Aoraki-Mt Cook National Park

Glacier Explorers

Enjoy a glacier experience that is unique in New Zealand and one of only three in the world. Get up and close and personal with icebergs, on a glacial terminal lake.

It is extremely rare for a glacier to terminate into a lake and rarer still to find one that is accessible to visitors. Join your group on our boat for an intimate encounter with a glacier -- see massive icebergs and soaring ice cliffs. You'll experience seldom seen and inaccessible parts of New Zealand's largest glacier in a safe way aboard your boat. Few people can say they have seen, touched and tasted 500 year old ice. Now you will be one of them!

Tours depart from Mount Cook Village outside The Hermitage Hotel, where you'll board a small bus for an enjoyable trip to the Tasman Valley. This is followed by a relaxing 30 minute stroll through the National Park to your waiting MAC boat. Now it’s time to witness the changing ice face of the Tasman Glacier and the icebergs it spawns on the Tasman Glacier Lake. Throughout your 2.5 hour trip (45 min to 1 hour on the lake) your experienced guide offers an informative and entertaining commentary that ensures you don't miss a thing.

Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre Museum and Theatre Explorer Pass

A tribute to New Zealand's Sir Edmund Hillary, a humanitarian, ambassador, and one of the world's greatest explorers. The centre showcases the Aoraki Mount Cook region, the history of climbing, and early transport used throughout the region. This comprehensive museum details the life of Sir Edmund Hillary, the Hermitage, and provides access to the 126-seat custom-designed theatre. Check out the daily film schedule which includes 3D Movies, documentaries, and 360-degree digital dome features.

Big Sky Stargazing

Mt 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!

The Alpine Restaurant Buffet Dinner

The Alpine Restaurant located at The Hermitage Hotel offers sumptuous buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner, accompanied by spectacular views of Aoraki Mount Cook from every seat. Enjoy a vast buffet including a wide range of foods such as soup, salads, seafood, hot and cold meats and desserts with tea and coffee to follow.

Tasman Glacier Helihike with The Helicopter Line

The Tasman Glacier is the largest of several glaciers which flow south and east towards the Mackenzie Basin from the Southern Alps. At 27kms in length, the Tasman Glacier is New Zealand's longest glacier. The glacier covers an area of 101 square kilometres and starts at a height of 3000m above sea level. You will witness the beauty of the Tasman Glacier Lake and the stunning ice formations from the helicopter as you fly over. Once you descend and step foot onto the ice you will breath fresh alpine air as your guide introduces you to the world of the Tasman Glacier.

Mt Cook and the Glaciers Heli Flight with The Helicopter Line

The Helicopter Line's premier flight over the Mt Cook National Park and its vast glaciers and snowfields. See the ancient waters of the Tasman Glacier Lake before flying the length of the Tasman Glacier, New Zealand's Longest Glacier. Experience what it feels like to stand in snow amongst the mountains as you take in a spectacular view of New Zealand's highest peak, Aoraki/Mt Cook during your snow landing. Cross to the West Coast and view the formidable Franz Josef and Fox glaciers before completing your journey with uninterrupted views of the summit ridge of Aoraki/Mt Cook. Should weather not be suitable to take this flight you are able to transfer your booking onto a similar tour on any of the Helicopter Line's operations in Queenstown or the West Coast.

Grand Circle Scenic Ski Plane Flight

On this flight you'll have the chance to experience some of the most breathtaking scenery in New Zealand. View Mount Cook, Westland, Mt Tasman as well as the Fox, Franz Josef and Tasman Glaciers. First traverse the Southern Alps to the West Coast then Track North along the Tasman Sea before re-crossing the Alps to the Tasman Glacier. If the weather conditions are right, you'll also experience a glacier landing before taking a final loop through the mountains.

