The BEST Mount Cook HELICOPTER TOURS in New Zealand

A Mount Cook helicopter tour is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the majesty of New Zealand’s highest peak and its breathtaking alpine surroundings. It’s an unforgettable experience witnessing the Southern Alps from above. But, choosing the right scenic flight to Mount Cook can be confusing with all the different options and tour operators. That’s why we wrote this complete guide to the best Mt Cook helicopter tours. In this guide you will get an extensive overview of the best Mt Cook helicopter tours including reviews, differences, costs and other important things you need to know about helicopter tours to Mount Cook.

FIND HERE ALL MOUNT COOK HELICOPTER TOURS ON VIATOR

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What are the differences between all the Mount Cook helicopter tours?

You might feel overwhelmed after seeing all the different Mt Cook scenic flights which are being advertised. Because which one suits your preferences the best? And which one is the most all inclusive Mount Cook helicopter tour?

Here is a quick break down to distinguish the different Mount Cook helicopter tours before we dive deeper into all the separated tours. This will help you to understand the important differences per tour so that you can make a considered decision.

Mount Cook helicopter flight including glacier landing

All Mount Cook helicopter flights include a snow landing. It depends per tour where you will land. Some of the tours land on Tasman Glacier, others on Fox glacier. The main difference between all tours is the length and thus the distance you will fly. Logically the longer you fly, the more you will see and the more expensive the tour gets. Check here all the optional helicopter tour lengths:

Mount Cook ski plane and helicopter tour including glacier landing

With this tour you will have the best of both worlds! A ski plane flight with glacier landing and then you will switch vehicle and continue the tour by helicopter. This 45 minute tour is great value for money!

Book here your 45 minute Mount Cook Ski Plane and Helicopter tour

Mount Cook ski plane & helicopter flight incl snow landing and glacier hiking

If you want to get the most out of your Mount Cook experience, then this tour is the one for you. During this half day tour you will not only fly above the breathtaking landscape and have a glacier landing. But you will also embark on a 2 hour Tasman glacier hike with your professional guide! This is the ultimate Mount Cook heli hike experience!

Book here your Mount Cook and Tasman Glacier heli hike experience

Mount Cook Ski Plane and Helicopter Alpine Combo Flight

Tour length: 45 minutes | Rating: 5 stars | Check availability and prices here

This is some of the best and most complete Mount Cook helicopter tours. You will get the best of both worlds! First you will soar over Tasman terminal lake in a ski plane while you can admire the Tasman Valley and breathtaking blue glacier lake. When you’re getting closer to the icefields you can see the Hochstetter Icefall and cloud-piercing Aoraki/Mount Cook before landing on the upper snowfields of the Tasman Glacier. Here you can enjoy this unique alpine environment before you change vehicle. You will now get in a helicopter to enjoy the rest of this stunning flight. Who can say they have flown in a ski plane AND helicopter on the same day, and walked on a glacier as well?! YOU after you’ve secured your seat for this tour here!

This tour can be booked either via GetYourGuide and Viator. Check both providers to see where you can get the best deal!

This helicopter tour includes:

Ski plane flight
Helicopter flight
Glacier landing
Professional guide
Free car parking at the Aoraki Mt. Cook Airport or pickup from your hotel in Aoraki Mount Cook Village

Key information:

Meeting point at Mount Cook Airport.
Wheelchair accessible.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled by the operator due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Minimum of 4 people per flight applies before the flight will operate.
For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.

Mt Cook Helicopter Tour and Ultimate Alpine Experience

Tour length: approximately 12 hours | Rating: 5 stars | Check availability and prices here

This fully guided day trip from Queenstown combines all the key highlights of Mt Cook National Park. It’s huge value for money with a scenic helicopter flight and a ski plane including an alpine snow landing on the Tasman Glacier! You will get picked up from your hotel in Queenstown and depart towards Mount Cook National Park while seeing amazing aerial views of the Lindis Pass, Omarama Cliffs and Lake Pukaki along the way. When arrived at Mount Cook Airport you will change the helicopter for a ski plane for the ultimate glacier experience of Aoraki/Mount Cook! This amazing adventure includes an alpine landing on the Tasman Glacier where you can explore the ice fields. When you get back to Mount Cook Airport you will be brought to Mt Cook village where you’ll have 2.5 hours free time to enjoy the Mt Cook walks or other optional activities.

