Mt Cook Tour & Ultimate Alpine Experience Combo from Queenstown

About this tour

Mt Cook Bus Tour & Ultimate Alpine Experience, this small group, fully guided bus tour to Mt Cook combines all of the key highlights of Mt Cook with scenic flights in a helicopter and a ski plane including a Tasman Glacier landing plus free time to do other optional activities of your choice. Led by our famously passionate tour guides, notorious for bringing your journey to life by sharing their stories and rich background knowledge, and run in modern, comfortable minibuses packed with extras ensuring your comfort and safety. While the destinations you will be visiting are truly spectacular, we at Cheeky Kiwi Travel believe it is our small groups, our guides, the journey and the little details that set our tours well apart. Secret stops, wildlife viewings, specially designed vehicles, complementary refreshments and many other pleasant surprises ensure our tours are an experience to remember.

Highlights

• ✓Ultimate Alpine Experience Scenic Flights & Glacier Landing
• ✓Booster seat
• ✓In-vehicle air conditioning
• ✓Complimentary hotel pickup & drop off (select locations only)
• ✓Water available & snacks provided

Itinerary

1. Stop 1

   Your tour starts in the stunning city of Queenstown. As we drive out of the city your guide will not only set the scene for your adventurous day but also point out and guide you past some of the area’s top highlights.

2. Stop 2

   Departing Queenstown we then make our way through the Kawarau Gorge passing stunning views, the Kawarau Suspension Bridge and the famous Roaring Meg Lookout. Time and light permitting we will stop for that first great shot of the tour.

3. Stop 3

   Exiting the Kawarau Gorge we enter the fruit and wine growing region of Cromwell. Passing huge fields of vines, we cross Lake Dunstan and follow this beautiful lake towards Lindis Pass.

4. Stop 4

   Climbing in altitude, Lindis Pass has amazing views down through the valleys. Being one of only three alpine roads through the otherwise impassable Southern Alps, we stop at the famous lookout at the top of the pass for an essential photo.

5. Stop 5

   While driving through the endless plains of the Mackenzie district we will spot several of the famous Merino breed of sheep before stopping at the quaint township of Omarama. While in Omarama we have time for a break or even to try the best creamy chicken pie in NZ (in our opinion)!

6. Stop 6

   Turning west we begin to enter the Aoraki National Park and Lake Pukaki begins to emerge in front of us. Lake Pukaki is one of the bluest lakes you will ever see and is stunningly framed by the backdrop of Aoraki/Mt Cook and the Southern Alps. We stop for some amazing photos and to marvel at the sight that we are beholding. It’s not hard to see why many Lord of the Rings scene were filmed nearby and we will point them out for you.

7. Stop 7

   Check-in and get ready for an unforgettable experience flying in a ski plane and a helicopter, on the same day, for the ultimate experience of Aoraki/Mount Cook! This amazing scenic adventure includes a glacier snow landing on the Tasman Glacier. ** Please note - our airline partner has a fuel surcharge of NZ$20 per person in place until further notice. This is to be paid directly to the airline upon check-in **

8. Stop 8

   As part of you ultimate alpine experience you will land on the Tasman glacier and get a chance to explore this amazing location.

9. Stop 9

   While in the national park you have 30 minutes free time to enjoy free walks/hikes or one of the extra optional activities. Some of our recommendations include Kea Point Track or the Sir Edmond Hillary Alpine Centre. Whatever you decide to do we will pick you up and drop you off where you need to go and make sure you are well looked after.

10. Stop 10

    After your flight we arrive at the Mt Cook Village, weather depending, we should get some amazing shots of the mountain itself. At 3724m, Aoraki/Mt Cook is New Zealand’s highest peak, however, the mountain can be viewed without any acclimatisation whatsoever from the village which is just 750m above sea level.

11. Stop 11

    Farewelling Aoraki/Mt Cook Village and making our way back to Queenstown we stop in at High Country Salmon, a local salmon farm, where you can feed the fish and taste some of the freshest salmon in New Zealand.

12. Stop 12

    During summer months when the sun is still up and as we get close to Queenstown, we often stop at Jacksons Orchard to try or buy some delicious local fruit or real fruit ice cream.

13. Stop 13

    Sadly the tour must come to an end as we re-enter Queenstown and say our goodbyes.

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