Glacier Highlights - Scenic Flight with Glacier Landing

Take in the spectacular Southern Alps, including New Zealand's highest peak Aoraki Mount Cook and the constantly changing glacial landscape. See the Hochstetter Icefall as you fly beneath the face of Mount Cook then along the length of the Tasman glacier before landing on the glacier itself. Experience the silence of the mountains, broken only by the rumbling of an avalanche and creaking of the snow and ice beneath your feet. You'll take off again for another incredible flight over peaks, ice falls, alpine lakes and climbing huts. This flight offers fantastic close up views of Aoraki Mount Cook, Mt Tasman and the Southern Alps from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park.

Glacier Lake Sea-Kayaking

The legendary voyage that includes getting up close and personal with a real glacier and icebergs. Sea-Kayak into pristine glacial bays surrounded by glacial ice and you may be able to Sea-Kayak near to or even touch ice bergs. Experience the beauty and peaceful nature this quiet zone of Aoraki/Mt Cook has to offer. Listen to avalanches thundering off the slopes of Mt Sefton from a safe distance.

Indoor Guided Star Show with Galactic Journeys

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 from the comfort of your seat. Be in awe as  science and entertainment meet, allowing you to watch the visual journey through the cosmos. Be blown away as you gain knowledge about the Planets, Milky way, Southern Cross Constellation and moons of our solar system, the lives and deaths of stars, and the mind-blowing scale of our universe. The 8.5-meter dome screen with our state-of-the-art projection technology is perfect for viewing some of the latest images captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. As an indoor, digital experience, it doesn’t matter what the weather is doing outside – the planetarium can simulate exactly what the New Zealand night sky looks like at any time under perfect conditions!

Mt Cook Ultimate Scenic Helicopter Flight with Southern Lakes Helicopters

View the spectacular Aoraki, Mt Cook from above on this 50 minute scenic flight. See the incredible scenery surrounding New Zealand's tallest peak, including hanging glaciers, calved icebergs, rivers of ice, the forests of the West Coast and the renowned Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake. You'll also land on the glacier itself - a truly unique experience.

Skydive Mt Cook with Inflite

See the incredible Aoraki National Park from above with a scenic flight, before jumping out of your plane and experiencing it in freefall, reaching speeds of up to 200km/hr!
Once your parachute opens, you'll enjoy breathtakingly beautiful views of the snow capped mountains, glaciers, lakes and Aorkai/Mt Cook National Park for up to 5 minutes. At this point, you’ll either be stunned to silence or screaming for joy! It’s an indescribable feeling that you will never forget!

Tasman Glacier

The Tasman Glacier is New Zealand's largest at around 27 kilometres long. Easy access to the moraine wall is via the Tasman Valley road and then a short climb up onto the hill. You are rewarded with a view of a desolate rock strewn landscape sitting on top of hundreds of metres of ice. Back down the valley the river eventually flows into Lake Pukaki and its hard to imagine the colour of the water in the Tasman Glacier lake eventually becoming the bright turquoise of Lake Pukaki. The best way to experience the glacier though is to take a Mt Cook Ski Plane and actually land on the snow fields at the top. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The Tasman Glacier Experience Scenic Helicopter Flight with Southern Lakes Helicopters

No Trip to New Zealand is complete without seeing Aoraki/ Mt Cook. This 40 minute flight takes in the magnificent scenery of the National Park with vast views of this spectacular region. Enjoy a glacier landing and experience this Alpine environment with 600 metres of glacier ice beneath your feet, an unforgettable experience.

Walking tracks in and around Mt Cook National Park

There are many short scenic walks beginning in and around the Mt Cook Village, suitable for all ages and abilities. Located within the Mount Cook Village is the Department of Conservation information centre, where updates on the track conditions and suitability is available as well as information on the history of the area and its wildlife.

Below is a snapshot of some of the walks available:
- Bowen Bush Walk  - 10 minute return
- Glencoe Walk - 10 minute return
- Red Tarns Track - 2 hour return
- Kea Point Walk - 2 hour return
- Hooker Lake - 4 hour return