Tasman Glacier

On the east side of the Tasman Glacier the Reay Stream provides access to routes on Mts Johnson and Chudleigh. The best travel up the lower Reay is on the southern tussock slopes. Delightful campsites exist near the stream’s junction with the Walpole tributary.
The next major stream up the Tasman on the east side is the Beetham. To reach the Beetham Valley traverse off the Tasman Glacier and onto easy rocky moraine slopes on the true left of the Beetham Stream. A few cairns and a vague track will become evident. Follow the track to a rock bluff where a three-wire bridge can be used to cross the Beetham Stream. In normal flow the stream may be crossable (400m upstream). However, there have been two fatalities here and so the bridge is strongly advised. If crossing the bridge in windy conditions use your harness and a sling for security. Beetham Hut was removed after it was damaged by an avalanche in 1995 and so tenting and hiding under rocks are the best options for accomodation. A cave in the scree slope across the river from the old hut site is reportedly worth a look (the old hut site is on a shelf above the basin containing excellent bouldering rocks).
To get to Malte Brun Pass, follow the south side of the Beetham Stream and then climb a long snowslope that lies under Aiguilles Rouges. To reach the western approaches to Malte Brun, head upstream from the old hut site for about 10-20mins before scrambling up scree slopes to a saddle on the lower West Ridge. On the northern side of the saddle descend to a rocky shelf and traverse to the Malte Brun Glacier.
Almost directly opposite the Beetham Stream at the junction of the Rudolf and Tasman Glaciers is De la Beche Hut. The hut cannot be seen from the Tasman; to reach it cut straight in from the Tasman white ice and ascend the easiest looking slope in the moraine wall. From the Beetham Valley or De la Beche Hut the upper Tasman Glacier provides good travelling to the Tasman Saddle. Kelman Hut is sited on the ridge between Mt Abel and Tasman Saddle. A bit over one kilometre west across the glacier is Tasman Saddle Hut situated spectacularly on a rock outcrop in the glacier. Final approaches to the hut should be made around under Mt Aylmer to the north or via the slopes from under Mt Green, Mt Walter, and Hochstetter Dome. There is a more direct route 400m west of the hut up a slope known as the Nose Dive, which runs through the icefalls. In winter beware of slab avalanche conditions on the Nose Dive and on the cornice slopes that run from below Tasman Saddle Hut towards Mt Aylmer. There are ski-plane landing strips opposite Climbers Col and at various points up the main glacier to the névé below Tasman Saddle.
Shelter
De la Beche Hut: An 8 bunk NZAC hut that has blankets, kitchen equipment, solar lights and a radio (~1420m, grid ref: 872-363).
Tasman Saddle Hut: A 14 bunk hut, owned and managed by AMCNP. Contents as above (~2300m, grid ref: 950-403).
Kelman Hut: A 30 bunk hut owned and managed by AMCNP. Contents as above (~2460m, cell coverage (025), grid ref: 966-398).
Times
From Ball Shelter to the Beetham Valley 5-7 hours.
From Ball Shelter to the De la Beche Hut ~6 hours.
From Ball Shelter to Tasman Saddle Hut or Kelman Hut ~10 hours.