Mt Cook Small Group Tour from Queenstown
Overview
Available languages
Mt Cook Tour, this small group, fully-guided day trip combines all of the key highlights in the area with the time and options to enjoy extra activities of your choice, unlike many other tours. 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 from the Muller Lookout onwards, 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 only be partially accessible to the public until then.
Highlights:
- Mt Cook & Aoraki National Park
- Lake Pukaki
- Kawarau Gorge, Lindis Pass, the Southern Alps and High Country Salmon
- Free time for activities & walks
Itinerary:
1. Queenstown - Your tour starts in the stunning city of Queenstown. 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 areas top highlights.
2. Kawarau Suspension Bridge – Departing Queenstown we then make our way through the stunning Kawarau Gorge passing stunning views, the Kawarau Suspension Bridge and the famous Roaring Meg Lookout. Time and light permitting we will stop for that first great shot of the tour.
3. Cromwell – Exiting the Kawarau Gorge we enter the fruit and wine growing region of Cromwell. Passing huge fields of vines, we cross Lake Dunstan and follow this beautiful lake towards Lindis Pass.
4. 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, we stop at the famous lookout at the top of the pass for an essential photo.
5. Omarama – While driving through the endless plains of the Mackenzie district we will spot several of the famous Merino breed of sheep before stopping at the quaint township of Omarama. While in Omarama we have time for a break or even to try the best creamy chicken pie in NZ (in our opinion)!
6. Lake Pukaki – 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.
7. Mt Cook Information Centre – Arriving at Mt Cook Village, weather depending, we should get some amazing shots of the mountain itself. At 3724m, Aoraki/Mt Cook is New Zealand’s highest peak, however, the mountain can be viewed without any acclimatisation whatsoever from the village which is just 750m above sea level.
8. Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park – While in the national park you have 3 hours free time to enjoy free walks/hikes or one of the extra optional activities. Some of our recommendations include: Tasman Glacier View walk, Heli Hike (this adventure on the Tasman Glacier is the ultimate way to enjoy the area), scenic flights (see the region from the air and land on the Tasman Glacier). 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.
9. 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.
10. Jacksons Orchard – During summer months when the sun is still up 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.
11. Queenstown – Sadly the tour must come to an end as we re-enter Queenstown and say our goodbyes.
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.
What‘s Included
Small Group
Fully Guided Tour
Water available & snacks provided
Meeting points
Select a meeting point
Options
Reviews
416 reviews
Excellent day, would definitely do again!
Z9404RGjasminej,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our host, Lynette, was fantastic and so friendly. We loved every minute of the day and very much enjoyed the small group aspect, it was a lovey day!
Worth it
Subba1972,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Good tour guide Adequate time
Beautiful Country, but very long day of driving.
Katy T,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Saw allot of beautiful country and was lucky to get a cloudless day. Like the planned stops, but felt rushed each time we stopped. One couple who took the optional helicopter trip returned late and held up the rest of the tour group for over a half-hour so we were shorted at one of the planned stops.
Exciting tour with a great tour guide
Jaikishan L,Mar 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour and the itinerary were very well designed and Rob is a friendly, knowledgeable tour guide. I am so glad I listened to his recommendation on adding a plane + copter combo to the itinerary, and he arranged it impromptu. I would highly recommend this tour.
Excellent
Borislav Z,Feb 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Beautiful tour. Young lady Kate was professional. We had a perfect weather. We were really close to the Mt. Cook!
Limited guiding knowledge from the guide
Michael P,Feb 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00Our guide has been in the area for only 4 months, therefore has limited knowledge about the area. However he did his best. We had prearranged a helicopter trip on our way and the guide dropped us off at the heliport and picked us up again after the flight. We were hoping to learn more about the area but it was not to be.
Day Tour to Mt Cook
Adavis1919,Feb 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour! The tour guide Rob was fantastic! He knew all the best spots and told us a lot of history/fun facts along the way. This was a great day tour to Mt Cook and I would highly recommend it.
This was such a fun day...
Lillian C,Feb 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was such a fun day trip! The group size isn’t too large and the bus was pretty comfortable. Dean was the guide I had and he had so much info to share with us during the whole trip. I liked that we got time to do a little walking/easy hiking during this trip because the views were stunning and it was just nice to move after sitting for long periods of time. Did the trip solo and met some really nice people. Would recommend!
Pretty. But inefficient, unorganized and uncomfortable.
Naomi Z,Feb 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00I would recommend a trip to Mt Cook. I would not recommend traveling with Chreky Kiwi. Lindis pass was pretty but there was no information on how long we'd be there, so we ended up sitting at the van waiting for everyone. We sat at a non- picturesque coffee shop for 40 minutes. We dropped 2 people off for a helicopter visit - took 15 minutes. Then finally got a 40 minute okay hike followed by the highlight 50 minute hike. Based on the description of the trip I thought we'd have 2-3 hours to hike as wanted, but that was not the case. Followed by another 54 minutes waiting for our two guests to land from their helicopter trip. So more time waiting for people than actually hiking. And the van - less room than an economy airplane seat with thin cushions allowing the metal to poke through. Recommendations to Cheeky Kiwi: Re-phrase the advertisement away from 2-3 hours on your own and driver will take care of you. Should state the actual movement. Ideally cut the first hike and just allow full length at the main trailhead. Somehow better coordination with the helicopters. Shorter coffee stop. I can sit in a coffee shop anywhere without spending hundreds on a tour. When letting people off for a break, give a time to be back at the bus and stick to it. Cooler for waters? Again, the area is really pretty and I wish I could have had more time to actually appreciate it on a trail rather than sitting in parking lots.
Our guide/driver was...
Georsadd G,Jan 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Our guide/driver was great. He did drive quite fast at times (he mentioned he previously worked in emergency services). Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see Mt Cook due to cloud cover, but the national park is still very scenic.
From A$223.92
Queenstown, New Zealand
- Free cancellation
Reserve Now & Pay Later - available
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
