Krystle Morley, 28, had just fulfilled a lifetime ambition by ice climbing on Franz Josef on July 17 this year when giant rocks came hurtling down the glacier.
The environmental science student said she and her three fellow climbers - including an unnamed Home and Away soap star - ran for cover as the hail of boulders tumbled towards them.
"I'd just had an awesome day climbing and we were waiting for the helicopter to collect us and take us back to base when I heard this massive thunderclap," Ms Morley told the Sheffield Hallam University website.
"I turned round and saw a mass of cloud and rocks and I noticed our guide's face had gone from normal to sheer panic as the rocks started to hurl towards us.
"I thought, 'that's not going to stop in time' and the guide screamed 'run'. We were on ice and we had already taken off our crampons and helmets which made running even more difficult so the guide had me by the scruff of the neck to make sure I was staying upright. I had my hands over my head to protect it because even the smaller rocks could've wiped me out."
The guide forced Ms Morley and the Australian actor to take cover at the edge of the helipad which was dipped and allowed the boulders to fly over them.
"Boulders the size of cars and fridges were flying past us and one the size of a microwave seemed to skim past my head," Ms Morley said.
"We were hunkered down for what seemed like forever and I was just thinking 'any minute now, we're going to get crushed.'"
About one minute later, it fell silent and the climbers were greeted by a cloud of dust and were reunited with the fourth climber who had taken shelter elsewhere.
After thinking she had "cheated death" and was "buzzing" with elation, the group was getting ready to board the recovery helicopter, when a second rockfall struck.
It forced the chopper to take off and the climbers to run for cover once again.
"That's when my sense of humour failed," Ms Morley said.
"I just wanted to get off the ice. I was so hacked off at not being able to fight back. We were stuck there and there was nothing we could do. I just thought 'get me out of here' whereas before I was thinking 'yes, I'm alive' and I was buzzing."
Ms Morley says she escaped with a small bump to her head but suffered from severe paranoia for several days after the incident.
Franz Josef Glacier Guides says it conducted a full investigation after the incident.
It said that although rock falls were rare the company operated only in areas on which a full external hazard assessment had been carried out.
"At the time of this incident there was a current hazard assessment in place," it said in a statement today.
"As the company operates in a mountain environment, all customers are made aware of potential rock or ice fall hazards in a pre-trip briefing on the day."
Franz Josef Glacier Guides business manager Craig Buckland said the company had strict procedures in place for ensuring detailed investigations were carried out into any incident involving staff or customers.
"No one was hurt during the incident and staff and customers were fully debriefed," he said.
Now, the company does not operate in the area where the rock fall happened, and is commissioning a further external hazard assessment.
Constable Bill Parker of Franz Josef police was unaware of the incident.
"Normally we would be informed," he said.
Ms Morley returned to England earlier than planned but it hasn't stopped her from climbing.
"It's made me a lot stronger and more determined to not shy away from something just because I'm nervous or I don't like it."
As a result of her ordeal, she has now chosen to learn more about natural hazards as part of her course and hopes to develop a career in research into adventure tourism.
- Kurt Bayer of APNZ
