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Take flight over New Zealand’s longest glacier before stepping onto its icy surface for a guided trek. The Tasman Glacier Heli Hike blends helicopter views and glacier hiking for a truly unique alpine adventure.
Take flight over New Zealand’s longest glacier before stepping onto its icy surface for a guided trek. The Tasman Glacier Heli Hike blends helicopter views and glacier hiking for a truly unique alpine adventure.
Book with The Helicopter Line and Glacier Helicopters - Aoraki / Mount Cook
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by The Helicopter Line and Glacier Helicopters - Aoraki / Mount Cook · Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, Canterbury
Situated in the rugged expanse of Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park on the South Island of New Zealand, the Tasman Glacier commands attention as the country’s longest glacier, stretching 27 kilometers and covering 101 square kilometers beneath the towering Southern Alps. The Helicopter Line and Glacier Helicopters invite adventurous visitors to ascend above this icy wilderness with their Tasman Glacier Heli Hike — a distinctive blend of aerial vistas and on-foot glacier trekking that transforms exploration into an immersive alpine experience.
Beginning at Mount Cook Airport on Mount Cook Road, Canterbury, this three-hour journey launches with a scenic helicopter flight that navigates over jagged icefalls and vast blue-white expanses, landing amidst the glacier’s frozen surface. From here, expert guides from Alpine Guides Ltd lead a two-hour hike across seracs, crevasses, and shimmering ice formations. Through deliberate steps and careful navigation using provided glacier boots and crampons, guests encounter natural ice caves and towering ice cliffs, feeling the glacier’s texture and scale firsthand.
This isn’t just a hike; it’s a gateway into one of New Zealand’s most powerful geological landmarks shaped by millennia of alpine climate forces. The Tasman Glacier sits entirely within a UNESCO-designated national park established in 1953, an area steeped in Māori heritage and history of early alpine mountaineering.
What makes The Helicopter Line’s offering stand apart is its seamless weaving of technology, safety, and deep local knowledge. Operating since 1966 with a century-long lineage in helicopter tourism, their skilled pilots and mountain guides ensure both thrilling access and uncompromising safety amid the dynamic and often unpredictable mountain weather.
For visitors keen to experience the Southern Alps from the sky and set foot on New Zealand's icy giant, this heli hike delivers a rare combination of adrenaline, education, and unforgettable alpine beauty — a must for any serious adventurer visiting Canterbury.
moderate.
3 hours.
Participants should be able to walk approximately 1 kilometer over uneven, icy terrain and manage stairs comfortably.
Participants must be at least 10 years old and comfortable walking on uneven terrain.
You will receive a full refund or the option to reschedule at no extra cost.
No previous experience is required; guides provide all safety equipment and instruction.
Yes, but drones, large bags, selfie sticks, and iPads are not permitted for safety reasons.
No — glacier boots, crampons or snowshoes, and waterproof jackets are supplied.
The hike is moderate, requiring basic fitness to navigate icy terrain for two hours with stops.
Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park was established in 1953 and holds deep significance in Māori culture, with Aoraki considered a sacred mountain.
Ongoing efforts focus on protecting glacial environments from climate change impacts and minimizing visitor footprints through guided-only access to sensitive glacier areas.
The Helicopter Line and Glacier Helicopters - Aoraki / Mount Cook operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
Book with The Helicopter Line and Glacier Helicopters - Aoraki / Mount Cook