Christchurch to Queenstown via Mt Cook & Tekapo Small Group Tour (One Way)
Overview
Available languages
Christchurch To Queenstown via Mt Cook & Lake Tekapo. This one-way, small group, fully guided day trip combines all of the key highlights in the area with the famous Lake Tekapo, Mt Cook National Park and Tasman Glacier. The ultimate way to get from Christchurch to Queenstown. 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.
Description
Please note: the Hooker Valley Track is currently CLOSED while the Department of Conservation works on replacing one of the swing bridges. This is expected to be complete in Autumn 2026 so the track will be inaccessible to the public until then.
Highlights:
Lake Tekapo, Church of the Good Shepard
Mt Cook & Aoraki National Park
Tasman Glacier, Lake Pukaki
Lindis Pass, Kawarau Gorge
Itinerary:
Christchurch - Your tour starts in the stunning city of Christchurch. 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.
Canterbury Plains – Departing Christchurch we then make our way through the impressive Canterbury plains with plenty of amazing New Zealand farmland and countryside to see along the way.
Lake Tekapo (5 mins) – we head towards the famous blue lakes of Lake Tekapo but to get there first we must go through some impressive alpine passes with amazing views. As we come over the hill to Tekapo you will be stunned by amazing view of the lake.
Church of the Good Shepherd (10 mins) – Once in the township of Tekapo you will have time to explore the very popular Church of the Good Shepherd, see the Mackenzie Sheep dog and get those Instagram worth shots of Lake Tekapo before we continue to Mt Cook.
Lake Pukaki (10 mins)– 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 just 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.
Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park – While in the national park you have 2.5 hours free time to enjoy free walks/hikes or one of the extra optional activities. Some of our recommendations include Kea Point Track, Blue Lakes Track, Scenic flights (see the region from the air and land on the Tasman Glacier) or Mt Cook Visitor Centre & Hermitage Hotel. 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.
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.
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.
Jacksons Orchard – 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.
Kawarau Suspension Bridge – Nearing Queenstown we then make our way through the stunning Kawarau Gorge passing stunning views, the Kawarau Suspension Bridge and the famous Roaring Meg Lookout.
Queenstown – Sadly the tour must come to an end as we enter Queenstown and say our goodbyes.
Inclusions:
Small Group
Fully Guided Tour
Picnic Lunch
Optional Extras:
Scenic flights with Glacier landings
Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre
Meeting points
Select a meeting point
Cancellation Policy
Terms: Tours will only run if at least 5 people have booked on the tour, we reserves the right to alter the tour due to weather or operational needs.
A full refund will be issued for cancellations made a minimum of 10 days prior to the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
96 reviews
Mount Cook in snow
T-Logarta,Jun 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Grant was our first driver from Chch to the mid point, he was very knowledgeable and had a lot of side stories that are very entertaining. Jay, the manager of the Chch branch was also very helpful and friendly. Danny was our driver from the mid point to QT who also had a lot of ideas to shares about QT and where to go and where to eat. Although it snowed really bad and we didnt really have a good view of Mount Cook and Lake Takapo, it was still a good experience overall and the drive felt very safe and the van felt very stable.
Avis
I4677DHaliced,Jun 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I would also like to offer a friendly observation regarding our transfers. While the overall experience was wonderful, I noticed a significant difference in communication styles between our two drivers. The first driver delivered a dense, non‑stop monologue over several hours, which made it quite challenging for non‑native English speakers to follow. Instead of adding value, the constant commentary became mentally exhausting and distracting. In contrast, the second driver adopted a much more measured and guest‑oriented approach—concise, clear, and considerate of foreign visitors, which made the journey far more enjoyable. I believe it would be beneficial to establish consistent communication guidelines for all drivers, ensuring that every passenger receives the same high‑quality, accessible information without feeling overwhelmed. Standardising this aspect of the service would greatly enhance the experience for international guests and reflect the professionalism your company clearly strives for. Thank you for your attention to this constructive feedback.
Day to remember
Frankl D,Jun 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Both the drivers Grant and Lynette were very very good. Knowledgeable, friendly and kept us informed throughout the trip and made it a very memorable one. Highly recommended Crazy Kiwis
Great way to explore NZ!!
991enarr,Jun 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00On time, knowledgeable guides. The vehicle is also comfortable with considerable snacks supply!
Great experience
688clarences,May 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent. Everything was managed efficiently. It was a comfy experience overall
It was a great experience
222clarisses,May 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My family and I had a wonderful time throughout the 13 hour van ride from Christchurch to Queenstown. The cost of the tour is well worth it, since we were able to enjoy all the sights and stops we made. The snacks and lunch were also delicious and filling. Rosie picked us up from our hotel and took us to Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook, while Abbie drove us from Mt Cook to High Country Salmon Farm and then to our Queenstown accommodation. The ride itself felt comfortable and safe. There were 3 vacant seats in Rosie's van, while Abbie's was full with 16 people inside. This was a really fun way to get around. Will definitely recommend Cheeky Kiwi to friends and family!
Epic tour but long day
Z650ZCscottm,May 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Another great tour done with Cheeky Kiwi, Very enjoyable however long day haha. Huge shout out to Grant my morning guide/driver loved the geology info you gave about places on the tour (Canterbury Plains and Aoraki/Mt Cook) and to Hannah my afternoon guide/driver who covered the Māori legend of Aoraki and gave great information about the trip coming into Queenstown. I did the same trip last year with Greatsights but found the Cheeky Kiwi to be a whole lot better (even though it was a little bit more expensive)
Christchurch to Queenstown and Everything in Between!
Vacation799829,May 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was great way to get from Christchurch to Queenstown while exploring some sites along the way! The tour was split between two awesome guides - Joel and Hanna. Joel took us around the scenic Lake Tekapo/Aoraki Mount Cook areas while providing great commentary and an endless supply of puns and dad jokes that were mostly sheep related because of all the farms we drove past; fortunately, the jokes were not ba-a-a-ad. After exploring Aoraki Mount Cook, Hanna took over the rest of the tour and led us to a salmon farm, through the Golden Hills, and stopped in Cromwell for some fresh fruit ice cream at a local orchard before dropping us all off at our hotels in Queenstown. Joel and Hanna were top-notch professional tour guides that showed a clear passion for New Zealand and that made the experience that much better. I’d definitely book another Cheeky Kiwi tour in the future!
Excelent trip
ABM N,May 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was an excelent trip. The rider/guide was funny, friendly and knowledgeable. Really enjoyed the trip.
Professional drivers
leositar,Apr 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great time to just enjoy relax and be amased of the views from Christchurch down to Queenstown. Drivers/ tour guide are very professional.
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