Private South Island journeys
Christchurch to Aoraki Mount Cook
A private guided journey to New Zealand's highest mountain, past the turquoise lakes of the Mackenzie and into an alpine national park beneath the Southern Alps, with one expert guide the whole way.
The route
The journey
Aoraki Mount Cook lies about four and a half hours from Christchurch, and few drives anywhere build to such a finish. The route climbs through the Canterbury high country to Lake Tekapo, then follows the shore of Lake Pukaki, whose turquoise water frames Aoraki dead ahead, into Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Your guide times the day so the mountain is at its best when you arrive.
What you will see
Aoraki Mount Cook highlights
- Aoraki / Mount Cook itself, 3,724 metres, at the head of the valley.
- The Hooker Valley Track, one of the great short walks in the country, to a glacial lake below the peak.
- The Tasman Glacier and its iceberg-dotted terminal lake.
- Kea Point and the alpine scenery of the park, with a good chance of meeting a kea.
How it works
Travel it privately
A private journey, for your party alone, with hotel pickup in Christchurch and a premium vehicle throughout, and the pace entirely yours: time for the Hooker Valley if you want it, and an unhurried lunch. Aoraki Mount Cook is the centrepiece of our one-day private journey from Christchurch to Queenstown via Mt Cook.
From NZD $940 per person.
Tours run on demand. Enquire about this journey.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How far is Christchurch to Aoraki Mount Cook?
About 330 kilometres and four to four and a half hours by road, past Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki.
What walks are there at Mount Cook?
The Hooker Valley Track is the highlight. Your guide can suggest shorter options to suit the day and the group.
Will we see the turquoise lakes?
Yes. The route passes both Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki, with Aoraki framed at the head of Pukaki.
Do we have the same guide for the whole journey?
Yes. One expert driver-guide stays with you from pickup to drop-off, even when the journey continues south to Queenstown.
Can we continue to Queenstown?
Yes. Mount Cook features on our one-day private journey from Christchurch to Queenstown via Mt Cook.
Plan your journey
Travel the South Island in style
Tell us what you would like to experience, or let your guide design the day around you.
