Aoraki-Mt Cook National Park
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. Take to the air with Mt Cook Ski Planes for a scenic flight that includes a glacier landing. At around 27 kilometres long the Tasman Glacier is New Zealand's longest and a Glacier Explorers tour will give you the opportunity to see its unique features.
There are many short hikes in and around the park and these are well signposted. Those with an interest in the night sky should take a stargazing tour with the Hermitage Hotel. The region is considered to have one of the clearest night skies in the world and is one of the few gold-rated dark sky reserves worldwide.
The Hermitage Hotel complex offers fine dining, multiple cafes and a bar. Due to the remote location of the property, there are no shops and limited supplies at Mt Cook Village. Visit the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre for insight into this region's mountain climbing history. You'll also learn of Sir Ed's incredible achievements and his dedication to helping others around the world.
Glacier Explorers Tasman Glacier Experience
Experience 500 year old icebergs up-close on the Mt Cook terminal lake. The Glacier Explorers tour is the only one of its kind in New Zealand and one of only three in the world! Very few glaciers terminate into lakes and even fewer of them are accessible. See towering ice cliffs and floating icebergs from the safety of a specially designed boat. These boats provide a safe way to view unseen and inaccessible areas of New Zealand's largest glacier The Tasman.
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!
Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre Museum and Theatre Explorer Pass
The Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre pays tribute to one of New Zealand's greatest characters - humanitarian, ambassador and one of the world's greatest explorers. Showcasing the Aoraki Mount Cook region and its people within a comprehensive museum as well as a 126-seat custom-designed theatre and Digital Dome Planetarium. this informative experience is one to remember.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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
