Day
Premium Mount Cook Day Tours
Mount Cook Small Group Scenic Tour & Ultimate Alpine Experience
Visit Mount Cook in one day on our small-group, fully guided return day tour from Queenstown. Immerse yourself in Mount Cook National Park and then experience a flight in a ski plane and a helicopter! These flights will take you past Aoraki Mt Cook, over the Tasman Valley and its glacial lakes, with a unique landing on the Tasman Glacier.
From NZD $745 per person
Premium Mercedes Sprinter Bus
Maximum 16 guests
12 hours duration (Approx)
What's Included
- Central pickup and drop-off locations in Queenstown
- Return transport in a modern, air-conditioned minibus
- Unique 45min Scenic Helicopter & Ski Plane Flight
- Experienced local guide with in-depth commentary
- Multiple scenic stops and photo opportunities along the way, including Lake Pukaki and Lindis Pass.
- Free time to enjoy self-guided hikes
- Entry to the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre
- Complimentary water on board (bring a reusable bottle)
BOOK NOW
ITINERARY
Departure Time: 7.30am
Your Adventure Begins
Start your day by meeting our friendly local guide at your Queenstown accommodation or nearby. You’ll travel in style in a premium Mercedes van designed for touring with only 16 seats onboard. As we depart Queenstown, the first leg of our journey takes us through the Central Otago wine regions of Gibbston and Cromwell. We then cross the dramatic Lindis Pass before making a brief stop in Omarama for refreshments and an opportunity to purchase lunch/snacks.
Welcome to Mackenzie Country
The scenery transforms as we enter Mackenzie Country, and our guide will entertain you with stories and interesting facts as we trace the edge of the Southern Alps. Along the way, we’ll pass a network of lakes and canals near Twizel, renowned for its fishing of fresh Mt Cook Alpine salmon. Once we veer off the main road, we’ll follow the stunning bright blue waters of Lake Pukaki before arriving at Mt Cook Village.
Mount Cook Adventure & Ultimate Alpine Experience
Welcome to Mt Cook! Arriving at approximately 12 pm, your guide will transport you to Mt Cook Airport where you will check in for your Ultimate Alpine Experience with Mt Cook Skiplanes & Helicopters, brought to you by INFLITE. You will have a quick safety briefing before taking to the skies on a unique 45-minute scenic flight. This is the only place in the world where you will fly in a skiplane & a helicopter in one product! Taking you past Aoraki Mt Cook, over the Tasman Valley and its glacial lakes, with a unique landing on the Tasman Glacier, you’ll get a chance to disembark the helicopter or skiplane on the Glacier and soak up the incredible surroundings around you before boarding the helicopter or skiplane that you haven’t flown in yet.
After your flight, you will return to Mt Cook Airport and have additional free time to enjoy Mt Cook Village. All guests receive complimentary access to the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre. This museum and theatre offer insights into Mt Cook’s unique history and the adventures of one of New Zealand’s most famed explorers.
The Journey Back
At approx. 3:30pm, you will rejoin our guide and van to commence the return journey to Queenstown. Sit back, relax, and take in the views. This day tour spans approximately 12 hours, and our smaller vehicles and attentive guide ensure your comfort and entertainment throughout the journey.
Please note: the Ultimate Alpine Experience scenic flight is subject to availability at the time of booking and our team will reconfirm with you once confirmed. This is a weather-dependent activity.
16-Seater Tour Vehicle
Luxury Vehicles
Adjustable Leather Seats
16-Seater Luxury Bus
New Zealand's Best Tour Vehicles
Luxury Small Group Vehicles
Mercedes-Benz vehicles
Luxury leather seats
Unlimited WIFI
Air Conditioning
USB charging port at every seat
Big windows for amazing views
Make the most of your time on the road in your 16-seater luxury tour vehicle. Fitted out with luxury leather seats, USB ports, unlimited WIFI, stereo, air con, and big windows to admire those amazing views. New Zealand has some of the world’s most scenic roads and this is the best way to experience them.
