Small Group, 13 Hours
Aoraki Mt. 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
- 13 hours
- Meeting point
- The Station, Queenstown
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Run by
- Cheeky Kiwi Travel
Overview
This is a 13-hour day trip from Queenstown to Aoraki Mt. Cook National Park, run by Cheeky Kiwi Travel with a maximum of 15 travellers per departure. The coach leaves The Station on Shotover Street at 6:30 AM and returns there at the end of the day. Hotel pickup is complimentary at select locations, and the vehicle has air conditioning, onboard WiFi, and booster seats for children aged seven and younger on request.
The route north passes through Cromwell, over Lindis Pass, and stops at the sheep statue in Omarama before reaching Lake Pukaki. Guests then get about three hours inside the national park itself, where walks are self guided. Reviews mention the Hooker Valley Track and a Tasman Glacier viewpoint among the walks travellers take here. Lunch is not included, but there are chances to buy food along the way.
The return leg stops at High Country Salmon and Jackson Orchards before the drive back to Queenstown. A local guide provides commentary throughout, and reviewers frequently single out the guides as a strong point of the day, along with the stops, snacks, and included water.
From$158.47 per person
Duration13 hours
Rating4.9 from 445 reviews
What's Included
Included
- Fully Guided Small Group Tour with Local Guide
- Water available & snacks provided
- Complimentary Hotel Pickup & Drop Off (Select locations only)
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- WiFi on board
- 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
- Guided hikes: these are self guided
- No toilet on board
Run byCheeky Kiwi Travel
Itinerary
- Meet at The StationCheck in at The Station, corner of Shotover and Camp Streets, Queenstown, for a 6:30 AM departure. Complimentary hotel pickup is available at select locations.
- Cromwell stopA 5-minute break in Cromwell, free to enter.
- Lindis PassA 15-minute photo stop at the pass.
- Omarama sheep statueA 30-minute stop at the Omarama Sheep Statue.
- Lake PukakiA 15-minute stop at the lake on the approach to the mountain.
- Aoraki Mt. Cook parkRoughly 3 hours in the national park. Walks here are self guided, and lunch is not included but can be purchased along the way.
- High Country SalmonA 20-minute stop.
- Jackson OrchardsA 15-minute stop. Purchases are extra.
- Return to QueenstownThe tour ends back at the meeting point.
PickupIncluded
Starts InQueenstown
What To Expect From The Tour
A long day on the road with several short breaks and a few hours of walking, so preparation matters.
- Footwear and clothing. The tour runs in all weather and travellers are asked to dress appropriately. The weather can change the experience, with cloud sometimes hiding the summit, so layers are a sensible choice.
- Fitness for the walks. Walks are self guided, so pace is your own within the time allowed. Reviewers describe the hikes as rewarding, with one calling them challenging enough to earn great vistas.
- Food and drink. Water and snacks are provided on board, but lunch is not included.
- Group and vehicle. The vehicle carries a maximum of 15 travellers, with air conditioning, WiFi, and no restroom on board. One reviewer found the minibus comfortable and the small group a plus, though another found the day too long overall.
- Weather luck. Cloud can hide the summit of Mt. Cook, something reviewers mention often. One guide reportedly adjusted the plan so the group could see the summit later in the day, but there is no guarantee. If weather forces cancellation, a different date or a full refund is offered.
- Children and seats. The tour is pushchair accessible and offers infant seats. A booster or safety seat is provided for children aged seven and younger, and you can bring your own if you prefer, just advise the operator when booking.
Common issues. Weather is the big variable: cloud cover can block the mountain entirely, and the tour requires a minimum number of travellers, with a different date, different experience, or full refund offered if that minimum is not met. Cancellations less than 24 hours before the 6:30 AM start get no refund. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and there is no restroom on the bus. Guide quality varies too, with most reviews praising the guides but one noting their guide was new to the area and had limited local knowledge.
Common Questions
What Is Included In The Tour Price?
The price covers a fully guided small group tour with a local guide, hotel pickup and drop off at select locations, an air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi, and water and snacks. A safety or booster seat for children aged seven and younger is also provided on request.
Is Lunch Included?
No. Lunch is not included, but the itinerary builds in opportunities to purchase food along the way. Stops at High Country Salmon and Jackson Orchards are free to enter, though anything you buy there is at your own cost. Water and snacks on the bus are included.
Where Does The Tour Pick Up?
The meeting point is The Station, Home of Adventure, at the corner of Shotover and Camp Streets in Queenstown, with a 6:30 AM departure. The tour ends back at the meeting point.
Is The Tour Suitable For Kids Or People With Limited Mobility?
Pushchairs are allowed and infant seats are available, and children aged seven and younger get a safety or booster seat. The tour is not wheelchair accessible. Walking inside the park is self guided, and most travellers can participate. The hikes are manageable but active.
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 needs good weather and a minimum number of travellers, so if the operator cancels for either reason you are offered a different date, a different experience, or a full refund.
What Should I Bring And Wear?
Dress for all weather, since the tour runs regardless of conditions and mountain weather can turn. Wear shoes you can walk tracks in comfortably. Bring money or a card for lunch and purchases at the salmon farm and orchard stops. Note there is no restroom on board the vehicle.
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