Fly Explore Fly, 8-Hour Day

Mt. Cook Fly Explore Fly ex Queenstown by Glenorchy Air

★ 5.0 61 reviews

from $499.26 per person

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Duration: 8 hours
Meeting point: Queenstown Airport
Cancellation: Free cancellation
Run by: Glenorchy Air Services and Tourist Co. Ltd

Overview

This eight hour day trip from Glenorchy Air combines a scenic flight with roughly five hours of free time at Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. You check in at the operator's desk inside the main terminal at Queenstown Airport in Frankton, half an hour before departure, then take off with a local pilot who narrates the mountains, glaciers and history along the way.

The aircraft lands at Mt. Cook Airport, not on a glacier, and from there the day is yours. The ground time is structured around Aoraki Mount Cook National Park for five hours and the Hooker Valley Track for three hours. Lunch is not included, but you can buy food in Mt. Cook Village, and one traveller grabbed a light meal at The Hermitage before a second short walk.

Most travellers can participate, though the tour is not wheelchair accessible. Children must be with an adult, infants sit on laps, and booster seats with baby earmuffs are available on request. The group runs to a maximum of 13 travellers and the flight needs minimum numbers to go ahead, so weather and demand both matter.

From$499.26 per person

Duration8 hours

Rating5.0 from 61 reviews

What's Included

Included

Departures from Queenstown Airport
Child/booster seats available on request, baby earmuffs also provided
Your knowledgeable, highly skilled local pilot will provide interesting and informative commentary

Not Included

Lunch - available to purchase in Mt. Cook Village should you wish

Run byGlenorchy Air Services and Tourist Co. Ltd

Itinerary

Check in at Queenstown AirportArrive at the operator's desk inside the main terminal building in Frankton 30 minutes before departure.
Scenic flight to Mt. CookFly from Queenstown toward Aoraki Mount Cook with pilot commentary on the landscape below. The aircraft lands at Mt. Cook Airport rather than on a glacier.
Aoraki Mount Cook National ParkFive hours on the ground in the park, listed as Te Wahipounamu.
Hooker Valley TrackThree hours allocated to the walk, which several reviewers completed during their ground time and praised for its views.
Lunch in Mt. Cook Village (optional)Lunch is not included but can be purchased in the village. One reviewer ate at The Hermitage before fitting in another short hike.
Return flight to QueenstownThe tour ends back at the same point, Queenstown Airport.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape the day, from parking at the terminal to how the ground hours are spent.

Where this tour sits among 5 tours in Flights From Queenstown And Tekapo listed here (from-price per person, USD)

Departs Lake Tekapo, 50 Minutes$313
Coach and Flight Combo, 12 Hours$498.69
Fly Explore Fly, 8-Hour Day (this tour)$499.26
7-Hour Day Tour, Pickup Included$611.10
Small Group Tour and Heli Hike$687.27

Getting there. Check-in closes 30 minutes before departure at the desk inside the main terminal building. The airport is near public transportation.
Fitness and pace. The Hooker Valley Track gets three hours of the itinerary, and reviewers who completed it praised the views. One reviewer described the ground time as great for the trek to Mt Cook, so plan the walk and lunch around the hours available.
Food and drink. No meals are included, so plan to buy lunch in Mt. Cook Village. One traveller reported a light meal at The Hermitage worked well and still left time for a second short hike.
Weather dependence. The flight requires good weather and offers a different date or a full refund if it is cancelled for poor conditions. Mountain conditions are a real factor in what you see from the air and on foot, so build some flexibility into your plans.
Group feel. The trip carries a maximum of 13 travellers, and minimum numbers are required for the flight to operate. Reviewers mentioned pilots who shared detailed knowledge of geology, glaciers and local history, and one traveller praised the pleasant fellow passengers on their flight.
Photos. One traveller said the views from the plane exceeded anything they had seen in photos beforehand.

From$499.26 per person

Rating5.0 from 61 reviews

Ready To FlyCheck availability →

Common issues. This is not a glacier landing: the aircraft lands at Mt. Cook Airport. The flight requires good weather and minimum numbers, and if either fails the operator offers a different date, a different experience or a full refund. Lunch is not included, and the tour is not wheelchair accessible, while infants must sit on laps. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before start time receive no refund, and one traveller noted hesitating over the language barrier, though they found the staff very accommodating.

Common Questions

Where Does The Tour Start And Is There Parking?

It starts at Queenstown Airport in Frankton, with check-in 30 minutes before departure at the operator's desk inside the main terminal. Terminal Parking A is the closest option and costs up to NZ$20 for the day. Free on-street parking is available on Douglas Street or McBride Street. Hotel pickup is not mentioned, so check the booking page for anything beyond the airport meeting point.

Does The Plane Land On A Glacier?

No. This is clearly not a glacier landing, and the aircraft lands at Mt. Cook Airport. Glacier views come from the air during the flight legs.

Is Lunch Included?

Lunch is not included. It can be purchased in Mt. Cook Village during the ground time, and one reviewer ate at The Hermitage.

How Long Do We Get At Mount Cook?

The itinerary allots five hours at Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, including three hours for the Hooker Valley Track. One reviewer said this was enough to complete the walk during the ground time.

Can Children Join, And Is It Accessible?

Children must be accompanied by an adult, and child and booster seats plus baby earmuffs are available on request. Infants must sit on laps. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, though most travellers can participate.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

Cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside 24 hours, no refund is given and changes are not accepted. Weather cancellations come with the option of a different date or a full refund, and the same applies if minimum traveller numbers are not met.