Coach And Flight Combo, 12 Hours

Mt Cook Tour & Ultimate Alpine Experience Combo from Queenstown

★ 4.6 60 reviews

from $498.69 per person

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Duration: 12 hours
Meeting point: The Station, Queenstown
Cancellation: Free cancellation
Run by: Cheeky Kiwi Travel

Overview

Cheeky Kiwi Travel runs the coach side, with a maximum of 15 travellers, and the flights are operated by the tour's airline partner, subject to availability and confirmed on the day. You meet at The Station on Shotover Street at 6:30 AM, or take the complimentary hotel pickup from select locations.

The drive north is broken into short stops. Cromwell, the Lindis Pass lookout, and Omarama all act as leg stretches, and later stops include Lake Pukaki and the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre. At Mount Cook itself the flight portion takes over, with a snow landing on the Tasman Glacier. On the return leg the route calls at High Country Salmon and Jackson Orchards before finishing back in Queenstown.

It suits travellers who want the Mount Cook region and a glacier landing in a single long day from Queenstown. It is not a relaxed half day. Lunch is not included, though there are chances to buy food along the route.

From$498.69 per person

Duration12 hours

Rating4.6 from 60 reviews

What's Included

Included

Small Group & Fully Guided Bus Tour
Ultimate Alpine Experience Scenic Flights & Glacier Landing
Water available & snacks provided
Air-conditioned vehicle
Complimentary hotel pickup & drop off (select locations only)
Booster seat (Safety/booster seat for children aged 7 & younger (please advise if you prefer to provide your own))

Not Included

Lunch - opportunities to purchase along the way
Toilets on board (Restroom on board)

Run byCheeky Kiwi Travel

Itinerary

Meet in QueenstownMeet the guide at The Station, corner of Shotover and Camp Streets, at 6:30 AM. Complimentary hotel pickup is available from select locations.
Cromwell and Lindis PassA 5 minute stop at Cromwell, then 15 minutes at the Lindis Pass lookout to break up the drive north.
OmaramaA 30 minute stop at Omarama.
Lake PukakiA 15 minute photo stop at the lake before the final approach to Mount Cook.
Flights and glacier landing30 minutes at Mount Cook Ski Planes and Helicopters for the Ultimate Alpine Experience flights, then 20 minutes at the Tasman Glacier, both included in the tour price.
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park
Return stopsA 15 minute stop at High Country Salmon and 15 minutes at Jackson Orchards on the way back, both free to enter.
Back to QueenstownThe tour ends back at the meeting point in Queenstown.

Glacier LandingWeather permitting

PickupIncluded

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this day actually goes.

Dress in layers. The bus tour runs in all weather, so travellers should dress appropriately. Snow glare is real on the glacier. One traveller who visited in March would have skipped the fleece and packed lighter, and bringing sunglasses for the sun on the snow is advised.
Weather decides the flight. The flight partner makes the go or no go call on the day, sometimes with little notice. Several reviewers reported flights cut short or cancelled for wind, so treat the glacier landing as the highlight that may not happen, not a guarantee.
Pace and fitness. A moderate level of physical fitness is expected. Uneven surfaces mean the tour is not recommended for travellers with walking disabilities or wheelchair users.
Food on the road. Lunch is not included, and there is no restroom on board. Snacks and water are provided, and the route passes cafes and food stops, including the salmon farm where reviewers bought fresh sushi rolls.
Small group feel. The coach carries a maximum of 15 travellers.
Timing and wait. Flights depend on the airline partner's schedule, and waits at the airfield are possible. One reviewer found the airport wait long, and another mentioned the flight replacing hike time on their day.

From$498.69 per person

Rating4.6 from 60 reviews

Ready To FlyCheck availability →

Common issues. The honest catch is weather. The day is long, with a lengthy drive each way, and the return leg is draining. Seating on the vehicles can be cramped. There is a total weight per passenger limit of 116 kg, and the tour is not wheelchair accessible.

Common Questions

What Is Included In The Tour Price?

The price covers the fully guided coach tour, the Ultimate Alpine Experience scenic flights with glacier landing, snacks and water, an air conditioned vehicle, and complimentary hotel pickup and drop off from select locations. A booster seat for children aged 7 and younger is included, and the operator asks you to advise if you prefer to provide your own. Entry to the flight and glacier portions is included.

Is Lunch Included?

No, lunch is not included, but there are opportunities to buy food along the way. Snacks and water are provided on board. There is no restroom on the coach.

Where Does The Tour Start And What Time?

The meeting point is The Station, Home of Adventure, at the corner of Shotover and Camp Streets in Queenstown, and the pickup time is 6:30 AM. Hotel pickup from select locations is included, so confirm your exact pickup when booking. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

Is The Tour Suitable For Children And People With Limited Mobility?

Booster and infant seats are available, and one child loved the helicopter ride. However, the tour is not wheelchair accessible, and due to uneven surfaces it is not recommended for travellers with walking disabilities. A moderate level of physical fitness is expected, and travellers should have no heart problems or other serious medical conditions.

What Happens If The Flight Is Cancelled For Weather?

The flight partner decides on the day whether conditions allow flying, and cancellations can happen at short notice. The coach tour itself runs in all weather, so the day still goes ahead.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

Cancel at least 24 hours before the 6:30 AM start for a full refund. Inside 24 hours there is no refund and changes are not accepted. If the operator cancels for poor weather or because the minimum traveller number is not met, you are offered a different date, a different experience, or a full refund.