Tasman Glacier Heli-hike: Aoraki Mount Cook Ice Walk & Flights

Land on New Zealand's Largest Glacier & Walk Across 1,300 Metres of Ice

You fly onto Tasman Glacier at 1,300 metres, strap on crampons, and spend two hours walking across ice formations with a professional guide who cuts steps and explains the landscape. Two scenic helicopter flights bracket the walk, and all technical gear is provided. The experience is low-fitness but weather-dependent, so you'll need to be ready to depart on schedule or accept an alternative date.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to walk on a glacier without needing mountaineering skills or extreme fitness — the helicopter gets you there and the guide handles the technical side, which is what makes two hours on ice possible in a single morning or afternoon.

What’s included

Your day includes two scenic helicopter flights, professional NZMGA-trained guide, crampons or snowshoes, quality leather boots and woolen socks, harness if required, waterproof jacket and over-trousers, and adjustable walking poles. You bring your own warm layers, sunglasses, sun protection, hat, gloves, and snacks.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Tasman Glacier Heli-hike Experience

• Fly to remote glacier drop off
• Fit crampons or snowshoes
• Explore ice formations with guide
• Guide cuts steps in glacier
• Scenic flight back to base

The Experience

"You'll be standing on ice that's older than most countries," our guide said as we fitted the crampons, and I realized he wasn't exaggerating. The Tasman Glacier heli-hike in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park starts the way most things here do — with a helicopter. You fly in over the Southern Alps, watching the glacier sprawl beneath you like a frozen river, and then you land on the ice itself. The altitude is 1,300 metres. The silence is complete.

Once you're down, the guide cuts steps into the glacier using techniques passed down from New Zealand's mountain pioneers, and you follow, crampons biting into the ice, learning as you go about the formations around you — seracs, crevasses, the slow movement of the ice. It's not a technical climb; the fitness bar is moderate, not extreme, which is why people in their sixties and families with teenagers do this. You get roughly two hours on the glacier, exploring the ice formations and understanding why this landscape is part of the UNESCO Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area. And then the helicopter comes back and lifts you out again, giving you a second aerial view of the place you've just walked.

The whole thing hinges on weather. If the conditions turn, you get offered another date or a full refund — there's no rescheduling the helicopter slot, so you need to be flexible and ready to go when they say go. Everything else is handled: boots, crampons, snowshoes in winter, harness if you need it, waterproof jacket and trousers, walking poles. You bring warm layers, sunglasses, a hat and gloves, and snacks. The guide is NZMGA trained, which means certified by the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association, so you're not just walking on a glacier — you're walking with someone who knows it.

Top questions

How fit do I need to be for the Tasman Glacier heli-hike?

Moderate fitness is required. It's not technical climbing, but you'll be walking on ice at altitude for around two hours, so cardiovascular health and basic fitness matter. The operator does not recommend it for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

What's included in the heli-hike?

Two scenic flights, professional NZMGA-trained guide, crampons or snowshoes, quality leather boots and woolen socks, harness if needed, waterproof jacket and over-trousers, and adjustable walking poles. You bring your own warm clothing, sunglasses, hat, gloves, and snacks.

How long is the experience?

Approximately two hours on the glacier itself, plus time for the two helicopter flights and gear fitting. Total time from base to return is typically a half-day commitment.

What happens if the weather is bad?

If conditions are unsafe, the experience is canceled and you're offered either an alternative date or a full refund. Helicopter scheduling is strict and departure times cannot be delayed.

What altitude will I be at?

You'll land and walk on the glacier at approximately 1,300 metres elevation.

Can I do this in winter?

Yes. In winter, snowshoes are provided instead of or in addition to crampons, depending on conditions.

What should I bring?

3–4 layers of warm upper-body clothing, warm trousers (not jeans), sunglasses and sun protection, a hat and gloves, and drink and snacks. All technical gear and outerwear are provided.

Is this a good choice if I've never done a glacier walk before?

Yes. The guide cuts steps and teaches as you go, and the fitness level is low-to-moderate, not advanced. First-timers are common on this experience.