Tasman Glacier
- Address:Old Ball Hut Road, Mount Cook
- Admission:Free
The Tasman Glacier is a geology lesson in action. The largest glacier in the Southern Alps, the massive sheet of ice is slowly flowing south along the eastern edge of Aoraki/Mount Cook.
The top of the glacier is covered in ice and snow, but its long lower stretch extending for kilometers is a jumbled mass of rocks and debris swept down from the melting peak.
It’s estimated that the Tasman Glacier is retreating between 477 to 822 meters (1,564 to 2,696 feet) each year; at that rate its days are numbered. Since the 1970s, the melting waters have collected in Lake Tasman at the foot of the glacier.
Latest Reviews All Tasman Glacier Reviews »
Quite amazing and definitely a must for anybody visiting New Zealand. Unexplainable, you have to experience the trip to really "get it"
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This trip was truly amazing. We saw all there is to see and the landing on the snow was fantastic. We were booked to fly the following day but when we phoned earlier to confirm our booking etc we were offered this flight a day earlier as the weather was good - we just had to 'race' up from Queenstown to do it - and it was well worth it as the sky was almost cloudless - perfect! Thanks to all at the helicopter base for accommodating us. Just one downside. The helicopter seats 2 people in the front seat and 4 people in the rear seat and we were advised before the flight that although we were in the rear seats for the first part of the flight, seating is rotated after the snow landing to allow some of those in the rear seats to sit up front but the others on the same trip as us ignored this and took the front seats both times. We didn't want to cause a scene, but you need to make this much clearer to everyone going on the flight to make it fair to everyone. Continue Reading »
Stunning vistas, excellent scenic flights and covered lots of area including circling around Mount Cook. Brilliant snow landing too. Continue Reading »
Practical Info
The Tasman Glacier spills into the north shore of Lake Tasman, 7 km (4.5 mi) north-east of Mount Cook Village. The glacier measures 29 km (18 mi) long, 4 km (2.5 mi) wide.
The best way to see the glacier is from a boat excursion on Lake Tasman.
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