From
**Not Available over the winter months - Our Glacier Explorer Activity is
available from November - May. **
Join Altitude Tours and visit Mount Cook in a day from Queenstown.
Experience the unique alpine landscapes of the Southern Alps as you travel
with us into Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Once in Mt Cook join Glacier
Explorers and get up close to icebergs and the terminal face on a unique boat
trip on the Tasman Glacial Lake.
Your Adventure Begins
Start your day by meeting our friendly local guide at your Queenstown
accommodation or nearby. You'll travel in style in a premium Mercedes van
designed for touring with only 16 seats onboard. As we depart Queenstown, the
first leg of our journey takes us through the Central Otago wine regions of
Gibbston and Cromwell. We then cross the dramatic Lindis Pass before making a
brief stop in Omarama for refreshments and an opportunity to purchase
lunch/snacks (we recommend you bring lunch with you, as there is limited time
before you check-in for your activity).
Welcome to Mackenzie Country
The scenery transforms as we enter Mackenzie Country, and our guide will
entertain you with stories and interesting facts as we trace the edge of the
Southern Alps. Along the way, we'll pass a network of lakes and canals near
Twizel, renowned for its fishing of fresh Mt Cook Alpine salmon. Once we veer
off the main road, we'll follow the stunning bright blue waters of Lake Pukaki
before arriving at Mt Cook Village.
Mount Cook Adventure & Glacier Explorers
Welcome to Mt Cook! Arriving at approximately 12 pm, your guide will transport
you to the Hermitage where you will check in for your Glacier Explorer
experience. Take a short bus journey to the Tasman Valley, then a
25-minute/1.5km alpine walk through the National Park where you board the
Glacier Explorers boat for a one-hour experience on the lake, getting up close
to glacial icebergs and learning about this unique and ever-changing
environment.
The Journey Back
After the boat trip, walk the track back to the carpark and be transported
back to the Hermitage where your Altitude Tours guide will collect you to
commence the return journey to Queenstown. Sit back, relax, and take in the
views. This day tour spans approximately 12 hours, and our smaller vehicles
and attentive guide ensure your comfort and entertainment throughout the
journey.
Experience the Unforgettable
Let us take you on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Mount Cook and discover
more with Altitude Tours. The 12-hour Mount Cook day tour departs Queenstown
daily at 7:30am, returning by 7:30pm.
The Glacier Explorers experience is subject to availability at the time of
booking and the Altitude Tours reservations team will reconfirm with you once
booked.Glacier Explorer
Thank you so much for choosing Altitude Tours for your upcoming day exploring
Aoraki Mt Cook National Park. We're thrilled to be your hosts and can't wait
to show you the incredible sights around our tallest peak.
Pick Up Location:
Take note of your pick up location and time on this confirmation, and make
sure you are aware of where you need to be on the day. There is a handy Google
Maps link to help direct you to the right place. Aim to get there 10 minutes
before the departure time, and that way we can head off on tour without any
delay, and enjoy that extra time exploring Mt Cook. Tip - look out for a
Mercedes van!
Glacier Explorers
Shortly after arriving in Mt Cook, your guide will take you to the Hermitage
Hotel where you will check-in for your Glacier Explorers experience. This tour
is approximately 3 hours and will take up the remainder of your free time in
Mt Cook Village.
The Glacier Explorer tour is subject to availability and we are in the process
of organising this for you. We will reach out should we have any questions.
Dress for all seasons:
No matter the time of year, Mt Cook weather can be very unpredictable. This is
an alpine town and the temperature and forecast can change very quickly.
Please come prepared wearing active-wear, bring a warm layer, a rain jacket
and wear appropriate footwear - leave those converse trainers and jeans back
at your hotel! There is a 20 minute walk each way to the glacier lake, so
hiking or sturdy walking shoes are recommended.
Food/Lunch:
We don’t include food and because of the length of this activity, we recommend
you come prepared by either pre-organising food in Queenstown to bring with
you, or purchasing something during our scenic drive from Queenstown that
morning when we make a refreshment stop at a cafe in Omarama.
Stay Hydrated and Eco-Friendly:
We're all about keeping things green! Please bring a trusty water bottle with
you, as we've taken the eco-conscious step of ditching single-use plastic.
Should you have any questions or just fancy a pre-tour chat, feel free to
reach out to us at +6434414788 or drop us an email at
info@altitudetours.co.nz.
We can't wait to travel to Aoraki Mt Cook National Park with you!
Kind regards,
The team at Altitude Tours
Altitude Tours