The 15 Best Mount Cook & Lake Tekapo Tours

1.Alpine Stargazing Experience with a Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 626 reviews · 1h 15m · from $59Our pick

Travel from Silver River Stargazing to private farmland in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. A guide such as Tara, Sam, or Nicole uses astro-lasers and a 14-inch telescope to show you constellations, planets, nebulae, and star clusters. Warm jackets and a digital night-sky photo are included.

“We had a great couple of hours. Taken to a farm and was educated about the stars and constellations. High power telescope to look at stars, moon and jupiter. Saw the most amazing Meteor which was the highlight and felt so lucky to witness that.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Stargazing Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 607 reviews · 1h 30m · from $71

Join Chameleon Stargazing for a 90-minute night under Lake Tekapo’s dark sky. Guides such as George, Mok, Estella, and Adria explain Southern Hemisphere stars, Maori legends, and Greek mythology, then aim a 9.25-inch telescope and smart telescope at deep-sky objects. You’ll also get blankets, hot chocolate, marshmallows, and edited night-sky photos.

“Great communication from Chameleon stargazing. The weather and clouds were a bit iffy and George gave us the option to get our money back or stay in the hope the clouds cleared. We all decided to stay and were very lucky as the clouds eventually parted and the show went on! George was informative and spent a lot of time answering questions and explaining the different stars and constellations. highly recommended!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Scenic Helicopter Flight with Alpine Landing

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 442 reviews · 25 min · from $226

You’ll fly from Mount Cook Aerodrome over the Tasman Valley and a blue glacier lake, with commentary from your English-speaking pilot. The helicopter then lands on a mountain in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, giving you time for photos and close views of Aoraki Mount Cook. Snow landings happen most of the year but are not guaranteed in summer.

“Absolutely loved our trip!! Zippy our pilot was so nice and gave us a lot of information! Amazing photos photos to last a lifetime!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Mt Cook Small Group Scenic Day Tour from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 407 reviews · from $164Top rated

Set out from Queenstown at 6:30 am in a small group of up to 15 people. Your guide leads you through Kawarau Gorge, Lindis Pass, Lake Pukaki, and Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, with about three hours for walks, views, or optional activities. Guides such as Jeff, Lynette, Sarah, and Noah are known for lively commentary and thoughtful help when weather changes.

“Despite the weather not being in our favour, my friends and I still had a great time. Our tour guide Jeff was an absolute legend and kept us entertained with his commentary and jokes, and also made sure we were well looked after after getting rained on. There were plenty of rest stops, and visits to the salmon farm and fruit shop on the way back were a lovely addition. Jeff kindly dropped everyone at their accomodation which was super helpful and much appreciated.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Mount Cook & Lake Tekapo Day Tour & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 405 reviews · 13 hours · from $178

Travel from Christchurch to Aoraki Mount Cook with a small group of up to 11 people, stopping at Fairlie Bakehouse, Lake Tekapo, and Lake Pukaki. At Mount Cook, choose the Hooker Valley or Tasman Glacier walk. Guides including Joseph, Nick, Will, and Phil provide local stories, lunch, snacks, WiFi, and USB charging.

“I have spent a wonderful day touring in Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook. I am sorry I cannot remember the name of the driver/guide., he had a ginger beard and wore a green wooly hat. I did the tour on 9 September, he gave us lots of explanations and you could see that he knows about the region.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo and Tasman Glacier Tour from Christchurch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 353 reviews · from $155

Travel from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki, and Aoraki Mount Cook National Park in a small group of up to 20. Your guide handles the long drive, commentary, snacks, and photo stops, while you choose how to spend free time near the Tasman Glacier. Anuj and AJ are among the guides named in guest feedback.

“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 ...”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Tekapo Shuttle: Mt Cook Day Tour via Pukaki & Tasman Lake

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 307 reviews · 8h 30m · from $89

Spend about 8.5 hours travelling from Tekapo to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park by shuttle. You’ll stop at Peter’s Lookout, Tasman Glacier, Hooker Valley, Lake Pukaki, and the Alpine Salmon Shop. Guides such as TJ, Taro, Dan, and Rintaro offer commentary, snacks, water, and help choosing walks.

“It was an amazing day! the sights were beautiful and pickup was smooth and easy. The tour guides went above and beyond! Thanks for the amazing day.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Mt Cook & Tasman Glacier lookout Small Group Tour from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 296 reviews · from $164

Travel from Queenstown to Aoraki Mount Cook in a small group of up to 15, with guides such as Felix, Lynette, Jason, and Mairi sharing local stories along the way. Expect Lindis Pass, Lake Pukaki, the Tasman Glacier viewpoint walk, salmon tasting, and seasonal fruit or ice cream stops.

