The Tasman Glacier is a must-do if you are visiting Aoraki National Park. The 23 km glacier is the longest glacier in New Zealand, and is 600 m deep at its deepest point, Tasman lake is 2 km long and growing as the glacier recedes. Gaze up the valley at the incredible glacier, surrounded by steep mountain cliff sides, glacial moraine, and the beautiful teal blue glacial lake. You may also be lucky enough to see the glacier calving or see icebergs floating downstream.

A short 20 minute walk from the carpark will take you to the jetty and Tasman lakefront. There is another track that will take you to the Tasman Glacier viewpoint. This is a beautiful perspective of the scale of the valley where you get up close to the lakes and some of the ice bergs! You may have to scramble across boulders to access the lakefront, the jetty has a well-marked path.

If these viewpoints aren’t enough, you can get up close personal to Tasman Glacier with a scenic flight, or boat tour. Boat and kayak tours depart from the jetty.

Remember: The glacier is regularly calving, watch for any large waves caused by ice falling off the glacier.

Personal tip: The lake is one of my favourite photo locations, with the stunning mountain backdrop and blue coloured water with ice bergs - it makes for some fun compositions.

Pronunciation: Aoraki - ow-raa-kee

For more info, listen to Episode 029 / 054 / 079 of the Aotearoa Adventures podcast.