Add dates

Mount CookAir & helicopter tours

Our most recommended Mount Cook Air & helicopter tours

Mount Cook: Ski Plane and Helicopter Alpine Combo Flight

1. Mount Cook: Ski Plane and Helicopter Alpine Combo Flight

Fly in a ski plane and a helicopter on the same day for an unforgettable experience of Aoraki/Mount Cook. Enjoy a scenic adventure that includes a glacier snow landing. From take-off to landing, enjoy spectacular views. Fly up the Tasman Valley over the breathtaking blue glacier lake. See the Hochstetter Icefall and the cloud-piercing Aoraki/Mount Cook before landing on the upper snowfields of the Tasman Glacier.  Take time to enjoy this unique alpine environment. These mountains are covered in snow and ice all year round, and the aircraft fully shuts down on landing.  Then, swap aircraft and return to Mount Cook Airport. During the tour, you'll also see Tasman Terminal Lake, Grand Plateau, Plateau Hut, as well as the full length of the Tasman Glacier.

Mount Cook: 3 Hour Heli Hike to the Tasman Glacier

2. Mount Cook: 3 Hour Heli Hike to the Tasman Glacier

Enjoy a once in a lifetime heli hiking experience on the Tasman Glacier in the Aoraki (Mount Cook) National Park. Begin your adventure with a flight from Mount Cook airport over the gorgeous Tasman Glacier Lake and ice formations. Venture on to the surprisingly undulating ice terrain, in the shadow of the highest peaks of the Southern Alps, Aoraki, and Mount Tasman. Be equipped with glacier boots and crampons and spend 2 hours in another world in the mountains. On the return flight home, you will fly close to the massive 1,000-meter high Hochstetter Icefall on the eastern face of Aoraki. Take in the picturesque landscapes that are covered in beautiful white snow and ice year round. 

Mount Cook: 3-Hour Tasman Glacier Helicopter Ride and Hike

3. Mount Cook: 3-Hour Tasman Glacier Helicopter Ride and Hike

Enjoy a tour that will acquaint you with New Zealand’s biggest glacier and provide you with spectacular helicopter views of the country’s largest mountain, Aoraki or Mount Cook. To start your tour you will fly to your drop-off point on a remote part of the glacier. During your tour, explore amazing ice formations, following your guide as they cut steps in the glacier. Complete your trip with another spectacular scenic flight back to the base of the mountain. Every journey is unique because the glacier is everchanging. Your experienced guides are always finding something new and interesting to show you. Spend up to 2 hours on the ice, weather permitting.

Franz Josef Town: 3-Glacier Helicopter Ride with Landing

4. Franz Josef Town: 3-Glacier Helicopter Ride with Landing

Take in three of New Zealand’s most impressive glaciers during a helicopter ride. Land on the elevated snow landing site to take photos of the spectacular views. Meet at the local partner’s office to check in and attend a safety briefing. Then, following a transfer to a private hangar, you will meet your pilot and board the helicopter for takeoff. Put your headset on to listen to your pilot's guided commentary. Fly over the terminal moraine of the ancient Franz Josef Glacier and up the valley to see the big three from above. The Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers are ice rivers that plug New Zealand's longest glacier: the Tasman Glacier. Take in their ice pinnacles and crevasses while flying amongst some of New Zealand’s biggest mountains. Admire Mount Cook in the impressive Southern Alps. Land on an elevated snow landing site to enjoy stunning views of Westland Tai Poutini National Park for 15 minutes. You will have plenty of time to take photos before returning to the hangar.

Mount Cook: Tasman Glacier & National Park Scenic Flight

5. Mount Cook: Tasman Glacier & National Park Scenic Flight

Discover the real highlights of the Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park on this helicopter tour. Soar high above, get breathtaking views and fly the full length of the Tasman Glacier. Fly close to the mountain peaks, and view this incredible alpine region. You will also get amazing views of New Zealand’s highest peak - Aoraki /Mt Cook. Admire hanging glaciers, blue ice, and rocky mountain peaks, with photo opportunities in every direction. Hover over the Tasman Glacier to appreciate the size and scale of New Zealand’s longest “river of ice”, before snow landing on the magnificent Tasman Glacier. Your pilot may shut off the helicopter so you can experience the "sound of silence”.

Canterbury: Mount Aorak/Cook Sightseeing Helicopter Flight

6. Canterbury: Mount Aorak/Cook Sightseeing Helicopter Flight

Take in views of the Aoraki/ Mt Cook National Park on this shared helicopter flight from Canterbury. Dive into sights like the Tasman Terminal Lake with the in flight commentary provided by your pilot. Stop to breathe in the crisp mountain air with a alpine landing. Meet your pilot at the Mount Cook Airport and listen to a short safety briefing. Expereince the thrill of taking off towards the Southern Alps. Admire views of the highest mountain in the country, Aoraki / Mt Cook.  Feel the excitement of landing in the mountains and capture pictures of sweeping views of snowy peaks. Fly over the icebergs of the Tasman Terminal Lake before returning to to Mount Cook Airport.

