I have landed on the Tasman Glacier on a couple of previous occasions, but that was just a brief visit to take photos. But that just whetted my appetite for skiing on it. I first booked the the trip in September 2020. Well, we all know what happened, the border to NZ was tightly shut. Came 2021 and we had the Trans Tasman Bubble which opened up. Briefly! A few weeks before my booking the door was slammed shut yet again.
Finally, this year I managed a ski booking and arrived in Wanaka in late August. With good snow conditions, Cardrona was great, sadly the top lift on Treble Cone did not open while I was there so missed out on the great terrain up there.
That was followed by three nights in Mt Cook Village, which gave me a two day window to ski the glacier. On Sept. 5 it was a beautiful clear morning, but by the time I got Mt Cook airport, clouds had started to build up. It just got worse from then on, and after sitting around for half an hour we were advised that it was unsafe to fly.
Fortunately, there was a seat available on the following day so I was lucky. What's more, it turned out a bluebird day. After getting rigged up with safety harness and avalanche beacon we had a safety briefing. The helicopters can take four passengers so with two helicopters our group was eight including the guide.
The first run down was fairly straightforward, nothing steep. There was a bit of fresh snow in places, but mostly hard packed and some areas of exposed ice. This meant constantly being on the alert to change ski style to suit conditions.
At the bottom of the first run we were treated to a substantial lunch which was very welcome!
Into the helicopter again and this time we landed in a different location at the top. The second run was rather more challenging than the first. Whereas the first run would be classed as green/blue, there were some more difficult sections, especially at the ice caves about half way down. There was a very steep pitch to get down and then a climb out. That was immediately followed by a steep icy slope to get back down to the flatter part. I did not fancy doing any turns on the ice so did a controlled side slip down that bit! I was helped a lot by our guide who knew all the tricks of getting down safely.
I did mention icy patches. Well, there were many more on the second run, and had to really dig those edges in.
It was certainly an experience not to be missed. And certainly exhausting. A dinner at The Hermitage was a fitting end to the day.
See our video here

What an amazing day. This mini adventure has everything. 3 scenic flights taking in amazing views of Mt Cook and the Mackenzie Ranges, 2 super long runs on pristine untracked snow,ice caves, ceracs and lunch at the most scenic lookout in the area. Alpine Guides run a very professional day on the Tasman Glacier and Mt Cook Ski Planes did a fantastic job of getting us on and off the glacier. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a once in a lifetime family experience.
See our video here

My husband Tom and I went out on August 17 with our guide Andy and pilot Roscoe. What an experience!

Other than a bit of crusty snow and the run out, the day was exceptional!!!! Since my husband and I ski at different levels, Ski the Tasman was perfect...a bit of a powder stash....not too steep. The weather was perfect!

It was all about being in a beautiful place and skiing our summer. (We are from Lake Tahoe and work at a ski area) This is a unique experience and definitely good for intermediate skiers that might forego glacier skiing.

The next day, we headed over to Wanaka and took in a great day at Treble Cone based Alpine Guides and Powderhounds recommendations!
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This is an amazing place to be. The skiing part is secondary to the experience. Without skis, you couldn't do it (snowshoes might cut it, but it would be a long day). The pitch is flat and it is hard to get enough speed to do anything more than cursory turns. Although the snow conditions might be tricky from time to time, it would be a doddle for most intermediate skiers.

So. It's not about the skiing. It is about the place. If you have not been to Mt Cook or seen the Tasman, it is hard to describe. A stunning part of a country that doesn't lack in stun. Huge ice caves and a sweeping view of the alps. This is the heart of New Zealand, in many ways. Starting point for some of the country's best mountaineering and in the middle of its tallest mountains.

If you want to partake in a day that is more centred on skiing or boarding the same company has a heliskiing operation running nearby. I am told it is great as well. Either way, great experience.
See our video here

This would have to be the best scenic tour I’ve ever been on! I thought the Milford Sound and the scenic flight over Lake Wakatipu was really good. I also thought the mountainous views out heli skiing with Wilderness Heliski were really impressive, but the Ski the Tasman trip takes the cake! Both the beautiful flights and the scenic tour on skis were phenomenal!

See our full Ski the Tasman review for more information.
See our video here