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Aoraki Mount Cook Day Trip: Scenic Views and Glacial Lakes
4.9
335 Ratings
Christchurch
Embark on a small group day tour from Christchurch to explore the breathtaking beauty of Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo, and Tasman Glacier. Marvel at the stunning alpine views, visit the iconic Church of Good Shepherd, and enjoy a scenic walk in Mt. Cook National Park.
Embark on a small group day tour from Christchurch to explore the breathtaking beauty of Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo, and Tasman Glacier. Marvel at the stunning alpine views, visit the iconic Church of Good Shepherd, and enjoy a scenic walk in Mt. Cook National Park.
Duration:
13 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Christchurch - Guests will be picked up from their accommodation between 6:30 AM and 7:00 AM. The exact pickup time will be confirmed via email the day before the travel date.
- Geraldine - Nestled in the heart of the Canterbury region at the base of the Southern Alps, Geraldine serves as the gateway to the lakes in the central Mackenzie Basin…
- Christchurch - Guests will be picked up from their accommodation between 6:30 AM and 7:00 AM. The exact pickup time will be confirmed via email the day before the travel date.
- Geraldine - Nestled in the heart of the Canterbury region at the base of the Southern Alps, Geraldine serves as the gateway to the lakes in the central Mackenzie Basin and marks the start of the Starlight Highway leading to Tekapo’s renowned UNESCO Aoraki McKenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.
Geraldine is an ideal spot to pause for refreshments and break up the journey.
- Lake Tekapo - Explore the stunningly turquoise Lake Tekapo, the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd, and the famous Sheepdog statue.
- Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu) - Arrive at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park to enjoy a delicious lunch at the Hermitage Hotel and visit the Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre.
- Lake Pukaki - Lake Pukaki is a brilliant blue gem set in a magnificent alpine playground, featuring an iconic New Zealand landscape of towering mountain peaks, glacier-fed alpine lakes, and golden tussocks beneath an endless sky.
Sir Peter Jackson selected this part of the Southern Alps, which stretches north-south along New Zealand’s South Island, as the location for ‘Lake-town’ in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
- Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier walks - The Tasman Glacier, at approximately 27 km long, is the longest glacier in New Zealand.
This hike requires moderate fitness and takes about 60 minutes round trip. It offers excellent views of the Tasman Glacier and terminal lake, icebergs, and the mountains at the valley’s head.
- Christchurch - Guests will be dropped off at their accommodation at approximately 8 PM.
What's Included
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan or minibus
- Bottled water provided
- Pickup and drop-off from selected Central Christchurch hotels
- Fully guided tour (except walks)
- Professional guide and commentary
- Lunch at own expense
- Group tour with maximum 20 participants
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan or minibus
- Bottled water provided
- Pickup and drop-off from selected Central Christchurch hotels
- Fully guided tour (except walks)
- Professional guide and commentary
- Lunch at own expense
- Group tour with maximum 20 participants
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Lunch
Additional Information
Join a group tour departing from Christchurch for a day trip to Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak. Explore the charming Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of Lake Tekapo and take in the breathtaking alpine scenery from the turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki. Delight in a delicious lunch at the Hermitage Hotel (price on application)…
Join a group tour departing from Christchurch for a day trip to Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak. Explore the charming Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of Lake Tekapo and take in the breathtaking alpine scenery from the turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki. Delight in a delicious lunch at the Hermitage Hotel (price on application) situated in Mt. Cook National Park, followed by a scenic walk to view the Tasman Glacier. Discover the turquoise lakes formed by glacial melt and the majestic snow-capped mountains.
- A small amount of walking is involved so wear comfortable walking shoes.
- Approximately 2.5 hrs of free time in Mount Cook National Park for lunch, enjoy a scenic walk or your preferred activity.
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund.
- Fully guided tour except the walks in the Mt Cook National Park.
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
- Hermitage Hotel is situated in Mount Cook National Park and is the only place that serves lunch.
Location
Christchurch Bus Interchange
Colombo Street
Your guide will pick you from outside FreshChoice Supermarket (located at 71 Lichfield Street) which is across the road from Bus Exchange at 6.30 am.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(335 Ratings)
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Ideline_b
Nov 6, 2025
Excellent trip - Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki were absolutely breathtaking. Clear skies, turquoise waters, and perfect reflections. Each stop offered peaceful surroundings and incredible photo opportunities. The beauty of these lakes was unforgettable.
