Ski The Tasman
Ski the Tasman Glacier Tour
One of the world’s most famous glacier skiing experiences is the Vallée Blanche near
Chamonix in France. This off-piste route is infamous for being able to ski past huge seracs (towers of ice), ice caves and spectacular crevasses.
Equally spectacular but relatively unknown is the Tasman Glacier near
Mount Cook, the longest glacier in the Southern Hemisphere. And the huge advantage that the Tasman has over Vallée Blanche is that you don’t have to share the glory of the glacier with the crowds, but just a handful of other skiers and a guide. And rather than a gnarly double black diamond walk to get to the glacier, the Tasman glacier is conveniently accessed by a plane.
The Ski the Tasman tours offer a completely unique opportunity to go plane skiing, an activity definitely worthy of bragging rights. A fixed wing aircraft is used to land on the Tasman Glacier for two super long ski runs. The skiing is only one part of the experience with the scenic flights, and the grandeur of the majestic Tasman Glacier being the main event.
Where is the Ski the Tasman Tour?
The Tasman Glacier is in the heart of the Southern Alps in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. The plane trips depart from the Mount Cook airport which is 5km (3.1 miles) from the
Mt Cook village.
Ski the Tasman is operated by Alpine Guides and their shop and office is located in the Sir Edmund Hilary Alpine Centre at The Hermitage, Mt Cook Village. They provide free return transfers from Mount Cook village to the airport if required.
Mount Cook Village is 55km from the Lake Pukaki turn-off between Christchurch and Queenstown. The Mt Cook village is approximately 3 hours drive north of
Queenstown, and 3.5 hours south of Christchurch New Zealand.
Ski the Tasman Glacier Packages
The standard Ski the Tasman package includes the two guided scenic ski runs, three scenic flights, and one scenic picnic lunch. Scenery all around! The cost is NZ$825 per person and the package also includes safety equipment (avalanche transceivers) and return transfers. In low season (1st to 14th July; 16th to 31st September) the rates are NZ$775 per person. Ski rentals are also available. The tours operate daily from 1st July to 30th September, weather permitting.
You can organise your own Mt Cook accommodation if you wish, with the
Hermitage Hotel Mt Cook being the jewel in the crown of the village.
For those staying in
Queenstown accommodation, the Fly/Ski/Fly package is perfect. It includes a 40 minute return scenic flight from Queenstown, in addition to the inclusions of the standard package. This option is available from 1st August to 15th September, or outside these dates with groups of 4 or more. The cost is NZ$1225 per person (2010 rates).
Ski Ability and Terrain
The ski tour consists of two runs on the Tasman Glacier amidst the highest peaks of New Zealand.
The terrain is not particularly steep and most of it is on wide open slopes, so it’s appropriate for intermediate skiers and above. The terrain is all off-piste with no grooming (except for that performed by Mother Nature) but with fat skis, if you can ski a blue run at a ski resort then you’ll be fine even if the powder is knee deep.
The ski runs are leg-burningly long (8-10km) with up to a thousand metre vertical drop, and the skiing is at a relaxed pace to allow plenty of time to absorb the wilderness. Part of the experience includes exploration of the Darwin Icefall and the Canyons Land area that feature ice formations and caverns. Due to the degree of traversing required at times, snowboarders are not able to go on the tour. It’s called “Ski the Tasman” for good reason.
Like any
New Zealand skiing, some flexibility in your itinerary may be required. Ski the Tasman is only able to operate in fine weather with good visibility and light to moderate winds. On average they are able to operate four days per week. And occasionally when the snow conditions are not ideal for the plane to land on the glacier, they use a helicopter instead.
Why Ski the Tasman?
Ski the Tasman is guided by Alpine Guides, a reputable company who are veterans of the mountain guiding and heli skiing business at Mt Cook. The region around Aoraki “the cloud piercer” is big mountain territory, so it’s good to be in the hands of experienced professionals.
A Ski the Tasman odyssey should definitely be on your bucket list. The inimitable opportunity to go plane skiing on a glacier with two million years of history is an activity not to be missed. Take a spare battery and memory card for your digital camera, because you’re guaranteed to get very snap happy with all that eye candy.
The Powderhounds will be reviewing the Ski the Tasman outfit in August 2010.
Bookings & More Information
Click here if you would like further information or would like to make an enquiry regarding availability for specific dates.