“Jason was very good. I like the trip very much. Good if you’re a foodie and like short hikes with good views.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Ski Plane and Helicopter Glacier Combo Flight

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 271 reviews · 45 min · from $328

Take a ski plane and helicopter over Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, flying up the Tasman Valley to the Tasman Glacier. Land on the upper snowfields, step into the alpine silence, then return to Mount Cook Airport by the other aircraft. Pilots provide English commentary, with weather-based changes possible.

“Amazing, once in a lifetime experience. Inflite Mt Cook were so easy to deal with & our pilot Ben was awesome - thanks guys.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Small Group Mt Cook Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 262 reviews · 12 hours · from $166

Travel from Queenstown to Aoraki Mount Cook in a premium Mercedes van with an English-speaking local guide. Stop at Cromwell, Lindis Pass, Omarama, Twizel, and Lake Pukaki, then choose a hike or other Mount Cook activity during 3.5 hours of free time. Admission to the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre is included.

“What a wonderful memorable day trip. Our driver/guide/photographer Alana was so nice. She was very friendly, drove safely, had plenty to helpful commentary along the way, and she took care of the different needs of the people on the trip. The scenic views along the way were amazing. The stops were well planned, we kept to a schedule but didn't really feel rushed. At Mount Cook, I did the hike to Hooker Lake along the Hookey Valley track and got some awesome views and had plenty of time to complete the entire track before the scheduled departure back. The van was very comfortable. It was also nice to get to…”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.3-Hour Tasman Glacier Helicopter Ride and Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 235 reviews · 3 hours · from $537

Fly from Mount Cook Airport to a remote Tasman Glacier landing, then spend up to two hours walking through ice caves, moulins, and changing blue ice with a trained guide. Leather boots, socks, crampons, poles, and jackets are supplied. Guides such as Hunter, Anna, and Tori are praised for safety and photos. Weather controls the schedule.

“Well organised, everyone had a view either there or back. Guide was knowledgeable and the scenery spectacular”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.3 Hour Heli Hike to the Tasman Glacier

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 218 reviews · 3 hours · from $564

Fly from Mount Cook Airport over Tasman Glacier Lake, land on the ice, and spend two hours hiking with a professional guide. You’ll wear glacier boots and crampons, explore changing ice formations, and fly near Aoraki’s 1,000-meter Hochstetter Icefall on the return. Small groups are limited to 10.

“Scott the guide was amazing, ton of knowledge and fun, he also was a professional guide and photographer at the same time. The crew was also excellent fast check-in and provided very clear instruction Very worth of money”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Full-Day Guided Sightseeing Tour of Mount Cook from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 218 reviews · from $173

Travel from Queenstown to Aoraki/Mount Cook in a small group of about 15, with commentary, WiFi, scenic stops, and roughly 3.5 hours at the national park. Guides such as Beth, Kevin, Ana, and James are praised for clear stories and good trip management. Choose a short walk or the Hooker Valley Track, weather permitting.

“Tour participants should be aware of the activities on the tour and decide what they want to do before leaving. We wanted to hike and had two beautiful hikes once we got there. Fortunately, the weather held out and the scenery was brRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Mount Cook & Lake Tekapo Day Tour from Christchurch with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 217 reviews · from $185

Leave Christchurch at 7:00 a.m. for a full day through the Canterbury Plains, Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki, and Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. You will ride in a small Mercedes Sprinter with WiFi and USB charging, collect food at Fairlie Bakehouse, and choose between the Hooker Valley Track and Tasman Glacier walk. Guides such as Joseph, Jess, Will, and James add local insight along the way.

“Beautiful scenery and wonderful food from Fairley’s bakery. This was a great way to see some beautiful places but the time at the locations felt really rushed compared to the amount of time spent on the bus. We had 30 mins at the bakery Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Mount Cook Scenic Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 210 reviews · 12 hours · from $158

Travel from Queenstown to Aoraki/Mount Cook in a small group with an English-speaking guide such as Jeff, Ollie, or Shane. Expect a long but scenic day through Kawarau Gorge, Lindis Pass, Lake Pukaki, and alpine valleys, with about three hours at Mount Cook for self-guided walks or optional helicopter activities.

“Dayton was great, van was super clean, had an amazing day!”

Check availability →Read our full review