Unfortunately, we had bad weather and the flight was canceled. We only found that out on the way to Mt Cook, a real shame. However, the transport to Mt Cook took place anyway. Which was actually positive, if it hadn't been for the driver/tour guide who couldn't handle the air conditioning on the bus. The windows were fogged up the entire trip, so we couldn't look outside (to take photos). She kept setting the air conditioning to cold, which caused the windows to fog up on the inside. Even when asked to change it, nothing was done. So basically the transport/trip was also very disappointing. Even her right window was fogged up, which posed a risk (insufficient visibility) for the driver and us. Instructing the driver on how the air conditioning in the bus works would probably have helped. Thus, we could have saved ourselves the trip. The only good thing was that the price of the flight was refunded to us.
Mt Cook Tour & Ultimate Alpine Experience Combo from Queenstown
+20 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 12 hours
- Price from
- $502 / person
- Location
- Queenstown, New Zealand
- Rating
- 4.6 / 5 · 60 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 15
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Cheeky Kiwi Travel
- Meeting point
- PICKUP TIME6:30 AM - Please meet your guide at The Station - Home of Adventure / Marmolada cafe
Description
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.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 6:30 AM
- Next available
- Wed, Oct 7
- Adult (ages 15+)
- $502
- Child (ages 0–14)
- $401
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
In demand: 7 of the next 30 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 3.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Queenstown
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.
Kawarau Bungy Centre by AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand
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.
Cromwell
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.
Lindis Pass
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.
Omarama
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)!
Lake Pukaki
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.
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 **
Tasman Glacier
As part of you ultimate alpine experience you will land on the Tasman glacier and get a chance to explore this amazing location.
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu)
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.
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre
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.
High Country Salmon
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.
Jackson Orchards
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.
Queenstown
Sadly the tour must come to an end as we re-enter Queenstown and say our goodbyes.
What's included
Included
Ultimate Alpine Experience Scenic Flights & Glacier Landing
Safety/booster seat for children aged 7 & younger (please advise if you prefer to provide your own)
Air-conditioned vehicle
Complimentary hotel pickup & drop off (select locations only)
Water available & snacks provided
Small Group & Fully Guided Bus Tour
Not included
Lunch - opportunities to purchase along the way.
Restroom on board
Pickup Locations & Times
*If no pickup is selected at time of booking, you will be allocated our default meeting point (The Station - Home of Adventure) . You are welcome to update this at any time. If your location isn’t listed, please choose your nearest available option & meet us there. *Pick-ups can begin up to 20 minutes before the tour departure time, depending on location. To ensure a smooth start, please be ready and waiting outside 5 minute prior to your specific pickup time. *Pick-up locations are carefully planned for each tour and may vary by day. If your pick-up location changes, kindly inform us in advance. *Our guides make multiple stops and may arrive within a 10-minute window. We are unable to wait for late guests.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.6
60 reviews
How it compares in Queenstown
- Starting price $502 is 80% above the typical $279 for tours of similar length in Queenstown
Excurgo comparison of 420 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Flight activities are subject to availability and require confirmation with our airline partner. As dates are not always available, we will inform you accordingly.
- It is important to note that Ultimate Alpine Flight is very dependent on the weather. The decision to fly is made by our flight partner on the day and may be cancelled last minute due to weather conditions
- The bus tour operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
- Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does this tour take?
Mt Cook Tour & Ultimate Alpine Experience Combo from Queenstown lasts about 12 hours. The itinerary has 13 stops.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $502 per person for this Queenstown experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does this tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 6:30 AM.
How much does this tour cost for children?
Children aged 0–14 pay from $401, adults from $502.
Does this tour sell out?
It can: 7 of the next 30 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel this tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. *If no pickup is selected at time of booking, you will be allocated our default meeting point (The Station - Home of Adventure) . You are welcome to update this at any time. If your location isn’t listed, please choose your nearest available option & meet us there. *Pick-ups can begin up to 20 minutes before the tour departure time, depending on location. To ensure a smooth start, please be ready and waiting outside 5 minute prior to your specific pickup time. *Pick-up locations are carefully planned for each tour and may vary by day. If your pick-up location changes, kindly inform us in advance. *Our guides make multiple stops and may arrive within a 10-minute window. We are unable to wait for late guests. Pickup points include Tahuna Pod Hostel.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 15 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Specialized infant seats are available
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
Reviews(60)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
P
Unfortunately, we had bad luck with the weather.
