Small Group, 12 Hours
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park Small-Group Tour from Queenstown
from $158.47 per person
Check availability →Opens the live booking page with current dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation.
- Duration
- 12 hours
- Meeting point
- The Station, Queenstown
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Run by
- Cheeky Kiwi Travel
Overview
A 6:30 AM start at The Station on Shotover Street in Queenstown begins a 12-hour small-group day trip to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, capped at 15 travellers with a local guide driving an air-conditioned vehicle with onboard WiFi. The route north crosses Lindis Pass and pauses at Omarama before a quick stop at Lake Pukaki, the last break before the village.
The core of the day is three hours inside the national park itself. Walks there are self guided, and reviewers repeatedly describe the hiking as a highlight, with several calling the views spectacular and the walking manageable at a moderate fitness level. Others described a full and satisfying day. On the return leg the bus stops at High Country Salmon and Jackson Orchards before Queenstown.
Hotel pickup and drop off from select Queenstown locations is complimentary, and booster seats for children aged seven and younger are available on request. Lunch is not included but can be bought at stops en route, so the day suits travellers who want a guided drive, a solid walk, and alpine scenery without organising any of it themselves.
From$158.47 per person
Duration12 hours
Rating4.9 from 351 reviews
What's Included
Included
- Small Group & Fully Guided Tour with Local Guide
- Water available & snacks provided
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- WiFi on board
- 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
- Walks are self guided
- No toilet on board
Run byCheeky Kiwi Travel
Itinerary
- Meet in QueenstownMeet the guide at The Station, Home of Adventure, corner of Shotover and Camp Streets, at 6:30 AM. Complimentary hotel pickup is available from select locations.
- Lindis Pass, 10 minutesA short free stop on the drive north.
- Omarama, 30 minutesA half-hour free stop. Lunch is not included, and there are opportunities to purchase food along the way.
- Lake Pukaki, 5 minutesA quick free photo stop at the lake before turning toward the village.
- Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, 3 hoursThree free hours for self-guided walks. Reviewers describe the hiking here as the best part of the day.
- High Country Salmon, 10 minutesA brief free stop on the return leg.
- Return via QueenstownThe bus passes Jackson Orchards and finishes back at the meeting point, ending a 12-hour day.
PickupIncluded
Starts InQueenstown
What To Expect From The Tour
This is a long day built around a long drive and a self-guided walk, so preparation matters more than gear.
- Fitness and pace. Moderate physical fitness is required, and a large amount of walking on uneven surfaces is involved. Several reviewers described the walks as manageable and enjoyable.
- Three hour window. Park time is fixed at three hours, and the walks are self guided.
- Layer for anything. The tour runs in all weather, so dress appropriately. Reviewers describe snow at Mount Cook on one day and strong autumn colour on another, so pack warm layers regardless of the forecast.
- Food and drink. Snacks and water are provided on board and lunch is not, with chances to buy food at stops en route. Reviewers mention pleasant food stops during the day, including coffee and ice cream.
- Group feel. With a maximum of 15 travellers, reviewers describe a well organised group day.
- Weather flexibility. Weather can close sections of track, as one reviewer found when a bridge shut. Another reviewer reported an added Wanaka stop and snow that delighted the children after unpredictable weather changed the plan, so a flexible mindset helps.
Common issues. The day is long and park time is fixed at three hours. Weather can close sections such as a bridge on the walking route, and one reviewer was unhappy about the refund outcome when that happened. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for travellers with walking disabilities. There is no restroom on board, no lunch included, and the tour can be cancelled or changed if poor weather hits or the minimum traveller count is not met, in which case a different date, a different experience, or a full refund is offered.
Common Questions
What Is Included In The Price?
A fully guided small-group tour with a local guide, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi, water and snacks, complimentary hotel pickup and drop off from select locations, and a booster seat for children aged seven and younger if requested. Lunch is not included, and the walks are self guided.
Where Does The Tour Meet And What Time?
The meeting point is The Station, Home of Adventure, at the corner of Shotover and Camp Streets in Queenstown, at 6:30 AM. Complimentary hotel pickup is offered from select locations, and the tour ends back at the same meeting point.
How Long Is The Tour And How Much Time Do We Get At Mount Cook?
The full day runs 12 hours, with three hours allocated inside Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Reviewers describe the walking during that window as a highlight of the day.
Is Lunch Provided?
No. Lunch is excluded, but there are opportunities to purchase food along the way, and the itinerary includes a half-hour stop at Omarama. Snacks and water are provided on board.
Is The Tour Suitable For Children Or People With Limited Mobility?
Booster and infant seats are available and pushchairs are accessible. However, the tour is not wheelchair accessible, involves a large amount of walking on uneven surfaces, and is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or serious medical conditions. Moderate physical fitness is expected.
What Is The Cancellation Policy?
Cancel at least 24 hours before the 6:30 AM start for a full refund; cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted. The tour requires good weather and a minimum number of travellers, and if it is cancelled for either reason you are offered a different date or experience, or a full refund.
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