Aoraki Mount Cook Day Trip: Scenic Views and Glacial Lakes

Embark on a small group day tour from Christchurch to explore the breathtaking beauty of Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo, and Tasman Glacier. Marvel at the stunning alpine views, visit the iconic Church of Good Shepherd, and enjoy a scenic walk in Mt. Cook National Park.

Duration: 13 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Christchurch - Pick up from your accommodation at around 7am.
  • Geraldine - Set at the heart of the Canterbury region at the foot of the Southern Alps, Geraldine is the gateway to the lakes in the central Mackenzie Basin and the beginning of the Starlight Highway to Tekapo’s world renowned UNESCO Aoraki McKenzie International Dark Sky Reserve….
What's Included
  • Transport by air-conditioned minivan or minibus
  • Bottled water provided
  • Pickup and drop-off from selected Central Christchurch hotels
  • Fully guided tour (except walks)
  • Professional guide and commentary
  • Lunch at own expense
  • Group tour with maximum 20 participants
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Walks in the national park are not guided
Additional Information

Join a group tour departing from Christchurch for a day trip to Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak. Explore the charming Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of Lake Tekapo and take in the breathtaking alpine scenery from the turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki. Delight in a delicious lunch at the Hermitage Hotel (price on application)…

Location
Christchurch Bus Interchange
Colombo Street
Your guide will pick you from outside FreshChoice Supermarket (located at 71 Lichfield Street) which is across the road from Bus Exchange at 7.00am.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(296 Ratings)
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Alexandria_s
Mar 19, 2025
Fantastic Day - Our guide Adju was amazing! Super knowledgeable, organized and the nicest person you could ever want to spend the day with. The views were amazing and we had plenty of time at every stop. Great day!
Review provided by Viator
Davidpirie01
Mar 12, 2025
A Full Day Tour - A long & tiring day, but worth it for the experience. A full day (13½ hours) with a lot of travelling in the minibus, but plenty of stops along the way for refreshments & sightseeing. We were lucky with the weather, leaving heavy rain in Christchurch for cloudy but clear views across the mountain valleys. We were rewarded with great views at Lake Tekapo, Mt. Cook National Park & the highlight, a brisk 20 minute walk up to the viewpoint for the Tasman Glacier & then another, less demanding walk to the river to get closer to the icebergs in the lake. Special thanks to our guide, Anuj who was friendly, polite, knowledgeable & a good driver. The provisions of water & snacks were particularly welcome. A great day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pam_j
Mar 10, 2025
The water is so blue! - Had a great day with AJ as our guide! Very professional and helpful. Although it is a long day of driving, the many stops along the way help to break the ride up into manageable portions. And the snacks and water offered along the way were very appreciated! Couldn't get over how blue the water is in the lakes. There are some steps to go up to see the Glacier, but you can stop to catch your breathe along the way. Book your tour and enjoy!
Review provided by Viator
V2dp
Mar 9, 2025
Fantastic tour! - Another fantastic tour with Anuj - he is such a professional and the sights were incredible. Highly recommend this! You will not be disappointed! The complimentary snacks and water were much appreciated on this long tour :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Q7735vtrobertm
Mar 9, 2025
Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo and Tasman Glacier hikes from Christchurch - A great day out of Christchurch to Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki along with Mount Cook. The scenery was spectacular. Anuj (AJ) was a great driver and provided nice commentary in addition to communicating well for breaks and stops. He provided water and multiple snacks throughout the stops and was always checking on the group. He allowed ample time to do the Tasman overlook hike along with the Tasman River hike - total time was about 90 minutes. The trip is about 4 hours each way but it is well broken up with rest stops and opportunities to get a tea or coffee in addition to restroom breaks. The sites and experience are worth the trip! Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anne_b
Mar 8, 2025
Unforgettable Experience - Excellent small group tour with knowledgeable, friendly driver/guide. Very well organized and the whole trip ran very smoothly. Thank you
Review provided by Viator
Patricia_a
Mar 6, 2025
Wonderful experience! - Great experience with on time pickup, snacks all day, frequent bathroom breaks and a wonderful itinerary with fabulous scenery and a knowlegable tour guide. Thank you AJ for a great experience!
Review provided by Viator
Steph
Mar 3, 2025
Great day out of Christchurch - Great day. Our guide was informative and helpful throughout. The smaller group of less than 20 was a good size. We had a nice amount of time at each stop and particularly at the glacier where we were able to fit in two tracks.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
William
Mar 1, 2025
LONG DAY, WORTH DOING - A great day out although wonderful visibility of Mount Cook was a huge bonus. Not too many get that lucky. The scenery around Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki was sensational, the blue of their waters staggering. The hike, in my case out to the Tasman River, was well worth it. The trip was well and carefully timed but that was a big plus given the long road distance from Christchurch but sensible stops well planned en route made it comfortable. Our guide was extremely good in his informative commentary, avoiding the temptation to say too much. He was a superb driver while his provision of copious supplies of bottled water and snacks was hugely welcome. I really valued this side of his work. I enjoyed this day out immensely. It was a long day but absolutely well worth it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
S6877zxangelac
Mar 16, 2025
Nice tour - The views were amazing. Having the options for hikes was also very nice. The drive to and from Christchurch is very long and makes for a long day. But the views were worth it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 12 guests
1 Adult
March 2025
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