Mount Cook and the Tasman Glacier were a different experience. The weather was cloudy, giving the mountains a dramatic, moody atmosphere. Even so, the scenery was impressive, and the glacier views were truly memorable.
Our guide was excellent: knowledgeable, friendly, and made the whole journey even more enjoyable. He offered us so many snacks!!
The drive itself was a highlight, with stunning landscapes unfolding at every turn.
Overall, a fantastic experience combining perfect lakes, majestic mountains, and an outstanding guide!
Review provided by Viator
Abourke1
Nov 3, 2025
Inspiring Day trip - Fabulous day. Inspiring scenery. Very informative guide giving lots of details and happy to answer any questions. Great snacks. Well run and organised with clear instructions.
Review provided by Viator
Jess2817
Nov 2, 2025
Highlight of my NZ travels! - Our tour guide was so friendly and knowledgeable! I was a solo traveller, I felt very safe, comfortable and had a great experience. This tour was the highlight of my New Zealand trip and would do the same one again if I get to come back one day :-)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Honoka_t
Oct 31, 2025
One day trip to Mt Cook and Lake Te - We saw stunning view mainly in Mt. Cook and Lake Tekapo with knowledge explanation from assist guide.
Review provided by Viator
Doug_r
Oct 18, 2025
A great trek to Southern Alps - Long day from Christchurch but well worth the time. The guide was excellent and the scenery was spectacular.
Review provided by Viator
Mvzachar
Oct 16, 2025
Wonderful and memorable tour! - A very knowledgable and friendly tour guide! He bought us so many photo ops and provided for our break needs. We would highly recommend this tour and this guide!
Review provided by Viator
Helen_b
Oct 13, 2025
Well worth getting up early for!! - AJ was a fabulous tour guide! Very friendly & knowledgeable. The entire day was well planned & varied. An excellent day trip & highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Biswadeep_m
Oct 9, 2025
Simply outstanding - One of the best experiences ever. Stunning scenery. Lakes, glaciers, mountains, plains, it’s got everything. Our guide Anuj was very informative and took great care and attention. Would highly recommend this trip.
Review provided by Viator
Valerie_w
Oct 27, 2025
Amazing views, wonderful tour guide, useless customer support - The tour guide is very knowledgeable and friendly - I have not met a tour guide as kind as the one we had. It seems like English may not have been his first language, but he goes above and beyond to ensure we understand the key icons around Mount Cook and the lakes. Additionally, after every pitstop, he surprised us with snacks and drinks. The bus was also extremely well maintained - as someone who is allergic to dust and triggered by loose dirt and hair - the seats were in immaculate condition and there was no leftover rubbish or similar in the vehicle. 11/10 service - would recommend.
The only gripe I have with this booking that results in 4 stars is the snarky and incompetent customer service by Parul. If you scroll down to the itinerary section on this booking, you will notice that it says "Pick up from your accommodation at around 7am". The other option is Christchurch Bus Interchange at 6.30am. As most of us tourists may have packed schedules every other day, the extra sleep-in is helpful. Hence, I chose Heritage Hotel at 7am. However, the day before, I got a confirmation email stating that I would be picked up at the hotel at 6.30am. (The company is aware that I am actually located at an Airbnb and will be walking over to the hotel, which was our nearest 7am pick-up point aside from the interchange.). When I contacted customer support to clarify this, Parul said that it could be a system glitch (lol) and later said "We get multiple bookings through this platform and have never found timing an issue where people think that this tour starts at 7am. So we apologise if you found this confusing.". It is not good practice to turn it against the customer by saying "So we apologise if YOU found this confusing.". I would suggest rephrasing it to be "So we apologise for the inconsistent information provided through Viator and our conversation platform, and for the miscommunication this has caused". Something about these tour companies that often give them the idea that they can avoid apology and think international customers are uneducated and cannot read. Picture attached.
Review provided by Viator
Trek759889
Oct 17, 2025
Constructive honest feedback - The driver was very pleasant and it was an enjoyable day.
However the commentary that was advertised was limited. The bus was uncomfortable for such a long trip and for the price we paid. The glacier is now so far from the viewing site it's virtually impossible to see.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
