Located in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park in the Canterbury region
2.6 km return via same track
Tasman Glacier lake Image: Shellie Evans ©
Tasman Glacier lake Image: Shellie Evans ©
Tasman Glacier walk Image: Shellie Evans ©
Rifleman/tītipounamu Image: Michael Hamilton | Creative Commons
Time: 40 min return
Gradient: Gradual incline with rock steps
From the car park, walk past the Blue Lakes shelter and continue up past the Blue Lakes to a viewpoint on the moraine wall. There are good views of the lower Haupapa/Tasman Glacier and lake, icebergs and the mountains at the head of the valley.
A side trip to the Blue Lakes offers good swimming in summer and a chance to see New Zealand smallest bird, the ever-chirpy rifleman.
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. Another track branches off to go to the source of the Tasman River. Icebergs can usually be seen floating in the lake in summer, and in winter, the lake freezes over. The track leads through the glacier’s old terminal moraines (rock and stone debris left when a glacier retreats), and you can see good examples of plant succession along the route.
Turn off SH80 onto Tasman Valley Road just before Aoraki/Mount Cook Village. Follow this for about 7 km to the car park at the end.
Ensure you take:
Tasman Glacier Lake is a relatively recent addition to the scene, starting its formation in 1974 and growing steadily since then. The large terminal moraines mark the foot of the Tasman Glacier at the time of the lake’s formation and are a sobering reminder of the glacier’s retreat.
Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park Visitor Centre | |
Phone: | +64 3 435 1186 |
Fax: | +64 4 471 1117 |
Email: | mtcookvc@doc.govt.nz |
Address: |
1 Larch Grove Aoraki/Mt Cook |
Postal Address: |
PO Box 5 Aoraki/Mt Cook 7946 |
Full office details |