Tasman Glacier Heli-Hike Tour from Queenstown

About This Experience

This trip swaps the long drive for two flights. A fixed-wing plane takes you from Queenstown to Aoraki/Mount Cook in about an hour, a helicopter lifts you onto the Tasman Glacier, and a mountaineering guide leads you across the ice for about two hours before you fly back the same way. The whole outing takes about seven hours, so you are back in Queenstown with part of the day still free.

The flight across the Southern Alps is a scenic flight in its own right, and every passenger gets a window seat. At Mount Cook you change to the helicopter, which passes over the crevasses, icefalls and waterfalls of the glacier before landing on the Tasman itself. It is New Zealand's longest glacier, about 23 km long, running down from beneath Aoraki, which at 3,724 m is the country's highest mountain.

On the ice you are fitted with crampons, and the guide supplies hiking boots and all the glacier safety gear. The walk covers about two hours on uneven ice, exploring caves and formations that change with the glacier from season to season. You need at least moderate fitness, and the operator does not recommend the trip for pregnant travelers or anyone with poor cardiovascular health. Safety instructions are given in English only.

Transfers run between central Queenstown accommodation and the departure terminal near Queenstown Airport. If you drive yourself, check in at the office 30 minutes before departure. Lunch is not included, and time at Mount Cook is short, so bring your own food and snacks. Weight and age limits apply, with a maximum of 150 kg per traveler, so check the details for children with the operator when you book.

Highlights

• Two aircraft in one day: a fixed-wing flight across the Southern Alps, then a helicopter onto the ice
• Helicopter route over the Tasman Glacier's crevasses, icefalls and waterfalls before the landing
• About two hours walking on the Tasman Glacier in crampons, exploring caves and ice formations
• The Tasman is New Zealand's longest glacier, about 23 km, below Aoraki/Mount Cook (3,724 m)
• Back in Queenstown the same afternoon, about 7 hours in total with no long drive

What's Included

• ✓ Scenic round-trip fixed-wing flight between Queenstown and Mount Cook
• ✓ Guaranteed window seat on the plane
• ✓ Scenic helicopter flight to the Tasman Glacier landing site
• ✓ Guided glacier hike of about 2 hours with a professional mountaineering guide
• ✓ Hiking boots, crampons and all glacier safety equipment
• ✓ Transfers between central Queenstown accommodation and the departure terminal

Not Included

• Lunch (bring your own food and snacks, as time in Mt Cook is limited)
• Transfers from accommodation outside central Queenstown; otherwise check in at the Remarkables Park office

What to Bring

• Your own lunch and snacks
• Long trousers (no shorts) for the glacier
• Sunglasses and sunscreen
• A small backpack

Good to Know & Caveats

• If you make your own way, check in at the office in Remarkables Park Town Centre 30 minutes before departure; public transport stops nearby.
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness.
• Weight and child restrictions apply, with a maximum weight of 150 kg (331 lb) per traveler. The listing does not give the minimum age, so ask before booking for children.
• Guides give safety instructions in English only; travelers must understand English or bring a translator.
• Time at Mount Cook is limited, so bring food you can eat on the go.
• Free cancellation under Viator's standard policy, with a full refund up to 24 hours before the start.

Meeting Point

Transfers from central Queenstown accommodation to the departure terminal are included. If you drive, check in 30 minutes before departure at the office in Remarkables Park Town Centre near Queenstown Airport: park free near the New World supermarket and walk to the building on the corner of Hawthorne Drive.