Heli Hiking the longest glacier in New Zealand - Tasman Glacier, Mt Cook

About the Tasman Glacier

The Tasman Glacier is the largest of several glaciers which flow south and east towards the Mackenzie Basin from the Southern Alps in New Zealand’s South Island. At 27km (17 miles) in length, the Tasman Glacier is New Zealand’s longest glacier. It is as much as 4 kilometres wide and 600 metres thick, and lies entirely within the borders of Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. The glacier covers an area of 101 square kilometres and starts at a height of 3,000 metres above sea level.

 

Heli Hike the Tasman Glacier

Witness the beauty of the Tasman Glacier Lake and the stunning ice formations from the helicopter as you fly over the spectacular Tasman Glacier. Once you descend and step foot onto the ice, you will encounter the fresh alpine air as your guide introduces you to the world of the Tasman Glacier.

It’s a spectacular scene seeing the helicopter take off, observing the complete silence washes over the region. As you make your way across the undulating terrain, you’ll learn about the rich history of the glacier from your expert alpine guide. The ever-changing formation of the glacier means that each week, there are extraordinary new crevasses and features to discover. Deep blue pools of water and crevasses large enough to walk through, are just some of the amazing structures you may come across.

One of the most incredible features of the Tasman Glacier, is that it looks straight out to Mount Cook – the highest peak in New Zealand.

You’ll spend around 2 hours on the glacier – terrain that is usually only seen by experienced mountaineers. Then comes the time for your helicopter to return and collect you, and take you for another scenic flight over the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, past the Hochstetter Icefall and toward Lake Pukaki back to base.

This is a unique experience and one that will not be forgotten.