Experience the Ultimate Summer Glacier Hike on Cook Mountain Without Spending $3000

📝 New Zealand Self-Drive Travelogue: 🚁 Mount Cook Tasman Glacier Hike

Before embarking on our journey, my travel companion, who had been mesmerized by the blue ice caves in Iceland, was adamant that we should experience the unique and ever-changing ice caves of New Zealand. The glacier hike was the highlight we were most looking forward to, but it turned out to be the most disappointing part of our trip.

My friend chose the Hooker Valley Track for a hike and raved about the three suspension bridges, describing how families and children were enjoying the scenic views and playing by the lake. (Seeing those suspension bridges, the panoramic view of Mount Cook, and the glacial lake! I deeply regret not joining them on this route 😭 It would have been far more enjoyable than our glacier trek.)

We booked our adventure with Mt Cook Guide. After checking in at the front desk, we were weighed and given a thorough safety briefing. To my delight, I was assigned the front passenger seat on the helicopter 😂.

🚁 The helicopter ride was undoubtedly the most thrilling part of the experience. The aerial views were breathtaking, and I was surprised to see the dark mountains blanketed with thick, shimmering glaciers.

⛰️ Upon landing at the designated spot, the guide distributed crampons and hiking poles. We then followed him onto the dirty glacier, where we tasted the pure glacial water, and they even chipped off some ice and drizzled it with honey syrup for us to savor.

🕳️ We did get to see the blue ice caves, which were indeed a vivid, striking blue. However, we only saw three ice caves, and personally, I felt that spending 6300 NZD for this experience was not worth it. If you’ve already seen the ice caves in Iceland, there’s really no need to come here.

⚠️ I highly recommend doing thorough research on recent posts from Xiaohongshu before making your decision. The advantage here is the well-organized experience, including the exhilarating helicopter ride, and each visit is unique. The downside is the steep price, and if your experience is anything like ours, it may not feel cost-effective.

Additionally, the trip is heavily dependent on weather conditions, and it might not always be possible. If you’re driving a long way, make sure to have a Plan B.

Plan B could be the Hooker Valley Track hike! Just remember to apply plenty of sunscreen!!!