3 Day Aoraki Mt. Cook Explorer: Christchurch to Queenstown

Overview

Available languages

English

72 hours

Mobile ticket

The Christchurch to Queenstown journey takes you from the incredibly flat Canterbury Plains right through to the dramatic mountains of the Southern Alps. The area is out of this world beautiful! This tour gives you the opportunity to absorb the wild beauty, starting in Christchurch you'll travel into the heart of the Mt Cook National Park. After a full day of exploration, on the final afternoon, hop on board the coach to Queenstown, New Zealand's adventure capital.

This is an Independent coach tour, where you travel on a combination of touring coaches and sightseeing services with commentary and/or point to point coaches which may not have commentary. You will be with different people on each part of the tour and different drivers. You have free time to explore on your own and are free to choose where and when to eat, meals are not included unless specified.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

What‘s Included

Two nights accommodation in Mt Cook National Park

Lunch

Dinner

Sir Edmund Hilary Alpine Centre Explorer Pass

Brief commentary on coaches and tours

Coach transport

Meals unless specified

Gratuities

Pre and post tour accommodation

Travel insurance. We recommend travel insurance for all tours

What To Expect

Day 1

Head south of the Christchurch plains to Aoraki Mt Cook National Park

Accommodations

Mt Cook Lodge & Motels

Food and Drinks

LUNCH

Lunch

Lake Tekapo

This small group, fully-guided day trip combines all of the key highlights in the area with the famous Lake Tekapo, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park and Tasman Glacier. The ultimate way to get from Christchurch to Aoraki/Mount Cook. Led by 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. Highlights include Lake Tekapo, Church of the Good Sheperd, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, and Lake Pukaki.

4 hours•Admission Included

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre

Leaving Tekapo, continue into the Southern Alps towards Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, home to New Zealand's tallest mountain. Your journey concludes on arrival at Mount Cook Village, where you can explore and soak up the views of Aoraki / Mount Cook as it towers above. Includes lunch at the Hermitage Hotel. Please note there are no food or shops at Mount Cook you will need to stock up before arriving in Mount Cook if you wish to self-cater.

1.0 day(s)•Admission Included

Day 2

Spend the day exploring Aoraki Mt Cook National Park

Accommodations

Mt Cook Lodge & Motels

Food and Drinks

DINNER

Dinner

Buffet Dinner at the Alpine Restaurant, Hermitage Hotel

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre

At 3754 metres, Aoraki-Mt. Cook is New Zealand's highest mountain, located deep in the heart of the Southern Alps. From the Visitor Centre at the southern end of Lake Pukaki, you will be rewarded with magnificent views of this immense peak. As well as its impressive beauty, Mt. Cook National Park is also home to a huge range of awe-inspiring sights and activities.

2.0 day(s)•Admission Not Applicable

Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre

A tribute to New Zealand's Sir Edmund Hillary - humanitarian, ambassador and one of the world's greatest explorers. The centre showcases the Aoraki Mount Cook region and its people within a comprehensive museum as well as a custom-designed theatre and Digital Dome Planetarium.

2 hours•Admission Included

Mt. Cook Village

Enjoy buffet dinner tonight at the Alpine Restaurant located inside the Hermitage Hotel.

1 hour•Admission Not Applicable

Mt. Cook Village

Mount Cook is far from the city lights and therefore has some of the darkest skies in New Zealand, perfect for viewing the night sky! Their fully trained guides are delighted to show you the beautiful southern night sky using the naked eye, state of the art astronomy telescopes and binoculars at the outdoor viewing platform. If the weather is not favourable then there will be an indoor alternative featuring New Zealand’s first full dome digital Planetarium, a high-definition video images on a suspended 9m wide x 4.5m high full dome. Unleash your imagination as you discover the night sky including the Southern Cross, seasonal ecliptic objects, planets, star clusters, moons, distant galaxies and even our very own galaxy, the spectacular Milky Way!

1 hour 30 minutes•Admission Not Applicable

Day 3

Travel to remarkable Queenstown, New Zealands Adventure Capital

Omarama Sheep Statue

Depart Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park in the afternoon and head south through the tawny tussock of the Mackenzie Country. En route enjoy a stop in the quaint village of Omarama.

1 hour 30 minutes•Admission Not Applicable

Queenstown

Crossing the Lindis Pass this is one of New Zealand's highest roads with the summit reaching 971 metres, you pass from the Mackenzie Basin and into Central Otago. Approaching Queenstown the impressive Remarkables mountain range come into view and then beautiful Lake Wakatipu as you head towards the adventure and activity capital of New Zealand.

3 hours•Admission Not Applicable