Tasman Glacier Viewpoint Hike – Best view of the glacier

Tasman Glacier Viewpoint Hike – Best view of the glacier

The Tasman Glacier Viewpoint hike follows the Balls Hut route before climbing the moraine wall to enjoy incredible close-up views of the Tasman Glacier and Tasman Lake. Read this complete guide on how to get here, what to expect, and check out some epic photos from the trail!

I was told about this moraine viewpoint by a friend who lives in New Zealand when I was looking for the best viewing walk over the Tasman Glacier. Surprisingly, there are no signposts or information about this point online, which leads me to suspect that the DOC has removed it, or it was always a "secret" viewpoint

This particular route follows the Balls Hut route with sections at high avalanche risk. To get to the actual viewpoint, you have to climb over the rugged moraine scree to the steep edge. This is very dangerous and that's why I don't recommend trying it unless you are very confident and the conditions allow it.

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How to get to the Tasman Glacier Viewpoint Hike

The Tasman Glacier to Moraine Viewpoint hike begins at the Tasman Glacier car park, approximately 15 minutes from Mount Cook Village.

You will notice the sign pointing to Tasman Valley Road on the right hand side of Mount Cook Road just before the village.

The Tasman Glacier car park offers plenty of space for cars and motorhomes. There are three main trails leading from the car park including the Blue Lakes Track, the Tasman Glacier and Lake Walk and the Balls Hut Track.

RELATED: 6 BEST DAY HIKES IN MOUNT COOK NATIONAL PARK

Follow the Balls Hut Track to the Tasman Glacier Viewpoint

Hiking distance: 8.5 km
Duration: 2 hours
Elevation: 260 m elevation difference to 910 m AMSL at the moraine viewpoint
Difficulty level: Easy hike (dangerous scree climb and risk of avalanches in winter)

The walk to this special viewpoint on the Tasman Glacier follows a wide path to about halfway up the Balls Hut Track.

At the time of writing, the Balls Hut track was closed due to avalanches and track damage further up the valley. The route is good up to the viewpoint on the moraine.
Tasman Glacier Cruise >
Tasman Glacier Cruise >
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MORE: 11 EPIC MOUNT COOK VIEW LOCATIONS – THE BEST PLACES TO SEE MOUNT COOK

My experience on the Tasman Glacier Viewpoint hike

The route itself is very wide and offers space for vehicles. As we exited our cars, we noticed the start of the trail on the left side of the parking lot, blocked by a vehicle gate.

We then followed this dirt “road” route for about 4 kilometers. To be honest, this route is pretty boring and there isn't much to see before we reach the point where we could climb up the moraine. This is on the right and offers stunning views of the Tasman Glacier and Lake Tasman. This boulder “trail” climbing the moraine was very easy to miss and there is no way we would have seen it if we hadn’t known where to look.

Below is a screenshot of the approximate location of the point leading to the moraine wall. Remember that this viewpoint is very dangerous and rock falls/avalanches can occur without warning. Please consult the DOC before attempting this yourself.
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GPS coordinates: 43°40’05.5″S 170°10’27.9″E

Epic views from the top of the Tasman Lake Moraine Wall

The steep lookout offers panoramic views of Tasman Lake and one of the closest viewpoints of the glacier itself.

It was once possible to see the edge of the glacier tongue from the south side of the lake near the Blue Lakes. However, it has retreated several kilometers since then, and was even quite far from this viewpoint on the Tasman Glacier. For us, this was another sobering reminder of the rate of glacier melt in New Zealand.

After admiring the glacier and lake, we turned around and headed back to the parking lot.

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Optional: Loop with the Blue Lakes Track

Although not listed as a track on the DOC, it is possible to walk around the Blue Lakes (near the shorter Tasman Glacier View Walk) to the start of the Balls Hut Track, adding just a few minutes.

The Blue Lakes are picturesque alpine lakes on the side of Tasman Lake which are definitely worth a visit as they are just a 5-10 minute walk from the car park.

Attention: Avalanche warning

At the Tasman Glacier parking lot, numerous signs warn of the danger of avalanches on the Balls Hut route. The wide piste follows steep moraines and therefore avalanches can occur without warning - especially in winter.

RELATED: Mount Fox Route for Fox Glacier Views

GPX track

Below is a GPX track showing my route on the Tasman Glacier View Walk.

GPX file: Download

My Strava: Visit

Across the Tasman Glacier

I was surprised to find out that the Tasman Glacier is the largest in New Zealand! Once you get to the Tasman Glacier viewpoint, you'll probably also notice that it's covered in rocks! It is said that the upper part of the glacier is exposed, but the entire lower part has a thin layer of rock that helps protect the ice from the heat of the sun.

The Tasman Glacier has also shrunk dramatically since the 1990s due to climate change.

Unfortunately, if current melt rates continue, the Tasman Glacier will be completely gone by the end of the century. Current predictions suggest the glacier is retreating at a rate of 477 to 822 M each year.

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Alternative: Tasman Valley Walk and Glacier Lake Cruise

For an even closer view of the Tasman Glacier, I highly recommend taking a very affordable Glacier Lake Cruise. This is one of the most popular experiences around the Tasman Glacier and involves taking a raft to the edge of the glacier wall, which is the closest you'll ever get to New Zealand's largest glacier!
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More epic hikes and activities in Mount Cook National Park

Below is a list of other travel guides and articles to help you plan your New Zealand adventure. For more great hikes, check out this guide to the 31 best hikes in New Zealand's South Island.

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