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55 minute Grand Circle Ski Plane
About This Tour
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!
What's Included
✓ Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
✗ Not Included
- Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Itinerary
1
The Tasman Glacier (Māori: Haupapa) is New Zealand’s largest ice structure, stretching 23 kilometers (14 miles) long and up to 4 kilometers wide along the eastern flanks of the Southern Alps. Originating high near the crest of Aoraki / Mount Cook, the glacier flows south into the Tasman Terminal Lake. Known for its massive upper snowfields, vast depth of up to 600 meters, and dramatic icefall formations, it is the central geographical feature explored during scenic flights, ski plane touchdowns, and helicopter snow landings operated by Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters.
2
The Franz Josef Glacier (Māori: Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere) is a 12-kilometer-long maritime glacier located in Westland Tai Poutini National Park on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Famous for descending steeply from the high snowfields of the Southern Alps into temperate rainforest, it forms a central West Coast highlight during the Grand Circle 55-minute flight by Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters as the flight traverses the Main Divide from Aoraki / Mount Cook.
3
Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters is the only operator in the Southern Hemisphere letting you customize your journey aboard a specialized ski plane.
4
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is an alpine reserve in the South Island of New Zealand, encompassing 23 peaks over 3,000 meters—including New Zealand’s highest peak, Aoraki / Mount Cook (3,724 meters). Formally designated as a UNESCO World Heritage area within Te Wāhipounamu, over 40% of the park is covered in glacial ice. It serves as the home base and primary visual backdrop for Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters, with departures operating directly from Aoraki / Mount Cook Airport inside the park boundaries.
Good to Know
- Wheelchair accessible
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Flights may be cancelled due to weather conditions
- Check in closes 45 minutes prior to the flight time