Mt Cook & Lake Tekapo Small-Group Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
- Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd
- Enjoy panoramic views of Lake Tekapo
- Discover the Mackenzie Basin's unique landscapes
- Experience a small-group tour with personalized attention
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Round-trip transportation from Christchurch
- Guided tour of Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
- Lunch at a local café
- Personal expenses and gratuities
Itinerary
Your tour starts in the stunning city of Christchurch. 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.
Pass by: Departing Christchurch we then make our way through the impressive Canterbury plains with plenty of amazing New Zealand farmland and countryside to see along the way!
A charming South Canterbury town known for its boutique shops and local produce. This is where we’ll pause to collect your lunch, take a short rest break, grab a coffee if you’d like, and use the facilities before we continue our journey.
We head towards the famous blue lakes of Lake Tekapo but to get there first we must go through some impressive alpine passes with amazing views. As we come over the hill to Tekapo you will be stunned by amazing view of the lake. Stop for a photo at the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd
Pass by: 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. It’s not hard to see why many Lord of the Rings scene were filmed nearby and we will point them out for you.
While in the national park you have 2 hours free time to enjoy free walks/hikes or one of the extra optional activities. Some of our recommendations include: Tasman Glacier Walk, Scenic flights (see the region from the air and land on the Tasman Glacier) or Mt Cook Visitor Centre & Hermitage Hotel. Whatever you decide to do we will pick you up and drop you off where you need to go and make sure you are well looked after.
We stop briefly in Lake Tekapo for one last time to take those last minute late evening photos of the Church and the Lake.
Pass by: Unfortunately after an amazing day of sightseeing it is time to return to Christchurch. Additional stops are taken into considerations for toilet breaks.
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately for the weather.
- Children under 5 years old are not permitted on this tour.
- Please inform the operator of any dietary restrictions in advance.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for uneven terrain.
- Bring a light jacket or sweater, as temperatures can vary.
- Don't forget your camera to capture the stunning landscapes.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Infant Seats Available
- Easy Public Transport
- Stroller Accessible
Good to know
- Children aged 7 years and below are required to travel in a child safety car seat. You can hire seats ($20NZD per seat) or you can provide your own
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
- A moderate amount of walking is involved.. Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
Traveler reviews
Nice tour
It was an overall nice day for this tour. We were able to spend some time at Lake Tekapo, which was beautiful. Due to fog and a truck accident, we weren’t able to spend much time at Mount Cook, and we missed seeing the glacier. Cheeky Kiwi and our guide did a great job with communicating with the group about our options. I would recommend this company.
PERFECT! I had a wonderful day
Perfect trip! Rosy is very knowledgeable and shared a lot of interesting info with us. The organization was perfect as well.
Spectacular South Island Experience with an Excellent Guide
My experience on the day trip from Christchurch to Mt Cook was fantastic, especially considering that it is a long journey of about five hours each way. Our guide, Grant, has a background in geology, which made him exceptionally knowledgeable about the geography of New Zealand and the South Island in particular. I learned a great deal from him throughout the trip, and his commentary added a deeper appreciation of the landscapes we were seeing. Grant was friendly, professional, and accommodating throughout the day. He made everyone feel welcome and ensured the trip ran smoothly. As a deaf traveler, I especially appreciated his efforts to accommodate my communication needs. We were fortunate to have beautiful weather at Mt Cook and enjoyed about two hours there under sunny skies. On the return journey, we were also able to visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and Lake Tekapo on a clear day, which was especially nice since those areas had been foggy on our way to Mt Cook earlier in the day. The scenery was spectacular, and the tour was very well organized from start to finish. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys nature, mountains, and some of the most beautiful landscapes New Zealand has to offer.
Mt Cook day trip
Rosie was our guide and she was extremely warm, friendly and informative.. By end of the day, we connected so well.. Extremely professional, classy.. highly recommend cheekykiwi travel.. if you are lucky, Rosie will take you through the best day trip
Cheekykiwi: Christchurch to Mt. Cook
OMG so fun. Was a little worried that the clouds would stay all day and we wouldn't be able to see Mt. cook, but they cleared and we had an amazing view. For the price, this is totally worth it. 12 hour day but you stop at several places and have 2 hours in Mt. Cook! Our driver was amazing and super knowledgeable on New Zealand. Cheekykiwi is good for small group trips as we only had 8 people on our tour! The atmosphere was fun and everyone was excited to see everything. Definitely would book this tour again in the future