Mount Cook Scenic Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing

Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park

Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park protects the highest part of the Southern Alps, a world of ice, rock and snow where Aoraki/Mount Cook rises to 3,724 metres, the highest summit in New Zealand. Established in 1953, the park is part of the Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area, and about a third of it is covered by permanent snow and glaciers. Aoraki is the sacred ancestor mountain of the Ngāi Tahu people.

From the moment the helicopter lifts off, the mountain fills the windscreen, with Mount Tasman and other high peaks lined up along the Main Divide. Seeing them from the air reveals the hanging glaciers, icefalls and knife-edge ridges that walkers on the valley tracks can only glimpse. A Mount Cook helicopter flight is the fastest and easiest way to experience this high country if you have limited time or do not plan to climb.

The Tasman Valley and Tasman Glacier

The flight heads up the Tasman Valley, a broad valley shaped by the Tasman Glacier, the longest glacier in New Zealand at more than 20 kilometres. Its lower part is covered with grey rock and moraine, so from the ground it can be hard to tell where the ice begins; from the air its true size becomes clear.

At the glacier's end lies a lake that has formed only in recent decades as the ice melted back. Its milky blue water comes from fine rock flour ground by the glacier, and icebergs often float on the surface after breaking from the ice face. Your pilot explains how the glacier has changed and why the lake keeps growing. This stretch is one of the best moments for photos, with the lake, the moraine walls and the snowy peaks all in one frame.

The alpine landing in the Southern Alps

The highlight is an alpine landing on a mountain inside the national park, looking directly at Aoraki/Mount Cook. You step out of the helicopter and stand in the elevated alpine landscape, surrounded by snowfields and peaks, with time to take photos and simply enjoy the silence of the mountains before flying back.

Snow is present at the landing site about 95% of the year; in the warmest summer weeks there may be little or no snow, as it depends on the season. Wear closed-toe shoes and sunglasses, because the light reflected from the snow is strong even on cloudy days. If you are wondering what the best time is to visit Mount Cook for a flight, clear mornings are often calmest, and autumn and winter bring fresh snow and crisp air.

Mount Cook Village and how to get there

Flights start at Mount Cook Aerodrome, a few minutes' drive from Aoraki/Mount Cook Village, the small alpine settlement at the end of State Highway 80 beside Lake Pukaki. The drive along the lake towards the mountain is one of the most beautiful in the country, and the village is about four hours from Christchurch and three and a half hours from Queenstown.

Check-in closes 45 minutes before the flight, so plan your arrival with time to spare. After booking you receive an email confirming your exact flight time, which can differ from the time you requested because of weather and passenger weight balance. Pickup and drop-off within Mount Cook Village can be arranged locally, and we help you with the details. Combine the flight with the Hooker Valley Track or the Tasman Glacier viewpoint walk for a full day of Mount Cook things to do.