Frequently Asked Questions
The full-day trip takes approximately 12 hours from Queenstown. This allows us to make plenty of stops en route to ensure you enjoy the journey, with 3.5 hours in Mount Cook Village. During this time you will join a 45-minute scenic helicopter and ski plane combo flight, with additional free time in Mt Cook to enjoy the village.
This package includes the Ultimate Alpine Experience 45-minute scenic helicopter and ski plane flight.
The departure time of the flight can vary depending on availability, however, we intend to book this shortly after arriving into the national park, with the remaining time free to enjoy Mt Cook Village
Our Mount Cook Day Tours travel in premium Mercedes Sprinter vans with only 16 seats onboard. These vans have been designed for long-distance touring with extended legroom, a modern interior, and those ever-important panoramic windows for amazing views!
All vehicles are equipped with the essentials for a relaxed journey: air conditioning, WIFI, and USB charging ports throughout.
Please note that there are no onboard toilets, but our tours include regular bathroom stops along each route.
Your tour guide will transport you to the Mt Cook Airport where you will check in for your scenic flight with Mt Cook Ski Planes & helicopters, brought to you by INFLITE.
The INFLITE team will provide a safety briefing before taking you on a 45-minute scenic helicopter and ski plane flight.
Please allow extra time for check-in and safety briefing.
Individual weights are required for the helicopter company at the time of booking.
- An extra warm layer of clothing
- Camera
- Sunblock & sunglasses
- Waterproof jacket
- Suitable walking shoes
This experience will take up approximately 1 hour of your total free time in Mt Cook Village.
You are welcome to use this extra free time to get lunch in the village, or alternatively, we recommend purchasing food in Omarama (a stop we make on the way from Queenstown) or bringing food from Queenstown at the start of the day.
We don’t want to give too much away! The drive from Queenstown to Mt Cook is stunning and there are plenty of scenic stops enroute, your guide knows the best spots and will choose these on the day.
We pick up from select Queenstown hotels and the main bus stop routes in Queenstown town centre and along Frankton Road. When booking, type in your accommodation and it will suggest the closest bus stop. If it doesn’t come up just check in with us and we’ll let you know where is closest for you!
Whether you are walking, sightseeing, taking a scenic flight, hiking, or just exploring the village, Mount Cook is an alpine environment so it is important to bring warm clothes, a rain jacket, and comfortable shoes for walking (waterproof shoes are recommended for those doing a walk).
It’s wise to pack a water bottle, sunscreen, and sunglasses—New Zealand’s sun can be strong, even on cooler days.
While many places accept cards, a small amount of cash can come in handy for local purchases.
As this is a weather dependent tour, if there is risk of adverse weather conditions that will impact the operation of the tour, you will be contacted the day prior to your trip to explore alternative options.
At Wild Kiwi, we aim to keep things flexible and stress-free. You’re welcome to cancel your booking for a full refund any time up to 24 hours before your scheduled day tour departure.
Need to change your date? No problem — we offer hassle-free amendments on all departures.
Due to this being one of our most popular tours and wanting to be fair to all who join us we do not offer reserved seating. If you have a request we will do our best to accommodate but we cannot guarantee.
Yes, we offer private New Zealand tours for those seeking a more tailored travel experience. Ideal for families or small groups, our private tours allow you to customise your itinerary and choose the activities that suit your interests. You can also charter any of our Day Tours exclusively for your group.
To start planning, send us an email or book a call. Our friendly team is here to help bring your ideal New Zealand adventure to life.
Yes! Two of the most popular walks are the Hooker Valley Track and Kea Point lookout, both great options for things to do on your Mt Cook day trip. Please note these are self guided! These a well-maintained, easy to follow trails which are extremely popular. Well worth a visit!
Please note Hooker Valley Track is currently open to Kakīroa/Mount Sefton View Lookout, but closed beyond that point due to track repairs.