From Queenstown: Mount Cook Heli-Hike and Tour Combo

7. From Queenstown: Mount Cook Heli-Hike and Tour Combo

Discover everything the beautiful Mount Cook and Tasman Glacier area has to offer on a guided small-group full-day trip from Queenstown. Meet your small group early in the morning and hop on the minivan which will take you to the Tasman Glacier, stopping at some of the area's most iconic sights along the way. Make your way through the Kawarau Gorge, passing the Kawarau Suspension Bridge and of course the famous Roaring Meg Lookout. Drive past sights such as the beautiful Lake Dunstan, Lindis Pass, and the Cromwell wine region, stopping for photos along the way, before arriving in Omarama. Here, spot Merino sheep and sample New Zealand's creamiest chicken pie before continuing to Lake Pukaki, where you can spot several Lord of the Rings filming locations. Next, get ready for the adventure of a lifetime with a Tasman Glacier Heli Hike. Combine the excitement of walking on New Zealand’s biggest glacier with the stunning scenic helicopter fly-bys of New Zealand’s largest mountain, Aoraki/Mt Cook. After flying to a remote part of the glacier, follow your guide as they cut steps in the glacier, using skills handed down from New Zealand's mountain pioneers. Finish your hike with another spectacular scenic flight back to the base. After your flight, stop for a quick photo stop in Mount Cook village before continuing to High Country Salmon, a local salmon farm, where you can feed the fish and taste some of the freshest salmon in New Zealand. Stop at Mrs. Jones Suncrest Orchard to try or buy her delicious local fruit or real fruit ice cream before returning to Queenstown with your group.

Mount Cook: Tandem Skydive Experience

8. Mount Cook: Tandem Skydive Experience

Feel the thrill of a high-speed free-fall from the sky in New Zealand's South Island with this skydiving experience. Jump from a plane from a height of 13,000 or15,000 feet above the ground, and be paired with a professional tandem master who looks after you every step of the way. Enjoy New Zealand’s most stunning skydiving experience in Pukaki, which boasts some of the country’s most epic scenery. Skydiving around Mount Cook offers quintessential South Island views: snow-capped mountains, glaciers, lakes, and the Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. Free fall from the best piece of sky this beautiful country has to offer

Franz Josef: Scenic Helicopter Flight with Glacier Landing

9. Franz Josef: Scenic Helicopter Flight with Glacier Landing

Lift off from a heli-base in Franz Josef and explore the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers from above on a scenic helicopter tour. Experience this natural phenomenon up close as you land on a glacier and walk through the snow. Meet your pilot and guide at the helicopter base and receive a brief introduction before boarding your flight and setting out on your adventure. Watch the ground disappear beneath you as you climb higher and enjoy the view as the city below turns into wilderness. Take in the vistas of the Southern Alps and marvel at the vastness of 2 of New Zealand's largest glaciers while enjoying informative commentary provided by your pilot. Then, get ready to experience this unique scenery up close as your helicopter prepares for a snow landing. Stand on the ancient ice of the glacier, breathe in the clean alpine air, and feel the seclusion of this awe-inspiring landscape. Hop back aboard your helicopter and enjoy more panoramic views on your return journey to the base. Throughout your flight, you'll also fly over the Tasman Glacier on the eastern side of the Southern Alps and past Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak.

Queenstown: Tasman Glacier Helihike with Flight Transfers

10. Queenstown: Tasman Glacier Helihike with Flight Transfers

Take a flight and helicopter ride from Queenstown to Tasman Glacier and explore the glacier on foot with an experienced guide. Enjoy all that the Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park glaciers have to offer in a single day. Your one-hour fixed-wing flight from Queenstown to Tasman Glacier is just the beginning of a day filled with spectacular scenery. Fly over the Southern Alps, home to over 3000 small glaciers, and head to Tasman Glacier in the east. Check in with the helicopter and guiding partners, who will provide you with all your necessary equipment and a safety briefing. Your experienced guides will then take you into a deep part of the glacier via a scenic helicopter flight. Here, you’ll be fitted with crampons for two hours on the glacial ice. Explore ices caves and see the natural, ever-changing wonders of the South Island’s glaciers.

18 activities found
Sort by:
Page 1 of 2

Frequently asked questions about Mount Cook Air & helicopter tours

What are other things to do than Mount Cook Air & helicopter tours that are worth visiting in Canterbury, New Zealand?

The other unmissable things to do in Canterbury, New Zealand are:

Other Sightseeing Options in Mount Cook

Want to discover all there is to do in Mount Cook? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Mount Cook

My husband really enjoyed this. Flying in the cockpit of the ski plane was awesome. Returning in the helicopter wasn't as much fun as he was squashed in the back with 3 other people. My husband's preferred time of 8.30 am was cancelled. He was bumped to 12 .30, but the flight didn't leave until around 2 pm.

I was really nervous but Megan and Poppy made me feel so comfortable I was able to take the flight. I now will never regret doing it. Thanks Nathalie

Staff were very friendly and informative. They gave us lots of information before and on the flight. Great views and a brilliant experience.

Although cloud cover precluded us from our Ultimate Experience the pilot did his best to make the flight as exciting as possible.

Easy to find. Great staff. Great pilot. Amazing views!