Glacier Explorers Mt Cook: Tasman Glacier Boat Trip

During a recent visit to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, we went on the Glacier Explorers Tasman Glacier boat trip.

The Lake Tasman tour is the only one of its kind in New Zealand. It gave us a close-up view of a glacier and the experience of seeing the only icebergs in New Zealand.

Here are photos and our Tasman Glacier tour review detailing why we loved the tour so much! We share what you can expect to see, the exciting possibility of encountering icebergs and let you know whether we think it is worth the cost.

*This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we could earn a small commission if you make a purchase through our links. We paid for our trip independently and are not affiliated with Glacier Explorers. All opinions are our own.

What is the Glacier Explorers Boat Tour?

The Tasman Glacier Explorer boat excursion is an adventure in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park on the South Island of New Zealand. It showcases the glacial landscape of Tasman Lake and the Tasman Glacier.  

The tour includes a walk along one of the national park’s best short tracks through the Southern Alps and a glacier lake boat tour with extraordinary views.

During the trip, your guide will take you along the lake to different viewpoints of the Tasman Glacier.

You will likely see icebergs in the only place in New Zealand where you can see them. Unless you count offshore icebergs that sometimes come adrift from Antarctica.

If Mount Cook glacier tours interest you, the Hooker Glacier can be seen on a self-guided walk along the Hooker Valley Track, one of the top short walks in Mt Cook National Park. There is also a chance to spot small icebergs on the lake, though they are in the distance.

Trip Details

The tour starts at the Hermitage Hotel. A short coach ride – just 5 to 10 minutes – takes you to the carpark and the start of the Tasman Lake & River Track.

You follow the track on a reasonably easy 25-minute walk to the Tasman Lake Jetty.

You then put on a lifejacket, board the Glacier Explorer jetboat, and relax while you are taken to see the natural wonders of Tasman Lake.

After the cruise, you walk back to the carpark, and the coach returns you to the hotel.

The total tour time is 3 hours.

Our Tasman Glacier Boat Trip

The adventure began with a short but scenic walk from the car park to the jetty at the lake’s edge, where we boarded our boat.

We loved that we could walk at our own pace along the path, as there were many photo opportunities.

Once we got to the jetty, we boarded our boat with 8 others. We found people from all over the world on the boat.

The friendly guide had been leading Tasman Glacier tours for many years and was very informative and full of knowledge. He shared fascinating insights about the glacier, the lake, its history, and its future due to climate change.

The Boat Ride among New Zealand Icebergs

The boat ride itself was surreal. Floating among towering icebergs, some of which were larger than trucks, felt like stepping into another world.

Occasionally, our guide took the boat for a few spins to give us cheap thrills. But our biggest thrills were from the icebergs that we saw in the glacial lake.

We could see every detail of the ice – from deep blue cracks to perfectly smooth surfaces shaped by time and water.

At one point, the guide scooped up a small chunk of ice broken off from the iceberg for us to pass around—it was surprisingly crystal clear.

Being able to touch and hold a piece of ancient glacial ice made the experience even better.

Seeing the icebergs up close has become one of our New Zealand highlights in over 20 years of travel in the country.

The Tasman Glacier

We loved seeing New Zealand’s longest glacier, right in front of us. Its rocky, rugged terminal face was truly awe-inspiring.

We’ve viewed other glaciers, like the Fox and Franz Josef Glacier, from a hike and the air. Nothing quite compares to floating opposite the Tasman Glacier, its blue ice face standing out against the landscape.

The guide got us as safely as possible to it, and then he turned off the motor and left us meditating upon the dramatic view. We also took over a hundred Tasman Glacier photos. We could have stayed there for hours.

We were lucky on our trip, experiencing the lake shrouded in mist at one moment, basking under the sun at another, and even touched by light rain. Each change added to the surreal atmosphere.

With the sun breaking through for our walk back, the return to the carpark to meet the coach was just as stunning, offering a fresh perspective of the mountains from the other direction.

Having visited Mt Cook National Park multiple times, we are always thrilled to discover another of its natural wonders on each trip – from epic views of Mt Cook to pristine lakes and stunning glaciers. Read Next!

What We Didn’t Like About the Tour

Well, honestly, there’s not much to gripe about. However, we have to mention the high price.

We understand there are substantial costs associated with getting out onto the lake. It’s just a bit off-putting that the price point is not affordable for many Kiwis.

Having said that, we occasionally notice special offers during the low season.

What We Liked About the Tour

We appreciated that the Glacier Explorers tour was a small group, not a large crowd. It felt like we had the lake all to ourselves, which only added to the magical experience.

They could consider getting a bigger boat, which might reduce running costs by accommodating more passengers and making the trip more affordable for many. However, having too many people on board could diminish some of the magic of this unique and extra-special experience.

Also, we loved that the driver turned the motor off, and we could just sit and watch the landscape and not always be doing something.

Mostly, we loved the epic scenery!

Is the Glacier Explore Boat Trip Worth it?

Hell yes!

Recently, we spoke with someone about how often the term “hidden gems in New Zealand” gets thrown around. Well, this is the real deal. How many times do you get to see glaciers and icebergs up close?

Most Kiwis don’t even realise you can take a boat trip this close to a glacier and float among icebergs.

With glaciers worldwide retreating—and many of New Zealand’s expected to disappear within the next decade, according to scientists—there is absolutely no reason to seize the rare chance to experience one of New Zealand’s most stunning and fragile natural wonders.

It’s more than just a boat trip; The Glacier Explorers tour is absolutely unforgettable, and for us, it was the highlight of our visit to Mount Cook. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting.

To book: Mt Cook Glacier Explorers.

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