Ski The Tasman Glacier.
A Guided Backcountry Ski Adventure.

Ski The Tasman Glacier | Haupapa

Discover the breathtaking scale of New Zealand’s largest glacier. From exploring deep-blue ice caves to carving perfect powder turns down the country’s longest ski runs, this is a day of incredible terrain and high-alpine wonder.

The Journey

We use helicopters to access NZ's 2 longest ski runs, with 1,000+ metres of vertical to play with on each run.

Don’t worry! The runs are easy to moderate grade (green to blue) - perfect for intermediate skiers.

Skiing the Tasman Glacier is a bucket-list, classic Kiwi snow adventure.

Time to Chill

This is not a hectic heliski day. The pace is relaxed, with plenty of time for photos. Once the helicopter leaves, you soak up the natural silence and incredible grandeur of New Zealand’s highest mountains.

Guided by Alpine Guides (Aoraki) Limited since the 1970s. We are Mount Cook's original, and NZ’s most experienced mountain and ski guiding team.

Bookings are open for 2026!

Book Your Ski Adventure Here

Sorry, Ski The Tasman is not suitable for snowboarders.

  • Classic Ski The Tasman

    Yes, you can ski the Tasman.
    Ski The Tasman offers NZ’s 2 longest Blue/Green ski runs, so even ordinary skiers can ski the extraordinary!

    $1,595 per person

    Learn More
  • Aerial view of a city by a lake, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, with illuminated streets and buildings at night.

    Ski The Tasman from Queenstown

    Includes airport transfers, amazing 40-minute scenic flights from Queenstown to Mount Cook return, plus Ski The Tasman.

    $2,395 per person

    Learn More
  • Group of skiers on a snowy mountain with skis and snowboards, bright blue sky.

    Gift Voucher

    You can buy a gift voucher for Ski The Tasman or another Alpine Guides activity.

    from $100

    Learn More / Buy a voucher
Book Here
Snowboarder descending a snowy mountain with rugged peaks in the background.
Person skiing downhill on a snowy mountain under a clear blue sky.
A group of people equipped with winter gear and ski poles standing on a snowy mountain landscape with snow-covered peaks in the background.
Snow-covered mountain range with a group of hikers on a snowy landscape under a clear blue sky.
Climbers ascending a snowy ice cave with a bright blue sky visible above.
Group of skiers posing on snowy mountain with clear blue sky.
Group of skiers standing inside an icy tunnel, wearing helmets and ski gear, with snow-covered mountains in the background.
Snow-covered mountain peak under a clear blue sky.
Snow-covered mountain range with a large icy lake below, under a clear blue sky.
Three skiers in winter outfits posing on a snowy mountain with ice formations in the background.

Ski The Tasman Run Map



Every fine day we ski 2 runs on the Tasman Glacier, taking a different line and starting from a different landing spot for each run.

The average run length is about 8 km - and up to 10 km in some seasons.

Highest landing: Tasman Saddle 2,400 metres

Lowest aircraft pick up: Malte Brun strip 1,500 metres

The South Island of New Zealand is unique for a temperate climate zone in that the glaciers here come almost to sea level.

There are approximately 178 separate glaciers in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. The two main systems are the Tasman and the Godley.

Two million years of history

The Tasman Glacier's story goes back 2 million years - to the Pleistocene ice ages. The glacier has advanced and retreated several times, leaving behind great moraine deposits and carving out Lake Pukaki.

About Our Guides

All our guides are qualified professionals. Many of our crew guide at Mt Cook through both winter and summer. Our business depends on the reputation and dedication of these individuals. They spend their professional lives sharing their passion for the mountains with others.

Alpine Guides has been ski guiding the Tasman Glacier since the early 1970s, so our guides know the glacier better than anyone else.

The New Zealand Mountain Guide Association (NZMGA) is NZ’s professional body for mountain guiding. This is affiliated with the International Federation of Mountain Guides Association (IFMGA). Our guides are either full IFMGA guides or full NZMGA Ski guides, who mentor our more junior guides along their ski guiding pathway.

These high-standing qualifications, combined with years of local knowledge, offer a glacier skiing experience second to none - while always keeping you safe.

  • Taichiro Naka

    Tai Naka

    Lead Guide & Winter Ops Manager

    Tai is a full IFMGA Guide. He is based year round at Mount Cook; scaling peaks in summer and shredding it in winter with a little “daddy day care” in between.

  • Dave McKinley

    Dave McKinley

    Lead Guide

    Dave is a full IFMGA guide with depths of experience, in NZ and overseas mountains. He also directs our 4 legged staff member, avalanche rescue dog, Stellar.

  • Ben Taylor

    Ben Taylor

    Lead Guide

    Faster than a speeding bullet, full NZMGA Ski Guide Ben has been carving up the Mt Cook region with us since 2009.

  • Mal Haskins

    Mal Haskins

    Lead Guide

    IFMGA guide Mal has been with us since 2004. As well as ski guiding he also guides mountaineering around NZ, and expeditions around the globe.

  • A man wearing a red jacket, sunglasses, and a baseball cap is climbing a snowy slope with hiking poles. He carries a backpack with gear attached.

    John Horan

    Ski Guide

    John is an NZMGA Ski Guide who has earned turns in New Zealand, Japan, Canada, France, Austria and the US. He has been guiding with us since 2017.

  • Mark Woodward (Woody)

    Lead Guide

    Mark has had a life of living and working in the moutains. His heliski guiding seasons rack up over 25 years here in NZ, and in Kashmir India for 3.