A Concise Guide to New Zealand’s Glaciers

Are you interested in learning more about New Zealand’s glaciers – namely, the ones in the Southern Alps? If so, then you have come to the right place. Here at Southern Alps Air, we specialise in delivering eco tours in Wanaka, particularly scenic plane tours across the Southern Alps. This provides the opportunity to see numerous glaciers at your leisure (each passenger gets a window seat!).

Let’s take a closer look at New Zealand’s glaciers in the Southern Alps below.

The Fox, Tasman and Franz Josef Glaciers

With our Aoraki/Mt Cook scenic flight, you can witness famous glaciers such as the Fox, Tasman, and Franz Josef glaciers, standing at 13 kilometres, 29 kilometres, and 12 kilometres long respectively. These are often referred to as the ‘big three’ glaciers of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. The Tasman glacier, in particular, is the longest glacier in the country by both width (1,969 feet) and length. Nearby glaciers, Murchison, Hooker, and Mueller, connect to the Tasman glacier, creating a mega glacier of 115 kilometres – the source of Lake Pukaki. 

Bonar and Volta Glaciers, and More

Just further south of Mt Cook, you will find Tititea/Mt Aspiring where more major glaciers await. Our Mt Aspiring tour will take you around Mt Aspiring National Park, where you can see the snow covered Therma, Bonar and Volta glaciers that surround the peak, as well as the chance to see other glaciers scattered across Fiordland. The Volta glacier is split into upper and lower glaciers, at 5,200 to 6,600 feet and 3,300 to 4,600 feet in altitude respectively. The Volta and Therma glaciers feed into the Waiatoto River.

At Southern Alps Air, our eco tours in Wanaka across the Southern Alps in New Zealand ensure unrivalled views of the Fiordland. Take the opportunity to see over 100 glaciers, including the famous Bonar and Voltar glaciers. Our pilots provide informative commentary on the way, guaranteeing a once-in-a-lifetime tour experience (that’s also eco-friendly!). For more information about our tours, to learn more about our planes, or if you would like to book your next tour, feel free to contact us today.