Mount Cook Activities

Aoraki Mount Cook rises 3,724 metres above the Mackenzie Basin, making it the tallest peak in New Zealand, and Aoraki Mount Cook National Park around it holds most of the country's highest mountains and its longest glacier. Our Mount Cook tours range from scenic flights and glacier heli hikes to heli skiing and stargazing under some of the clearest night skies in the Southern Hemisphere.

Scenic Flights Over Aoraki

Seeing Aoraki from the air changes the scale of the place entirely. The 20 Minute Mount Cook Scenic Flight is the fastest way up for a first look, while the 40 Minute Mount Cook Scenic Helicopter Flight and Alpine Explorer push further into the surrounding peaks. For the longest look from the cockpit, the Helicopter 55 Minute Flight and Glacier Highlights Ski Plane Scenic Flight both cover more of the ice fields feeding the Tasman Glacier below.

Onto the Ice

Scenic flights show you the glacier, but landing on it is a different experience again. The Tasman Glacier Heli Hike from Mount Cook walks visitors through crevasses and seracs with a guide, while the Grand Circle and Tasman Taster combine flying and walking in different proportions depending on how much time you have. The Mount Cook Ultimate Alpine Experience packages the fullest version of all three into a single outing.

Heli Skiing on the Tasman Glacier

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is also home to some of the most remote heli skiing in the country. Mount Cook Heli Ski lands skiers and boarders on the upper Tasman Glacier for untracked runs below the main divide, and our full Mount Cook ski and snow range covers packages with more runs for a bigger day out.

Stargazing Under the Mackenzie's Dark Sky

The Mackenzie Basin surrounding Aoraki is part of one of the largest dark sky reserves in the world, with almost no light pollution to compete with the stars. Private Stargazing puts a guide and telescope between you and the Milky Way, well away from the small amount of light the village itself gives off.

Combining Mount Cook with Lake Tekapo and the West Coast

Aoraki sits within easy reach of two other Southern Alps highlights. The Grand Traverse from Lake Tekapo links the alpine lake's turquoise water with Aoraki's peaks in one flight, while the Mount Cook Spectacular with Glacier Landing departs from the West Coast side for a different route in over Franz Josef and Fox Glacier.

Why Book Your Mount Cook Tour with Everything New Zealand

We are your local travel partner across the Mackenzie Basin and the Southern Alps, not the operator, so we only list Mount Cook tours we would genuinely recommend to family and friends. Compare scenic flights, glacier hikes, heli skiing and stargazing side by side, book online in a few minutes and get instant confirmation. Less scrolling, more soaring, straight to the good bits of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Aoraki Mount Cook? Aoraki Mount Cook stands 3,724 metres above sea level, making it New Zealand's tallest mountain and the centrepiece of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park.

What is the best way to see the Tasman Glacier? A scenic flight gives the widest view of the Tasman Glacier from above, while a heli hike lands you directly on the ice for a guided walk through its crevasses, so the better option depends on whether you want to fly over it or stand on it.

Is Mount Cook good for stargazing? Yes, the Mackenzie Basin around Aoraki Mount Cook is part of a large dark sky reserve, with very little light pollution, making it one of the clearer places in New Zealand to see the Milky Way.

Can beginners do a Mount Cook heli hike or heli ski? Heli hikes are suitable for most reasonably fit visitors with a guide leading the route, while heli skiing on the Tasman Glacier suits intermediate to advanced skiers and boarders due to the ungroomed terrain.

Can I visit Mount Cook as a day trip from Lake Tekapo? Yes, Lake Tekapo and Aoraki Mount Cook National Park sit close enough together that a scenic flight or day tour can easily combine both in one outing.