If you’ve been furiously Googling “Tasman Glacier heli hike Reddit” trying to find a thorough, first-person Tasman glacier heli hike review, you’re in the right place! I did a glacier heli hike in February and am spilling all the info you need to figure out if heli hiking in New Zealand is worth your precious travel budget (because yes- while this was the most affordable heli hiking experience I could find, it was still pricey!).

This is my 100% honest experience with the heli hiking tour that I chose, plus all the things I wish I’d known before I booked. I hope this helps you decide if heli hiking is for you!

Tasman Glacier heli hike review & know-before-you-go guide

Where is the Tasman Glacier?

The Tasman Glacier is in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park on the South Island of New Zealand. It’s the longest glacier in New Zealand and is named after Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who was the first European to spot New Zealand in 1642.

In Māori culture, Mount Cook (Aoraki in Māori) is a deeply sacred mountain. It’s the highest peak in New Zealand, and according to Māori legend, Aoraki was once a young man who traveled in a canoe with his brothers. They were stranded on an island and their canoe was turned to stone, forming the Southern Alps. Aoraki, the tallest of the brothers, is the central peak of the range. Aoraki is a revered ancestor and spiritual guardian, and Mount Cook is an important part of Māori cultural heritage, respect, and reverence.

But anyway, on to the heli hiking! If you’re here, I know that you’re looking at all the heli hiking experiences in New Zealand trying to decide which one (if any) are worth the price tag, what the experience was like, what to bring, what to wear, and more. So let’s get into it!

How do you get to Mt. Cook from Queenstown?

Before you set foot on the glacier you’ll have to get to Mount Cook, which is a super scenic 3 and a half hour drive from Queenstown. The scenery is gorgeous, but as you get closer to Mt. Cook you may start questioning your life choices 😅 The mountains are just so jagged and imposing, like the teeth of a giant monster! They definitely belong on a dramatic movie poster (I’m a Harry Potter girlie and have never seen LOTR, but even I understand why they named the fictional Mt. Doom after a mountain in New Zealand).

As we got closer, the road seemed to shrink, and we were just these tiny specks in a landscape so big that you have to be in it truly feel the scale. We were definitely in awe, but also started worrying aloud about where exactly on the mountain we were going to land and how high up we were going to be.

What to expect on the Tasman Glacier heli hike (what to wear, how much time on the glacier, hike difficulty, gear, & more!)

This is the Tasman Glacier heli hike that we did! It’s one of the most affordable heli hiking experiences in Mt. Cook and honestly, it was exceptional- one of the BEST things we did during our month on the south island!

The whole experience is about 4 hours, 2-2.5 of which are hiking the glacier and the rest split between the helicopter (about 20-25 minutes total), getting geared and completing a safety briefing.

Once we arrived, we checked in, had a thorough safety briefing, and got our gear. If you’re wondering what to wear, definitely go with layers- I wore a tank top under a basic long sleeve shirt and a Northface puffer jacket and it was perfect! We went in New Zealand’s February (summer) on a sunny day with mild wind and never got cold. Also, no matter what time of year you go, bring a hat and sunglasses and wear sunscreen- the sun is SO POWERFUL reflecting off the glacier ice and it can literally blind and burn you.

The company we went up with issues you boots, which are mandatory to wear because they need to be fitted to a specific type of crampon (a metal, spiky attachment that fits on the bottom of the boot) for hiking the glacier. They also have warm jackets and waterproof pants (we’re wearing the pants in the pictures if you’re wondering what they look like!) that you can borrow if needed.

Once we geared up, the 2 of us hopped in the helicopter with just 2 other guests and the pilot. They weigh you at check in and choose seats accordingly for safety, which means you may get lucky like me and get to sit in the front (!!), or be the one sandwiched between 2 people in the back.

Experience-wise, taking a helicopter up a mountain glacier is one of the most surreal ways to start a hike. You go from standing on solid ground to hovering over ancient ice fields in just minutes. The views? Absolutely unreal! It felt like we were flying over another planet, with milky blueish green rivers and lakes set in the black mountains and the glacier looming closer.

Know before you go (Tasman Glacier heli hike review):

• Wear layers!
• Bring a hat and sunglasses, and wear sunscreen no matter what time of year it is
• You won’t be able to wear your own hiking boots- theirs are mandatory to fit the crampons
• You’re not guaranteed the best seat on the helicopter, but if you weren’t by a window on the way there, they’ll rearrange seating so you are by the window on the way back!
• The hike itself isn’t challenging, other than going up a few small hills where the guide will create a footpath for you in the ice. But you still need to be able to hike for a couple of hours and navigate the icy glacier- I wouldn’t bring younger kids or people with mobility challenges
• You’ll see little glacial rivers and pools, ice caves, waterfalls, and more! The glacier is always changing, so the guide sometimes find new cool things while you’re up there.

How long is the Tasman Glacier walk?

The heli hike itself lasts about 2.5 hours on the ice, but from check-in to finish, expect to spend about 4 hours total.

How much is the helicopter at Tasman Glacier?

This is the part that stings a little—we paid USD 450 per person for the heli hike. Painful? Yes. Worth it? If you’ve never walked on a glacier and want to do it in the most scenic, thrilling way possible, then absolutely. The price includes the heli ride, guide, crampons, boots, and jackets.

Is the Tasman Glacier heli hike worth it?

Yes—if you love adventure, insane views, and walking on a literal piece of Earth’s history.

The Tasman Glacier is the longest glacier in New Zealand, and while climate change is shrinking it, it’s still an epic place to explore. You get to weave through deep blue ice caves, peek into crevasses, and stand in spots very few people ever will. It’s like being on another planet!

Is Tasman Glacier Better Than Franz Josef Glacier?

If you’re trying to choose between the Tasman Glacier heli hike and the Franz Josef Glacier heli hike, here’s the breakdown:

• Tasman Glacier: Bigger, longer hike time, fewer people, more ice formations.
• Franz Josef Glacier: More famous, but also more touristy and shorter hikes.

If you want a less crowded and more immersive experience, Tasman is the way to go. But if you’re after the classic NZ glacier adventure with more accessibility, Franz Josef might be better.

Is heli hiking Tasman Glacier worth it?

For me, 100%. This was an experience I hadn’t heard anything about, and it ended up being one of the best things I did in New Zealand! There aren’t many places left in the world where you can land on a glacier, strap on crampons, and explore its shifting ice formations up close. If you’re like me, this is one thing you’ll be talking about for years.

Looking for other travel blogs about New Zealand, Oceania, or Australasia, check them out here! Some of my favorites are:

• I watched 200 of the world’s SMALLEST penguins waddle home at sunset in New Zealand (Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony review!)
• Wild swimming with dolphins in Akaroa, New Zealand (swimming with the world’s smallest dolphin FULL review!)
• Is a Milford Sound day cruise worth it in New Zealand? Here’s the BEST one and what I wish I knew before booking