Queenstown to Christchurch 1-way via Mt Cook & Tekapo

Highlights

• Lunch, bottled water and Kiwi snacks included. No café stops to budget for.
• Two to two and a half hours at Aoraki Mt Cook: hike, explore or fly.
• Expert local guides: deep knowledge of Māori history and the Mackenzie.
• Certified carbon neutral tour within Aoraki Mt Cook National Park.
• WiFi and USB charging on board for the full 13-hour journey.

Description

Most people fly from Queenstown to Christchurch. In an hour, they miss everything in between. This full-day small-group tour covers the same distance on the ground, stopping at Kawarau Gorge, the Mackenzie Basin, Aoraki Mt Cook National Park and Lake Tekapo. You arrive in Christchurch in the evening having seen more of New Zealand in one day than most visitors see in a week. Your guide leads the day with local knowledge, te reo Māori place names and the stories of the land. At 3724 metres, Aoraki is New Zealand's highest peak. For Ngā Tahu iwi, he is far more than a mountain. His story speaks to the formation of Kā Tiritiri o te Moana (the Southern Alps) and is one of the most important Māori legends of the South Island. You will hear it on the road. The first stop is Kawarau Gorge, however from November 1, 2026 this will be replaced with Wānaka, where your guide collects lunch and Wānaka-based passengers join the tour. You have time at the lakefront, including #ThatWānakaTree and views across the water towards Mt Aspiring National Park. The route then heads north through the Mackenzie Basin: Ōmārama, a brief stop at Twizel beside Lake Ruataniwha, and then Lake Pukaki, whose glacier-fed water shifts from ice blue to deep aqua. On clear days, Aoraki rises directly from the far end of the lake. You have two to two and a half hours at Aoraki Mt Cook National Park. Embark on one of two walk options (Tasman Glacier Viewpoint or Hooker Valley - please note that you may not have time to complete the tracks in their entirety due to time allotted). Scenic flights and Heli Hike can be arranged through your guide on the day. The final stop is Lake Tekapo and the Church of the Good Shepherd, with the Southern Alps behind it. From late November to early January, wild lupins line the lake shore. Lunch is included. Your guide collects it at Wānaka. WiFi and USB charging on board. Maximum 16. Carbon neutral within the national park. Wānaka pickup available.

Includes

Lunch (collected by your guide at the Wānaka stop) Bottled water Kiwi snacks WiFi on board USB charging on board Live guide commentary throughout Small-group experience, maximum 16 people Transport in a modern Mercedes Sprinter or similar vehicle Carbon neutral tour of Aoraki Mt Cook National Park Drop-off in Christchurch

Excludes

Gratuities Scenic flights (can be arranged through your guide on the day, sold separately) Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre entry (available to purchase at Mt Cook Village) Accommodation Additional personal purchases

Important Information

• Dress in layers — Queenstown and Aoraki Mt Cook differ significantly in temperature. Bring a waterproof jacket; alpine weather changes rapidly. Wear closed-toe shoes with grip for the uneven, stony Tasman Glacier Viewpoint Track. Bring sunscreen — UV is strong at altitude, especially in summer. Two guides operate this tour, swapping at Mt Cook Village (Queenstown–Mt Cook, then Mt Cook–Christchurch). Not wheelchair accessible. Not recommended for serious back/heart conditions or pregnancy. Children aged 7 and under need a car seat — request at booking, 24hrs notice. Scenic flights and Heli Hike can be arranged with your guide on the day (weather/availability permitting, sold separately). Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre entry not included; purchase on arrival. Time at Aoraki Mt Cook may be reduced due to delays or road conditions. Departs near public transport. Wānaka travellers: select the Wānaka join/alight option at booking. Hotel pickups from 6:15am — be ready outside 5 mins early.

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund