Tasman Glacier Shelter & Carpark
Day Use Area
Contact
Tasman Valley Rd, Mount Cook National Park 7999, South Island.
Description
View New Zealand's longest glacier, the mighty Haupapa/Tasman Glacier on one of our best short walks.
Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier View
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.
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 glaciers 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 glaciers old terminal moraines (rock and stone debris left when a glacier retreats), and you can see good examples of plant succession along the route.
Features
Location
Lat: -43.698232 Lng: 170.163077