This helicopter tour includes:

Pick up and drop off from your hotel in Queenstown
Ultimate Alpine Experience Scenic Flights & Glacier Landing
Snacks and Bottled water

Key information:

Right before you book you should know the following things:

This tour is not wheelchair accessible
English speaking guides
Operates in all weather conditions, so dress appropriately
Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair
For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time

Mount Cook and The Glaciers Helicopter Flight

Tour length: 60 minutes | Rating: 5 stars | Check availability and prices here

During this unforgettable experience you will glide over the glaciers and snowfields of Aoraki/Mount Cook in a helicopter and touch down in the snow. Here you can walk around for about 10 minutes before getting back in the warm aircraft. Then you will fly over the Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier before passing Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier. This is truly the ultimate Glacier Helicopter experience and is huge value for money due to the distance you travel by helicopter. You will see all the incredible highlights of New Zealand in just one flight. And with this particular helicopter flight you actually don’t need to book another one in Franz Josef, because you have already seen the glaciers during this flight!

This helicopter tour includes:

Pick up and drop off from your hotel in Mount Cook Village
55 minutes scenic helicopter flight time
10 minutes snow landing

Key information:

Right before you book you should know the following things:

This tour is not wheelchair accessible
English speaking guides
Wear warm clothing and suitable footwear due to cold temperatures
Subject to favourable weather conditions. If the tour is cancelled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund

Tasman Glacier Helicopter Ride and Hike

Tour length: 3 or 6 hours | Rating: 5 stars | Check availability and prices here

Treat yourself on the most unique experience you can do in New Zealand. Walking on New Zealand’s biggest glacier! There are different options available, depending if you book this 6 hour heli hike tour from Queenstown or this 3 hour Tasman Glacier heli hike tour from Mount Cook Airport. Both tours include 2 scenic flights and of course the opportunity to explore some of the most remote places in New Zealand. There is no other way to explore these ice caves and see remarkable landscapes in any other way.

The 6 hour heli hike tour from Queenstown includes the following:

One hour fixed-wing plane from Queenstown to Franz Josef or Tasman Glacier
15 minute helicopter flight to a landing point high on the glacier
Two hours hike on the glacier with experienced guides that will take you into a deep part of the glacier exploring the ice formations
Hiking boots and crampons
Pick-up from Queenstown Central accommodation

The 3 hour Tasman Glacier heli hike from Mount Cook Airport includes the following:

2 scenic flights with spectacular helicopter views
2 hours hike on the glacier with your experienced guide to explore the amazing ice formations
Leather hiking boots, crampons, walking pole, waterproof jacket

tasman-glacier-hiking-mt-cook-helicopter

Why should you book a Mt Cook helicopter tour?

The short and simple answer to this question is of course that it is a bucket list experience for many! Flying over the majestic Southern Alps with Aoraki Mount Cook as highlight will leave you in awe of the incredible beauty of this pristine alpine region. It is an unforgettable experience, and in all honesty… If you’re coming to New Zealand without booking a scenic flight, you have really missed out on something unique. And even for smaller budgets there are shorter, more affordable helicopter tours available.

