What is the minimum age to participate?

Participants must be at least 10 years old and comfortable walking on uneven terrain.

What happens if the weather cancels the flight or hike?

You will receive a full refund or the option to reschedule at no extra cost.

Is previous glacier hiking experience necessary?

No previous experience is required; guides provide all safety equipment and instruction.

Are cameras allowed on the helicopter and hike?

Yes, but drones, large bags, selfie sticks, and iPads are not permitted for safety reasons.

Do I need to bring my own equipment?

No — glacier boots, crampons or snowshoes, and waterproof jackets are supplied.

How physically demanding is the hike?

The hike is moderate, requiring basic fitness to navigate icy terrain for two hours with stops.

Tasman Glacier Heli Hike with The Helicopter Line - Mt Cook

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.

Tasman Glacier Heli Hike with The Helicopter Line - Mt Cook

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