Mt Cook Day Tour from Queenstown via Wānaka and Pukaki
Overview
New Zealand's highest peak deserves more than a drive-past.
This full-day small-group tour from Queenstown travels north via Kawarau Gorge, before heading through the Mackenzie District to Lake Pukaki and Aoraki Mt Cook National Park. Your guide leads the day with local knowledge, te reo Māori place names, and stories of the land.
At 3724 metres, Aoraki is New Zealand's highest peak and a sacred ancestor to Ngā Tahu iwi. You have two to two and a half hours at the national park: walk the Tasman Glacier Viewpoint Track through the moraines of Haupapa, New Zealand's longest glacier or Hooker Valley, or explore Mt Cook Village. Scenic flights available on the day.
Heading home: the Ōmārama Clay Cliffs, the Cardrona Hotel (1863), and a Crown Range lookout over Queenstown from the highest main road in Aotearoa.
Lunch, water and snacks included. WiFi and USB charging on board. Group capped at 16. Carbon neutral within the national park.
What's Included
- Lunch Collected by your guide at the Wānaka stop
- Transport in a modern Mercedes Sprinter or similar vehicle
- WiFi & USB charging on board
- Bottled water and Kiwi snacks
- Carbon neutral tour of Aoraki Mt Cook National Park
- Live guide commentary throughout
- Gratuities
- Attraction: Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre entry
- Additional Activity: Scenic flights (available to book on the day via your guide, sold separately)
Meeting and Pickup
What To Expect
Book Online
Safe & secure Easy breezy Hassle‑free
Queenstown (pass by)
Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge (pass by)
Cromwell (pass by)
Wanaka
15 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Omarama
5 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Lake Ruataniwha
5 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Lake Pukaki
5 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu)
2 hours Admission Ticket Free
Clay Cliff
10 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Lindis Pass (pass by)
Wanaka (pass by)
Cardrona Hotel
5 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Crown Range Road (pass by)
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for travellers with serious back conditions, heart conditions, or who are pregnant.
- Expert local guides: deep knowledge of Māori history and the Mackenzie region.
- Lunch, water, Kiwi snacks, WiFi and USB charging all included.
- Wānaka, #ThatWānakaTree, Cardrona Hotel and Crown Range: stops rivals skip.
- Small group: maximum 16 guests & Carbon neutral tour.
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Dress in layers. There is a significant temperature difference between Queenstown and Aoraki Mt Cook.
- Bring a waterproof jacket. Alpine weather can change rapidly.
- Wear closed-toe shoes with grip. The Tasman Glacier Viewpoint Track involves uneven and stony terrain.
- Bring sunscreen. UV is strong at altitude, particularly in summer.
- The Ōmārama Clay Cliffs and High Country Salmon stops are time-dependent and weather-dependent. They may be omitted.
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible. The walks at Mt Cook involve uneven ground and require a moderate level of physical fitness.
- Children aged 7 and under require a child safety car seat. If you need one provided, request it at booking with at least 24 hours notice.
- Service animals are permitted.
- The tour departs near public transportation.
- Wānaka-based travellers: you can join and alight at the Wānaka stop. Select this option at time of booking.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
Frequently Asked Questions (8)
Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Mt Cook Day Tour from Queenstown via Wānaka and Pukaki?
Cancellation Policy
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Activity code: C-312127P25
Traveler Photos
Reviews
Average 4.50 out of 5 stars based on 10 traveler reviews collected by City Balloon Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
Additional Info
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Frequently Asked Questions (8)
The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Balloon Tours customers.
Filter by:
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (NZDT).
- Lunch. Collected by your guide at the Wānaka stop.
- Transport in a modern Mercedes Sprinter or similar vehicle.
- WiFi & USB charging on board.
- Bottled water and Kiwi snacks.
- Carbon neutral tour of Aoraki Mt Cook National Park.
- Live guide commentary throughout.
- Gratuities.
- Attraction: Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre entry.
- Additional Activity: Scenic flights (available to book on the day via your guide, sold separately).
This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Apr 2025The minimum age to participate is 4. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..
Apr 2025If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.
If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.
Apr 2025Accessibility information for the Mt Cook Day Tour from Queenstown via Wānaka and Pukaki is as follows:
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for travellers with serious back conditions, heart conditions, or who are pregnant.
- Expert local guides: deep knowledge of Māori history and the Mackenzie region.
- Lunch, water, Kiwi snacks, WiFi and USB charging all included.
- Wānaka, #ThatWānakaTree, Cardrona Hotel and Crown Range: stops rivals skip.
- Small group: maximum 16 guests & Carbon neutral tour.
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Mt Cook Day Tour from Queenstown via Wānaka and Pukaki will be included in your confirmation email from City Balloon Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!
Mar 2024Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.
Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.
If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.
Oct 2026What's Included
- LunchCollected by your guide at the Wānaka stop
- Transport in a modern Mercedes Sprinter or similar vehicle
- WiFi & USB charging on board
- Bottled water and Kiwi snacks
- Carbon neutral tour of Aoraki Mt Cook National Park
- Live guide commentary throughout
- Gratuities
- Attraction: Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre entry
- Additional Activity: Scenic flights (available to book on the day via your guide, sold separately)
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for travellers with serious back conditions, heart conditions, or who are pregnant.
- Expert local guides: deep knowledge of Māori history and the Mackenzie region.
- Lunch, water, Kiwi snacks, WiFi and USB charging all included.
- Wānaka, #ThatWānakaTree, Cardrona Hotel and Crown Range: stops rivals skip.
- Small group: maximum 16 guests & Carbon neutral tour.
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Dress in layers. There is a significant temperature difference between Queenstown and Aoraki Mt Cook.
- Bring a waterproof jacket. Alpine weather can change rapidly.
- Wear closed-toe shoes with grip. The Tasman Glacier Viewpoint Track involves uneven and stony terrain.
- Bring sunscreen. UV is strong at altitude, particularly in summer.
- The Ōmārama Clay Cliffs and High Country Salmon stops are time-dependent and weather-dependent. They may be omitted.
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible. The walks at Mt Cook involve uneven ground and require a moderate level of physical fitness.
- Children aged 7 and under require a child safety car seat. If you need one provided, request it at booking with at least 24 hours notice.
- Service animals are permitted.
- The tour departs near public transportation.
- Wānaka-based travellers: you can join and alight at the Wānaka stop. Select this option at time of booking.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