B
Best Experience Ever
Abbie our guide for the day did everything she could to make our tour a wonderful experience. She is an absolute gem and was so happy and helpful.
8
Outworldly experience
Our driver and guide Nikki was amazing and friendly which is not something to be taken for granted considering we've had a really bad one for a tour to Milford sound. The pilots were good too and the helicopter landing on Tasman glacier and the plane ride back were just outworldly. We were also very lucky to have perfect weather on that day.
S
Great experience
Unfortunately bad weather meant that our original tour activities were no longer possible (including the flight), however, our guide was fantastic and went above and beyond to ensure we all still had a wonderful time.
Operator response
We are so pleased to hear that in spite of everything, you got to have a memorable day out. Unfortunately the winters here are unpredictable, and as we are in the mountains, we need to be careful of our visitors and their safety. So glad you enjoyed yourselves. Thank you for travelling with us.
V
Arthur’s Pass on the Trans Alpine Train and return via bus with Paul
What a fabulous fun informative day. The Trans Alpine train was very comfortable and the scenery spectacular. We disembarked at Arthur’s Pass and were met by Paul who drove us up to the viaduct which unfortunately was a little fogged in but we did get some glimpses through the clouds. We followed it up with a hike up to Devils Punchbowl Falls which was well worth the 350 steps. FYI wear good hiking boots it’s a bit of a rocky climb and the railings a little slippery in parts. Lunch at the pub at Arthur’s Pass was ok. Nice pit stop before the drive back which included a couple of stops. First was a walk to Narnia, which had some pretty unusual rock formations. It was a super easy 2k loop. Second stop was in Springfield for a quick photo op. Paul was professional, friendly and safe. Big thank you for an awesome day. Looking forward to our next Cheeky Kiwi adventure in a few days.
B
A must do in Mount Cook!
The Ultimate Alpine Combo was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had! Mount Cook is so vast and diverse in the scenery and it is absolutely stunning. We had a PERFECT bluebird day and landed on a pristine, untouched glacier. Very cool to experience the helicopter and ski plane in the same outing! 10/10 would recommend.
Operator response
What an incredible day. So good to get a day with so much packed in and to stand on a glacier as well. Mt Cook is pretty special and we are glad you had such an enjoyable day with us. Thank you for travelling with Cheeky Kiwi and the other tour operators.
L
Aussies on holidays
The helicopter ride was great. Unfortunate the plane wasn't operating on the day we went. Our flight was dropped from 45mins (plane and helicopter) to a 25min helicopter ride. Upon reflection I should have asked to be placed on a longer flight. The operators were all lovely, our bus driver was quite knowledgeable and full of stories on the drive. We will definately try again next time we visit
Operator response
Thanks a bunch for choosing Cheeky! We’re glad you enjoyed the helicopter flight and your time with our guide, we’ll be sure to pass that on. We completely understand the disappointment around the changes to your flight, weather at Aoraki can change very quickly, and safety always comes first. These flight decisions are made by our external aviation partner on the day according to the local conditions. We appreciate that feedback and would love to welcome you back sometime! :)
B
What a day!
This was an awesome experience that is highly recommend to anyone! Our driver, Olly, was personable and informative, and really nice on top of it all. The pilots for the flights, Roger and Blair, were great. Honestly, though, those mountains... The glacier.... Truly awe-inspiring. Also, just as a side, Cheeky Kiwi is an awesome company to deal with!
Operator response
Thank you for your great feedback. We are pleased to hear that you had such an enjoyable experience both on the day and in the planning. Thank you for travelling with us and we hope to see you again one day so we can show you more of our beautiful country.
Y
Amazing experience!
The Mt Cook tour and ultimate alpine experience was amazing. Well priced for everything that was included and our your slide Rob was the best. Very knowledgeable while at the same time charming and hilarious. The helicopter ride was a blast and landing on the glacier was definitely a unique experience. Definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun adventure.
N
Best alpine experience
We had the best day. Jess our guide was lovely and knowledgeable. The van had everything we needed. The glacier was amazing.
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Sounds like you had a great trip with Jess. Our scenery certainly is worth travelling to see isn't it. Thank you for your great feedback and for travelling with Cheeky Kiwi
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| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
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| Mt Cook Tour & Ultimate Alpine Experience Combo from Queenstown | 12 hours | 4.6 (60) | $502 | |
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from$502
4.6(60) Free cancellation