Mt Cook Discovery Tour
A full day from Queenstown to Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park, with about three hours to explore it your way.
Private Mt Cook Day Tour from Queenstown
Journey from Queenstown to Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park on a spectacular full-day experience through Central Otago and the Mackenzie Country. With approximately three hours to explore Aoraki / Mt Cook your way, this journey combines one of New Zealand’s most spectacular road trips with time to experience the heart of the Southern Alps.
Photo credit: Tourism New Zealand
- A 12-hour day, with a 7am pick-up from your Queenstown CBD accommodation
- About three hours at Aoraki / Mt Cook, spent your way
- Through the Kawarau Gorge, the Lindis Pass and the Mackenzie Country, with a stop at Lake Pukaki
- Everybody welcome
- Optional boat trip or scenic flight, booked in advance
Tour Info
Pick-up
7:00am,
Queenstown CBD accommodation
Duration
12 hours
Suitability
Everybody welcome
Return
Queenstown, in the evening
Want to know more before you book?
Download our tour brochure for the full itinerary, inclusions and important information.
Your day
Departing Queenstown, we travel through the dramatic Kawarau Gorge and into Central Otago, passing the vineyards, orchards and distinctive landscapes surrounding Cromwell before continuing north through the high country.
The road climbs through the Lindis Pass, surrounded by sweeping tussock-covered hills, before descending towards Omarama where we pause for a refreshment and comfort stop.
From Omarama, we continue into the Mackenzie Country, where the landscape opens into vast high-country plains framed by the Southern Alps.
Approaching Aoraki / Mt Cook, we stop beside the remarkable turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki. On a clear day, the lake provides spectacular views towards Aoraki / Mt Cook and the surrounding Southern Alps. From here, we follow one of New Zealand’s most scenic roads along the western shore of Lake Pukaki and into Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park.
At Aoraki / Mt Cook, enjoy approximately three hours to explore the national park your way. Walk the spectacular Hooker Valley Track, join Glacier Explorers for a boat journey amongst icebergs on the Tasman Glacier Lake, take to the skies on an optional scenic helicopter or ski-plane flight, explore one of the shorter alpine walks and viewpoints, or simply spend time enjoying Mt Cook Village and the surrounding mountain scenery.
Optional experiences such as Glacier Explorers and scenic flights must be booked in advance and are subject to availability and weather conditions.
After approximately three hours at Aoraki / Mt Cook, we begin our journey back towards Queenstown. The return journey provides another opportunity to enjoy the changing landscapes of the Mackenzie Country and Central Otago, with additional scenic or refreshment stops made as time allows.
Depending on the season and timing of the day, we may stop for locally produced salmon, seasonal Central Otago fruit or simply pause at another favourite viewpoint before travelling back through the Lindis Pass, Cromwell and the Kawarau Gorge.
Arriving back in Queenstown in the evening, this full-day journey showcases an extraordinary cross-section of the South Island, from the rugged landscapes and vineyards of Central Otago to sweeping high-country plains, turquoise glacial lakes and the towering peaks of Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park.
What should we bring?
A rain jacket, comfortable walking shoes and warm layers.
Not included:
Optional experiences such as the boat trip on the Tasman Glacier Lake and scenic flights. These must be booked in advance and are subject to availability and weather.
Price From $2,000
All prices are in New Zealand dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this tour private, or will we be sharing with other people?
Private. The vehicle and the guide are yours for the day, and we shape the time at Aoraki / Mt Cook around what your group wants to do. The optional Glacier Explorers boat trip and scenic flights are the only shared parts of the day, since they carry other passengers.
Is Aoraki / Mt Cook worth the day trip from Queenstown?
Yes, if you want to see New Zealand’s highest mountain up close. It is a long day, around twelve hours, but the drive through the Kawarau Gorge, over the Lindis Pass and across the Mackenzie Country is a big part of it, and you still get about three hours in the national park.
How long is the drive?
About three and a half hours each way, with a refreshment stop at Omarama and a stop beside Lake Pukaki on the way in.
What can we do in three hours at Aoraki / Mt Cook?
One main thing, done properly. You could walk the Hooker Valley Track, about 10 kilometres return, which takes up most of the time. You could take the Glacier Explorers boat trip on the Tasman Glacier Lake or a scenic flight, or combine a couple of the shorter walks and viewpoints with time in Mt Cook Village. Tell us when you book what appeals, and we will plan the day around it.
Are the Glacier Explorers boat trip and scenic flights included in the price?
No, they are optional extras. They need booking in advance and depend on availability and the weather, so let us know when you enquire if you would like one.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The weather at Aoraki / Mt Cook changes quickly, in every season. On a clear day you will see the mountain from Lake Pukaki onwards. On a cloudy day the valleys, glaciers and lakes are still there to see, and the Hooker Valley Track is still a great walk. Boat trips and flights can be cancelled in poor weather, which is why they are booked as optional extras.
Can the road to Mt Cook close?
Occasionally. Snow can close the road into the national park, mostly between June and September. We watch the conditions in the days beforehand and will always contact you ahead of your tour, so you are not finding out on the morning.
What time do we leave, and when are we back?
We pick up at 7:00am from your Queenstown accommodation, and you are back in Queenstown in the evening. It is a twelve-hour day.
We're not staying in central Queenstown. Can you still collect us?
Our standard pick-up is accommodation in the Queenstown CBD. If you are staying further out, tell us when you enquire and we will sort it out. It usually just affects what time we need to start.
How many people can come?
The standard vehicle takes up to 11 people, and larger groups can be accommodated with a bigger vehicle by arrangement.
Who will our guide be?
Someone who lives here. Sarah, who owns Private Discovery Tours, still guides, and the rest of the team are based in Queenstown or the surrounding region.
Is lunch included?
Lunch is not included, but the guide will make suggestions based on the timings of the day.
Is there much walking?
Only as much as you choose. Everybody is welcome on this tour. The stops on the way are short, and at Aoraki / Mt Cook the walking is up to you, from a gentle stroll around the village to the Hooker Valley Track, which is graded easy to intermediate, on gravel with some steps.
Is it suitable for children, or for older guests?
Both. It is a long day in a vehicle, which is the main thing to consider, but the walking is your choice and there are regular stops. Tell us who is coming and we will pace the day accordingly.
Do we go to Lake Tekapo?
No. Coming from Queenstown, the road into the national park turns off at Lake Pukaki, before Lake Tekapo. Lake Pukaki is the lake you stop beside on this tour, with the view up the lake towards Aoraki / Mt Cook on a clear day.
What should we bring?
A rain jacket whatever the forecast says, warm layers, comfortable walking shoes and sunscreen. The weather in the mountains can change quickly.
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