Tasman Glacier hike - general info. Path is crowded but accessible to most people. From the rugged backcountry of the Kahurangi National Park, to the glacial lakes and alpine valleys of Nelson Lakes National Park, right through to the coastal beauty of the Abel Tasman National Park, you'll never be short of options to hike amongst our spectacular surroundings. Many icebergs were congregated at this area. Full view. And honestly, I’m not sure if I could’ve described it any better. Website +64 3-435 1186. The hike itself has a lot of stairs so be prepared ... Lovely views of Tasman glacier and lake at top, perfect on a sunny summers day. In my opinion, this steep ascent is the most difficult and boring part of the hike. The viewpoint at the top is the real goal here and let me tell you – it is well worth the effort. A little further down it also offers an amazing view over the Tasman Valley to the right. The path follows the ridge down to the lakeshore, making its way through rocks and rubble. Rocky dry setting closer to lake- nice contrast with other area hikes and not crowded late in the day. The hike itself is a brief climb up wooden steps to the most incredible viewpoint of the Haupapa/Tasman Glacier - New Zealand's longest - feeding into the lake below! Keep bearing to the right and you’ll be at the mouth of the Tasman river. Travers Saddle features stunning views of surrounding mountains and Blue Lake has stunning colors and some of the freshest water in the world. Posted By: Hiker October 23, 2017 The Tasman Lake is one of three glacial lakes easily accessible from the White Horse Hill campsite in Mount Cook National Park (the others being Mueller Lake and Hooker Lake). Tasman Lake is at the terminal of Tasman Glacier in New Zealand. The Moraine Walk essentially follows the crest or spine of rolling hills of moraine till left by the glacier as it receded. Fox Glacier, Flute Falls, and Chalet Lookout Track, Alps to Ocean Segment 1: White Horse Hill Campground to the Airport, Alps to Ocean Segment 2: Tasman Point to Braemar Road, Mount Ollivier Summit via Mueller Hut Route, Kea Viewpoint and Sealy Tarns from Mount Cook Village. Fly over the Southern Alps and Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park to reach Tasman Glacier, New Zealand’s largest glacier and a frozen wonderland of ice caves, snow fields, crevasses and pinnacles. Enjoy a scenic helicopter flight from Mt Cook to Tasman Glacier followed by an exhilarating 2-hour guided walk on the glacier itself. Cook National Park. Spectacular views of the surrounding snow capped mountains, cotton candy colored water, boulders and icebergs. More of a stroll than a hike. An Easy Hike in Allgäu – Stillachtal Valley, 2 Weeks New Zealand Itinerary for Landscape Photographers (South Island), Landscape Photography Locations in Queenstown. Beautiful and well-maintained trail. Unfortunately, I don’t have a sunrise image myself, as it has been raining almost non-stop for the two days that I spent in Mount Cook National Park. Went right at fork to Tasman Lake (no stairs that way). The hike to Ball Hut is along the entire stretch of Tasman Lake and Glacier along the lateral moraine (the rocky debris pushed to the side as the glacier carved its way into the valley). This somewhat easy hike can be turned adventurous if you bear right to the mouth of the Tasman Lake and start of the river. This magnificent glacier is the largest of several in the region that flows towards the Mackenzie Basin from the Southern Alps. Length Of Walk – 500 m one way, about 15 minutes.. I really enjoyed hiking the Tasman Lake and the Moraine Walk. Before you go… Mount Cook National Park will leave a lasting impression but capturing these moments to share is the best way to keep the experience with you forever! This iceberg is located in Tasman Lake at the terminal of the massive Tasman Glacier - New Zealand. Highlights – Truly breathtaking views of glacier, glacial moraines, lake, and mountains.. Cross the open area back to the road and your car. Super easy and short relaxing walk with a nice view over the lake. However, I rated this 5-star because I joined the top lookout to the end of the glacier lake by taking the very rugged and unmarked Moraine Walk. Plenty of little details to see along the way, such as lichens, mosses, and tiny plants between the rocks. Tasman Lake Track is a 2.2 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Mount Cook Village, Canterbury, New Zealand that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. Blue lakes is a short walk and the climb to the Tasman Glacier is worth it once you get there – although it’s a short walk you climb 100mts high mainly up steps so be prepared – the other one is to the source of the Tasman River and the Tasman Glacier lake and thankfully its