Queenstown to Lake Tekapo via Mt Cook Tour

Great sights & walks, informative & entertaining guide Joseph

Glacier and mountain views are breathtaking

We joined the trip about one-third of the way through, which we hadn’t realised beforehand. The booking information didn’t clearly state that the journey started in Christchurch, so we didn’t have the opportunity to choose our seats in advance. As a family of four, this made things a bit tricky. I’m 6 foot tall and found the seating quite cramped, especially as some shorter passengers were in seats with more legroom. The seats themselves were fine, but taller travellers may find it a tight fit. It’s worth noting that seating operates on a first-come, first-served basis. That said, the staff were accommodating where they could be. They kindly allowed our daughter, who can get travel sick, to sit in the front seat when it became available after someone got off at Lake Tekapo, which we really appreciated. But possibly more good luck than anything. Safety briefing was given when we changed drivers, after a few hours, unsure if the Christchurch people got that when they got on, but nothing mentioned when we got on. I did have to load our suitcases into the trailer myself, which having back issues wasn’t ideal. Something to be aware of if you’re picked up later than the first collection point. Communication was excellent—there was a delay due to roadworks, and they kept us well informed about timing before picking us up. The snacks/lunch provided were tasty, and the stops along the way were well chosen. The driver/guide also shared informative and interesting commentary throughout the trip, which added to the overall experience. Overall, a good trip with some minor logistical issues to be aware of, especially around seating if you’re joining partway through or are taller.

This excursion is not worth the money. You have to wake up very early in Queenstown, and the main stop on the way to Mount Cook is just for food. On top of that, there are only two short photo stops, and you don’t actually get the full three hours in Mount Cook as advertised. What you can do in Mount Cook is not clearly explained, and the time there is poorly organized. Our second guide barely said a word between the last two stops, so there was really no point in paying extra for this tour.

I had a great trip down to Queenstown with Cheeky Kiwi. Our tour guides, Yanmis and Joe, were both awesome! Both shared insightful stories about landmarks and sights as we passed. We took plenty of breaks and had time to take pictures, grab snacks, and do small hikes. Both guides were helpful, entertaining, and fun to travel with. I'd definitely recommend this as an option to explore New Zealand without having to rent a car and drive yourself. Thanks again guys!