Mt Cook is a great destination for couples, solo travellers and groups of friends looking to walk, hike and explore the Tasman Glacier and surrounding areas full of snow capped mountains and crisp clean mountain air. We operate day excursions to this magnificent location from Queenstown, giving people an opportunity to see NZ’s highest mountain.
It’s beautiful to visit Mount Cook on any day of the year, in summer it can get warm whilst in winter you may be lucky enough to experience snow on the ground – stunning!
The temperatures are generally fairly low all year round due to the alpine environment. Make sure you pack some extra layers for warmth accordingly and sun protection including sunglasses.
It takes just over three hours to travel from Queenstown to Mount Cook by road. On our Mount Cook scenic tour our guides allow plenty of time along the way to Mount Cook to make photo stops, bathroom breaks and coffee stops.
The Hooker Valley track is a 3 hour return hike. The Kea Point track offers an easier walk that will likely take you less than an hour. If you want a bit more of a glute burn and you like steps, you can head up to the Stairway to Heaven. A 3-4 hour hike with amazing views.
There are no shops in Mt Cook other than the visitor centre at The Hermitage so it’s best to take supplies in with you. On the day tour we stop at a cafe when you can collect lunch, though if you’re planning to go on a hike it’s best to bring a packed lunch.
There are a handful of popular hikes to get stuck into. You can take a scenic flight or helicopter around Mount Cook for incredible views like no other. Experience a guided hiking adventure on the glacier or if water is more you want to get up close to the glacier by water then you can experience a guided glacier boating adventure.
Experiences you’ll forget to pull your phone out for.