Grand Circle Ski Plane: 55-Minute Scenic Experience through Mt Cook and Westland National Parks

Join this 55-minute Ski Plane scenic experience through the Mt Cook and Westland National Parks for a unique air tour like no other. Flight path goes right around Aoraki MT Cook and views over to the Fox, Franz Josef and Tasman Glaciers. The ultimate way to see the Southern Alps including a glacier landing! Bucket list item!

Duration: 1 hour, 5 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights

The ultimate way to see the Southern Alps. Traverse the Main Divide to the West Coast and view the breath-taking landscape of the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. Track north along the Tasman Sea before recrossing the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps to the Tasman Glacier. Enjoy the stunning views of the Mt Cook National Park as you track south down…

What's Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Professional guide
What's Not Included
  • Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Additional Information
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Dual landings are subject to snow conditions and may be substituted to one longer landing
  • Flights may be cancelled due to weather conditions
  • Minimum of 2 people per flight applies before the flight will operate
  • Check in closes 45 minutes prior to the flight time
Location
Mount Cook Airport
Mount Cook Road
The airport is located 3 minutes prior to Aoraki Mount Cook Village on State Highway 80.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(14 Ratings)
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1 star
Reneeholiday
Apr 30, 2024
10 Stars! BEST flight ever! - We want to give 10 STARS! We did the Grand Circle Helicopter flight with Pilot Mark. Where do I begin......the day was clear and the weather gods were on our side. Mark was extraordinary! He was calm, and has a wealth of knowledge, and not once did I feel uneasy. We saw Mt Cook, flew over Franz Josef and Fox glaciers and landed on the Tasman glacier. This flight was phenomenal and the BEST scenic flight I have ever been on. Thank you Mark for keeping us all safe, and the team at Inflite, we cannot stop raving about our wonderful experience with you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ruven_g
Nov 9, 2023
Must do! - Unforgettable experience that’s well worth what we paid! We flew higher than I initially anticipated and actually managed to get very close to the summit of Mount Cook.
Review provided by Viator
Bigern05
Jan 29, 2023
11 out of 10 - On 18th January 2023 my party of 2 adults and 2 children (all Kiwis) did an amazing flight on a ski plane that took about an hour and flew us from Mt Cook airport in a big loop around Mt Cook itself then landing on Tasman Glacier before returning to the airport. Basically, it was amazing. Like once in a life time wow factor to see the scenery of the Southern Alps and the West Coast and to land on the glacier. Words fail to describe how good it was. We had an 0830 flight but it was delayed, due to clouds, for about an hour and a bit. But the company dealt with this smoothly. One of the adults (not me!) was a reluctant flier but Dan, our pilot, was exceptionally good at managing all of us including the nervous one amongst us. That he has decades of experience helps. These flights are not cheap, cost us about $NZ2k. So I wasn't sure if I would get a sense of value for money. But I needn't have worried, it certainly was value for money because the experience was for all of us so, so amazing. The best two grand I ever spent!!! If I could rate it 11 out of 10 I would.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Timtran
Jan 6, 2022
Highly recommend, even for timid flyers - Echoing the many great reviews. Absolutely fabulous, felt very safe in the hands of Dan and the ski plane though I'm a timid flyer. Great sights. We couldn't land because of wind, but the company went out of their way to accommodate a landing later or refund. Great customer service, friendly, clean facility, great plane, great piloting. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nicholas
Apr 1, 2021
Fanastic experience, absolute must do - There is no scenic flight in New Zealand which matches the awesomeness of the flight around the glaciers including landing on a glacier. If you were to choose one scenic flight to do in New Zealand, this is the one. Make sure you put it high on your bucket list as you won't regret it. The staff are very friendly, helpful, skilful and knowledgeable. The experience takes you so close to the Southern Alps; in particular Aoraki Mount Cook itself. You feel as though you could reach out and touch it. The manouevrability of the Pilatus PC-6 is amazing. The magic happens when you land on the glacier in a plane - the landing is so smooth you don't even know you've touched down - the only way of knowing you've touched down on the glacier is by looking at the snow/ice spray from the skis. Whichever glacier you end up landing on, it will be extraordinary experience. Paying a little extra for a view of the West Coast glaciers and the chance of landing on the Fox or Franz Josef Glaciers if conditions are suitable is worth it in my view. Even if it's overcast (if the cloud ceiling is above the mountains), it'll be worth it. Don't forget your sunglasses and even sunscreen as the glacier reflects everything back onto you from all angles. I'd do it again in a heartbeat, no doubt about it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pd7
Sep 21, 2020
Best activity of our whole tour of NZ - #1 without doubt - Absolutely the best thing we did on the whole trip of both islands in NZ - without doubt! As we had to get to Christchurch by 3pm we just booked the shortest helicopter flight (Tasman Glacier only) from the activity centre at the Hermitage Hotel in Mt Cook. We were told on arrival at the airport we couldn't go until lunchtime as they needed another couple. We explained we had to be flying nowish then away so after a brief conflab they upgraded us to a plane which did the whole mountains & glaciers circuit AND landed on the Tasman Glacier itself - in other words the cheapest/shortest flight w/o landing to the longest with landing! Btw the views were stunning, the walking about in shorts & T-shirts on a glacier was surreal and the Aussie pilot a fun & knowledgeable guide. THANK YOU SO MUCH to INFLITE! Don't leave Aoraki/Mt Cook w/o doing a flight - any flight!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ryanthepilot
Aug 20, 2020
Mt Cook Experience - This experience was absolutely magical. Weaving our way up and around the glaciers onto the West coast with a landing high up on Fox Glacier. Stunning views, exceptional customer service. Highly recommend a visit and an experience on any of there flights. Mt Cook Ski Planes and Heli's happily catered for our team of 35-40 members of the Canterbury Aero Club across many of their flight experiences making it a highly enjoyable and unforgettable memory.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Neillb_12
May 30, 2020
Coffee and treats at 7000ft. - Absolutely magnificent flight and landing on the Franz Josef glacier. Very knowledgeable pilot and outstanding service from all the staff.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joeholder
Mar 5, 2020
Absolutely blown away!!! - I was absolutely BLOWN away by the views and the scenery this flights covered. From the Mt. Cook Village over to the west coast soaring over the Fox and Franz Joseph glacier I was speechless!!! The views were great and everyone who was apart of the experience made it all that much better as I was always greeted with a smile. Pete the pilatus porter plane pilot panned picturesque panoramic places. So far my favorite experience in New Zealand, definitely a must do, must see!!!!!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeanleeme
Jan 21, 2020
If your budget allows, highly recommend - Amazing life time experience! Before booking this, I have searched a lot and so glad to make this. Here are a couple of things that I wanted to know before my bookings. - 55min grand circle vs 45min ultimate alpine: I did 55 min the grand circle which covers both Mt cook and Franz Josef. It was great to have lots of time to see in the sky, but I guess covering Mt cook would be enough. It is difficult to listen pilot's explanation due to engine noise, so not easy to recognize where I am. - Flight company : There are other companies with a little bit of cheaper price. I booked this company because of snow landing and it was perfect choice. It was definitely worthy to try. Landing time was around 10min and I've got plenty of good photos. - Discount : I have booked via bookme website which offers cheaper price depending on the booking date. - Service : My concern was cancellation after reading some reviews. Luckily, the weather in my flight day was so good (even hot) without worrying for cancellation. All staff and pilot were so kind and nice. If your budget allows, highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $427
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).