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Mt Cook Small Group Tour & Heli Hike Combo from Queenstown
About This Tour
While the destinations you will be visiting are truly spectacular, we at Cheeky Kiwi Travel believe it is our small groups, our guides, the journey and the little details that set our tours well apart. Secret stops, wildlife viewings, specially designed vehicles, complementary refreshments and many other pleasant surprises ensure our tours are an experience to remember.
Mt Cook Bus Tour & Heli Hike Combo, this small group, fully-guided day trip from Queenstown combines all of the key highlights of Mt Cook with a guided bus tour before an incredible Heli Hike on Tasman Glacier including two scenic helicopter flights.
Our airline partner will provide you with all the necessary equipment such as leather boots, socks, gaiters, crampons/snowshoes, walking poles, waterproof jacket, & over trousers (itis not recommended to wear jeans)
Led by our famously passionate tour guides, notorious for bringing your journey to life by sharing their stories and rich background knowledge!
Mt Cook Bus Tour & Heli Hike Combo, this small group, fully-guided day trip from Queenstown combines all of the key highlights of Mt Cook with a guided bus tour before an incredible Heli Hike on Tasman Glacier including two scenic helicopter flights.
Our airline partner will provide you with all the necessary equipment such as leather boots, socks, gaiters, crampons/snowshoes, walking poles, waterproof jacket, & over trousers (itis not recommended to wear jeans)
Led by our famously passionate tour guides, notorious for bringing your journey to life by sharing their stories and rich background knowledge!
What's Included
✓ Included
- Small Group Fully Guided Bus Tour
- 2 Scenic Helicopter Flights
- Tasman Glacier Heli Hike including all equipment
- Leather boots, socks, gaiters, crampons/snowshoes, walking poles, waterproof jacket, over trousers
- Water available & snacks provided
✗ Not Included
- Gratuities
- Lunch - opportunities to purchase along the way.
- Restroom on board
Itinerary
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Your tour starts in the stunning city of Queenstown. As we drive out of the city your guide will not only set the scene for your adventurous day but also point out and guide you past some of the area’s top highlights.
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Departing Queenstown we then make our way through the Kawarau Gorge, passing stunning views, the Kawarau Suspension Bridge and the famous Roaring Meg Lookout. Time and light permitting we will stop for that first great shot of the tour.
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Exiting the Kawarau Gorge we enter the fruit and wine growing region of Cromwell. Passing huge fields of vines, we cross Lake Dunstan and follow this beautiful lake towards Lindis Pass.
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Climbing in altitude, Lindis Pass has amazing views down through the valleys. Being one of only three alpine roads through the otherwise impassable Southern Alps, we stop at the famous lookout at the top of the pass for an essential photo.
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While driving through the endless plains of the Mackenzie district we will spot several of the famous Merino breed of sheep before stopping at the quaint township of Omarama. While in Omarama we have time for a break or even to try the best creamy chicken pie in NZ (in our opinion)!
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Turning west we begin to enter the Aoraki National Park and Lake Pukaki begins to emerge in front of us. Lake Pukaki is one of the bluest lakes you will ever see and is stunningly framed by the backdrop of Aoraki/Mt Cook and the Southern Alps. We stop for some amazing photos and to marvel at the sight that we are beholding. It’s not hard to see why many Lord of the Rings scene were filmed nearby and we will point them out for you.
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Helihike - check-in and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime with a Tasman Glacier Heli Hike. Your trip with Inflight includes return Scenic flight to & from the Aoraki/Mt. Cook base.
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As part of your Helihike you will land on and explore the Tasman Glacier. Combine the excitement of walking on New Zealand’s biggest glacier with the stunning scenic helicopter fly-bys of New Zealand’s largest mountain, Aoraki/Mt Cook. You will fly to your drop off point on a remote part of the glacier before beginning a guided exploration of the amazing ice formations. Follow your guide as they cut steps in the glacier, using skills handed down from NZ’s mountain pioneers.
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Farewelling Aoraki/Mt Cook and making our way back to Queenstown we stop in at High Country Salmon, a local salmon farm, where you can feed the fish and taste some of the freshest salmon in New Zealand.
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During summer months when the sun is still up and as we get close to Queenstown, we often stop at Jacksons Orchard to try or buy her delicious local fruit or real fruit ice cream.
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Sadly the tour must come to an end as we re-enter Queenstown and say our goodbyes.
Good to Know
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
- Heli Hike is subject to availability and require confirmation with our airline partner.
- It is important to note that Heli Hike is very dependent on the weather. The decision to fly is made by our flight partner on the day and may be cancelled last minute due to weather conditions
- Please dress in 3 – 4 layers of warm upper body clothing and no jeans
- Children under 12 years are not permitted for this activity.
- A large amount of hiking is involved. This tour is not suitable for those with walking disabilities
- Passengers 116kg and over will only be able to fly depending on the weights of other passengers on the day, at check-in