-sled?
A:A dogsledI canimaginewouldhaveits
owncharmbutthesnowmobilewas
definitelya prettyimpressiveexperience.Q:Didtravellingviasnowmobile
revealpartsof NZthatwouldhave
otherwiseremainedunknown?Anamazingnaturalspectacle
First,a scenicflight,courtesyofGlacierSouthernLakes
Helicopters,presentsanexhilaratingvistaacrossthe
westernfaceoftheRemarkablesMountainRange,flying
overtheHectorMountains& acrosstheNevisRiverValley.
Afterabout 15 minutes,a landingatthebaseoftheGarvie
Mountains.
Fromthere,atthesnowmobilebase,you’llgear-upin
warmouterclothing.QueenstownSnowmobilesprovides
warmoveralls,helmets,gloves,andbootswhileonthe
mountain.
Firstportofcallafteralightingfromthechopper,is to
regatherthoughtspostthesensoryoverloadofglimpsing
snowy12000-feetpeaksthroughthewindow.Then
there'sa briefingonthesnowmobilesthemselves;how
toridethemsafelyandcomfortably.Aftera thorough
introduction,allridershopaboardandfamiliarise
themselveswiththethrottle,ridepositionandbrake
procedure.Whentheguideis satisfied,everyonedeparts
in convoyacrosstheplateauandthegoodtimes,asthey
say,roll.PristineMountainEnvironment
Oncecontrolsaremasteredandallfeelconfident,riders
arethenabletocruisepristinesnowandenjoythescenery
atanaltitudeofupto6000ftabovesea-level.Enjoying
sceneryis,in a nutshell,whatsnowmobilingopensup.If
wearingsnowshoesorontelemarksplitboardskins,for
instance,you’reoftentoostuffedtoappreciatewhereit
is youactuallyareformuchofthetime.AboardanIndy
Polaris600,there’splentyofopportunitytochannela
goodchunkofyourbody'senergyreservestotheoptic
centreofthebrain.There’snogaspingorsuffering,just
plainoldawestruckmarvellousness,projectedthrough
theeyeballstothebackoftheretina,beforefinallybeing
foreverimprintedin thememorycentreofthebrain.
Theviewsarestunningandthere’splentyof
opportunitiestostopandtakephotos.Snowmobiling,
unplugged
Outdoor \ 37