mainly flat. An interesting (but definitely not fun) fact is that they believe the 2011 Christchurch earthquake contributed to a huge calving of the glacier where 30 to 40 million metric tons of ice fell into the lake.. Key Statistics: The Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier View Track. You might have heard of the famous Hooker Valley Track or the Sealy Tarns trail. The Tasman Glacier Lake Walk is a great return walk of 0.7km, it'll take you around 20 mins allowing for time to take photos. We'd recommend this hike to anyone, though if you are walking the track in the warmer months do expect it to be busy. The hike to view the glacier is straight up, mostly on gravel stairs with no handrails. Spend some time at the lakeshore, then return to the parking lot via a paved marked road. Take A Hike New Zealand – 6 Top Trails. This is a 2-star trail on its own. Another track branches off to go to the source of the Tasman River. A few icebergs in the lake. Fly over the Southern Alps and Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park to reach Tasman Glacier, New Zealand’s largest glacier and a frozen wonderland of ice caves, snow fields, crevasses and pinnacles. The snow falls high in the accumulation zone and is compacted over time and forced down the valley - … Tasman Glacier Lake Time: 1 hr Gradient: Flat This walk branches off the Blue Lakes Track just past the Blue Lakes shelter and leads to a viewpoint of the glacier’s terminal lake. The Moraine Walk ends at lake outlet where the Tasman River originates. This sight alone is totally worth the trip, so take a moment here to enjoy the surrounding beauty. The hike to Ball Hut is along the entire stretch of Tasman Lake and Glacier along the lateral moraine (the rocky debris pushed to the side as the glacier carved its way into the valley). The Tasman Glacier car park has plenty of space for cars and campers. I cited it earlier in the article and it’s where I learned about the Moraine Walk in the first place. Lying long and deep in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is the incredible Tasman Glacier, a terminal ice structure that is the biggest of its kind in New Zealand.. The hike to Tasman Glacier View is 1.15 kilometers (0.7 miles) round trip with 85 meters (280 feet) of elevation change. Whether or not you head to the jetty, you should definitely continue the trail to the Tasman River. loved it anyway! Hike on the Top of Tasman Glacier. The Hooker Lake and Mount Cook After visiting the Tasman Lake and glacier you can easily make the 5-minute drive to the Hooker Valley Track and hike the trail. Mount Cook National Park is well known for its abundance of incredibly beautiful hiking routes of varying difficulty. Well, for one, there are incredible vistas of the Tasman Lake all along the way. At the end of this hike, you’ll see there are many kayaks and small boats on shore. Free carpark; Free access to the walk; Toilets near the carpark, but none on the trails; Plan 30min return for the walk to the lookout - add 30min if you detour to the Blue Lakes; Plan 1h return of flat walking to reach the Tasman Lake shore. There were two icebergs floating that were cool to see but otherwise this could be skipped. Difficulty – Easy. Your email address will not be published. The track is barely visible and unmarked, so it’s easy to miss unless you know to look for it. If you look up to your left facing the lake, you will see Mt Cook towering over you. The other hike in this area is the Tasman Lake Track. We fitted our crampons (shoes with spikes) and then off we set for our 2 hour hike. This is as far as most people go. Contact. Hike on the Top of Tasman Glacier. An easy hike for all abilities on a wide gravel track. The nearby Blue Lakes is the habitat of the smallest bird in New Zealand - the rifleman. I don’t place ads in this blog, so it’s the single best way to support me and my work. Tasman Glacier Lake is a relatively recent addition to the scene, starting its formation in 1974 and growing steadily since then. The path instantly dives into a seemingly endless boulder field in between the observation area and the lake, occasionally disappearing from sight. Tasman Valley Road, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu) New Zealand. It contains 1/3 of all the glacier ice in New Zealand! In the early 1970s, there were several small meltwater ponds on the Tasman Glacier. More of a stroll than a hike. Steps going up to a view point of the Tasman glacier, which is unfortunately barely visible because so small now and covered of dust (March 2020, post Australian fires :( ). Travel the world. Steps going up to a view point of the Tasman glacier, which is unfortunately barely visible because so small now and covered of dust (March 2020, post Australian fires :( ).