New Zealand · MOUNT COOK & LAKE TEKAPO TOURS
Mackenzie country runs on two things: turquoise lakes by day and a dark sky reserve at night. These 15 cover the stargazing, the glacier boat on the Tasman, the alpine flights and the day trips up from Queenstown, priced and timed.
See the southern Milky Way from dark farmland near Lake Tekapo, with a 14-inch telescope, expert guides, warm jackets, and a free photo.
“It was incredible!! Our guide was extremely impressive and knowledgeable. A no miss in Tekapo.”
See the Southern Sky through powerful telescopes at Lake Tekapo, with hot chocolate, blankets, marshmallows, and photos included.
“The tour was fantastic! Mok was very engaging and informative and Josh was very patient and a good photographer. We had a great time. Highly recommended.”
Fly through Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, cross the Tasman Valley, and land in the Southern Alps on this 25-minute helicopter trip.
“Great experience! We spent most of the 25 minutes at the mountain landing spot. It was beautiful, but we would have preferred to spend more time flying in the helicopter rather than taking photos at the top for about 15 minutes.”
Ride from Queenstown to Aoraki Mount Cook with a small group, scenic stops, free walking time, and glacier views on a 13-hour day tour.
“Great way to travel long distance without your own vehicle. Loved the pit stops and sights along the way. Michel is a great guide - friendly and informative. Would recommend for anyone staying in Queenstown that wants to visit Mt. Cook for a day trip. (We LOVED the orchard/ice cream last stop!)”
Explore Mount Cook from Tekapo with stops at Lake Pukaki, Tasman Glacier, and Hooker Valley, plus flexible walks and helpful guides.
“Very good and organized tour. Our guide Dan was very kind and friendly. He took enough time at each spot,I enjoyed the places and took a lot of pictures. There were many tourists in some places, but he made gestures so easy to look for.”
Fly by ski plane and helicopter over Mount Cook, land on the Tasman Glacier, and see New Zealand’s high alpine world from above.
“We didn’t get to do the Ultimate Combo due to strong winds both days, nevertheless the staff managed to reschedule us a Glacier landing. It was amazing!”
Fly from Mount Cook Airport to the Tasman Glacier for a guided two-hour ice hike beneath Aoraki and Mount Tasman.
“It was our first helicopter ride and it was an amazing and unforgettable experience. We felt really safe during the hike. Max, the guide was fun and caring. The hike as such could have been longer tho.”
Review of Chameleon Stargazing at Lake Tekapo, with telescope viewing, astronomy stories, hot chocolate, marshmallows, photos, and weather advice.
“Wow wow wow. We hit all the major destinations in NZ on our vacation and this tour was arguably one of the best things we did. The sky was mind-blowing, the guide was super knowledgeable, the telescopes were very cool, and the hot chocolate was a super nice touch. Great communication day-of about the weather and how to find them!”
Stargaze from Mount John above Lake Tekapo with expert guides, powerful telescopes, warm jackets, and superb Southern Hemisphere skies.
“Most amazing was the explanation of all the stars. I did not see anything what could be improved”
Stargaze from Mount John Observatory in Tekapo with expert guides, powerful telescopes, dark skies, and sweeping Southern Alps views.
“Had a great time up at Mount John Observatory. Our guide and other astronomers were very informative and I think everyone learnt a thing or two about our solar system.”
Fly over Aoraki Mount Cook, Tasman Glacier, Franz Josef, and Fox Glacier, with a snow landing in the Southern Alps.
“Amazing, well worth the cost. Well organised, great pilot, mind blowing scenery. Allow at least 2 days or some flexibility in case of cancellations due to weather which can be common”
Soak in three hot pools above Lake Tekapo, with mountain views, an adults-only pool, and all-day re-entry for $23.
“We had an amazing time at the hot pools. We sat and watched over Lake Tekapo - we also upgraded while we were there to go into the sauna and steam rooms. I even managed to get a space for a message. A brilliant afternoon - would recommend if your looking for a relaxing experience”
Review of Tekapo Star Gazing Tour, pairing guided southern skies with warm hot pools, floating hammocks, and an indoor backup.
“Absolutely amazing journey with Jose as our guide. Very well versed in Incan history (as a history nerd myself). Very personable and made our afternoon a pleasure. Would highly recommend this company and José whilst in Cusco!”
Fly over Aoraki Mount Cook, land on the Tasman Glacier, and switch between a ski plane and helicopter on this rare 45-minute flight.
“I did not do the combo as it did not have enough people so it was a 45 minute helicopter and glacier experience. The pilot was great, the views were amazing and it was a beautiful sunny day. I would definitely recommend.”
Review of Silver River Stargazing in Lake Tekapo, with a 14-inch telescope, small groups, warm jackets, guides, photos, and weather advice.
“The experience provides a basic knowledge about galaxies, stars and planets. We saw fiew specific stars and learned about their location in the sky, related to navigation and time and distance from earth. Daniel was an excellent guide. He explained all the topics very clearly and was open for questions. We had a chance to view several stars with the telescope. Highly recommended tour for people without a deep knowledge in southern hemisphere astronomy.”
Pick an island, a lake or a cave.