Check here our complete guide to the best Queenstown helicopter tours

But to get a bit more in depth and to convince you even more (if you aren’t already!) to book a Mount Cook helicopter flight, here are the reasons:

Breathtaking scenery: Mount Cook and the surrounding Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park boast some of the most stunning and dramatic landscapes in the world. A helicopter tour provides a bird’s-eye view of the snow-capped peaks, glaciers, alpine lakes, and rugged terrain, offering a unique and unparalleled perspective of this natural wonder.
Glacier experience: The opportunity to fly over and land on a glacier is a highlight of many Mount Cook helicopter tours. Seeing the expansive Tasman Glacier from above and stepping out onto the icy landscape is a rare and awe-inspiring adventure. Therefore I highly recommend to include a snow landing when booking your tour.
Time efficient: Helicopter tours are an efficient way to experience the beauty of Mount Cook and its surroundings in a short amount of time. With a helicopter you can cover a vast area and see numerous landmarks, saving you time and energy compared to other forms of exploration.
Available for all ages: Helicopter tours are suitable for a wide range of travelers, from families with children to older individuals. The tours are generally accessible to most people, no matter their physical abilities.

More helicopter tours in New Zealand

Booking a helicopter tour in New Zealand is truly a memorable experience. The sheer thrill of flying in a helicopter over New Zealand’s stunning landscapes creates lasting memories that you’ll treasure for a lifetime. Most of the scenic flights in New Zealand are very reasonable priced considering what you get in return. So if you are visiting New Zealand, I would highly, highly recommend booking one of the incredible scenic flights. Whether it is in Queenstown, Franz Josef, Milford Sound of Mount Cook!

Read here our other guides about:

Best Franz Josef heli hiking tours

12 best Queenstown helicopter tours

How to get around in New Zealand

To experience New Zealand to the fullest and at your own pace, renting a car, campervan or motorhome is the best way to get around. Whether you rent a car or campervan depends on your preference and budget. If you love camping, being outdoors all day and you don’t mind a smaller living space, then renting a camper van is the way to go. It also gives you the freedom to sleep at some of the most beautiful camping spots, but for some of them you’ll have to make a reservation and plan your trip accordingly. The same goes for a motorhome which is bigger than a campervan and fits about 4-6 people. Here’s what you need to know about renting a car, camper van or motorhome in New Zealand.

Car rental New Zealand

Renting a car in New Zealand is the easiest and cheapest rental vehicle available. It will get you to all the best destinations with ease and gives you the freedom to stop for a break wherever you want. However, you should keep in mind that some roads in New Zealand are still gravel or that you have to cross shallow rivers to some destinations in National Parks. Therefore we personally recommend a mini SUV or SUV model to have enough clearance for these kind of roads.

The best place to book your rental car in New Zealand is on Discover Cars where you can compare different car models, prices, companies and terms and conditions. Make sure to secure the booking of your rental car as soon as possible to have the lowest price possible. Prices go up the closer you get to the pick up date.

Campervan rental in New Zealand

Traveling around in a campervan is one of the most popular ways for a roadtrip in New Zealand. With a bed, small kitchen and seating area you will have all the (basic) needs on four wheels. A campervan allows you to camp at plenty of beautiful places, sometimes for free, sometimes for a fee. It will you give you a true feeling of freedom and connects you with nature. We personally recommend to book your campervan with Travellers Autobarn. They have a wide range of Stationwagons, 2-berth campervans & 3-5 berth campervans to hire for all budgets. All Travellers Autobarn campervan hires in New Zealand come with free unlimited kilometers, 10% discount to premium campgrounds, 24/7 road side assistance & long term rental discounts. Check the availability and prices today to secure your campervan for a New Zealand dream roadtrip!

More New Zealand travel guides

I hope you enjoyed this complete guide about the best Mount Cook helicopter tours. We have many more New Zealand travel guides, so make sure to check them out for more tips and to plan your ultimate New Zealand road trip!

What are the differences between all the Mount Cook helicopter tours?

Mount Cook helicopter flight including glacier landing

Mount Cook ski plane and helicopter tour including glacier landing

Mount Cook ski plane & helicopter flight incl snow landing and glacier hiking

Why should you book a Mt Cook helicopter tour?

More helicopter tours in New Zealand

How to get around in New Zealand

Car rental New Zealand

Campervan rental in New Zealand

More New Zealand travel guides

South Island New Zealand guides

Queenstown

Wanaka

Mount Cook National Park

Glenorchy

Fiordland National Park

Franz Josef Glacier Country

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