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Experience the breathtaking Southern Alps from above with a Mount Cook helicopter tour. Soar over the Tasman Glacier and touch down on pristine alpine snowfields to take in unmatched views of New Zealand's highest peaks.
Free Cancellation Circle Aoraki / Mount Cook by air, landing in high-altitude snow after flying the length of the Tasman Glacier.
Free Cancellation Land on the Tasman Glacier during a 45-minute flight that uses both a helicopter and a ski plane.
Free Cancellation Fly past the Hochstetter Icefall for a snow landing on the Tasman Glacier and return via the Mackenzie Basin.
Free Cancellation A 45-minute helicopter flight over Aoraki Mt Cook including a 15-minute landing on the upper Tasman Glacier.
Free Cancellation Land in the Ben Ohau range on a flight with views of glaciers and valleys carved by ice.
Free Cancellation Fly from Fox Glacier Village for a snow landing above the icefalls and a close view of Mount Cook’s west face.
Free Cancellation Hike for two hours on New Zealand's longest glacier after a helicopter landing at 1200 meters.
Free Cancellation Fly from Franz Josef for 40 minutes to circle Mount Cook, cross the Southern Alps, and land on a glacier.
Free Cancellation Helicopter flight over the Tasman Glacier and Liebig Range with a snow landing near Aoraki / Mount Cook.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Mount Cook — from practical tips to personal highlights.
Helicopter tours from Mount Cook Village fly directly over the Southern Alps, landing on high-altitude snowfields and glaciers. Flights range from 25-minute alpine vistas to three-hour guided hikes on the Tasman Glacier ice. You will see deep blue crevasses, jagged ice pinnacles, and the 3,724-meter summit of Aoraki up close.
New Zealand's longest glacier stretches 27 kilometers through the national park. Flights track the ice from the terminal lake up to the high snowfields.
Almost all scenic flights include a 5- to 10-minute landing on a permanent snowfield. You step out of the aircraft at elevations above 2,000 meters.
Longer flights circle the 3,724-meter peak of Aoraki/Mount Cook. This puts you level with the highest point in the country.
A three-hour tour drops you onto the glacier for a two-hour guided walk. Guides provide crampons and lead you past ice caves and deep crevasses.
Combo tours let you fly into the mountains in a helicopter and return in a ski-plane. Taking off directly from the snow in a fixed-wing aircraft feels entirely different.
Booking a Mount Cook helicopter flight requires planning around alpine weather and strict weight limits. Pick a tour length that matches your budget and physical ability.
Alpine weather grounds flights frequently. Book your helicopter tour for the first morning of your visit. This gives you time to reschedule if high winds or low clouds cancel your original slot.
Helicopter operators require your exact weight at booking. The maximum allowable weight for a rear seat is 150 kg (330 lbs). If your weight at check-in exceeds your declared weight by 15 kg, you may be bumped from the flight.
Scenic flights last between 25 and 55 minutes, including the snow landing. Heli-hikes take three hours total, with two hours spent walking on the ice.
Operators ban selfie sticks, drones, iPads, and loose bags on scenic flights for safety reasons. You can bring a camera or phone, but it must be secured.
Temperatures drop sharply on the snowfields. Wear a warm jacket, enclosed shoes suitable for walking in snow, and sunglasses to block the extreme glare. Heli-hikers need 3-4 warm layers.
Scenic flights have no minimum age, and infants under 15 kg sit on a parent's lap. The three-hour heli-hike requires a moderate level of fitness and a minimum age of 10 years.
Most flights depart from Mount Cook Airport, a short drive from the main village. A few specific routes depart from Franz Josef or Fox Glacier on the West Coast and fly over the divide.
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| Short Alpine Vista | Grand Glacier Flight | Ski-Plane Combo | Guided Heli-Hike | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 25-35 minutes | 40-55 minutes | 45 minutes | 3 hours |
| Best For | Quick mountain views without a huge time commitment | Seeing the full 27km Tasman Glacier and Aoraki summit | Aviation fans wanting to experience two aircraft types | Active travelers wanting to walk on the glacier with crampons |
| Includes Snow Landing | Yes (10 minutes) | Yes (10 minutes) | Yes (aircraft switch on the ice) | Yes (2-hour hike) |
| Price (USD) | ~$237 - $299 | ~$390 - $540 | ~$330 | ~$583 |
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Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. Helicopter operators run flights from morning until late afternoon, depending on daylight and weather conditions.
Check-in for all flights closes 30 to 45 minutes before departure. You must call the operator on the morning of your flight to confirm weather conditions.
The DOC Visitor Centre in the village is open daily from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm in summer (October-April) and 8:30 am to 4:30 pm in winter (May-September).
Mount Cook Airport sits just outside Mount Cook Village. Driving is the most reliable way to reach the park, as scheduled bus services frequently suspend operations.
The final stretch on SH80 runs directly alongside Lake Pukaki. Snow occasionally closes this road in winter.
November through April provides the longest daylight hours and the warmest temperatures for flying. Autumn (April-May) brings crisp air and fewer crowds.
Winter (June-September) has high cancellation rates for flights due to severe weather. If you fly in winter, temperatures on the glacier drop well below freezing. Dress accordingly.
Regardless of the season, book your flight for the first available morning of your trip. That gives you a buffer to reschedule if the weather turns bad.
Most 25- to 55-minute scenic helicopter flights are wheelchair accessible. Operators assist passengers from the staging area into the aircraft. You stay in the seat during the snow landing if you cannot walk on the uneven ice.
The 3-hour heli-hike requires moderate physical fitness. You walk on undulating, slippery ice for two hours wearing crampons.
On the ground, the first 700 meters of the Hooker Valley Track to the Mueller Lake Lookout is flat gravel, suitable for standard wheelchairs.
Mount Cook Village has very limited services. Buy groceries and fill your rental car with fuel in Twizel (65 km away) before driving up SH80.
Parking at the White Horse Hill car park (the trailhead for major walks) costs NZ$2.50 per half hour or NZ$25 per day. The machines only accept debit and credit cards.
Helicopter bases have basic waiting areas and restrooms. The DOC Visitor Centre in the village provides weather updates, track conditions, and accessible toilets.
The Department of Conservation enforces strict rules in the alpine environment.
Scenic flights run between 25 and 55 minutes, which includes a brief landing on the snow. The guided heli-hike takes three hours total, with two hours spent walking on the Tasman Glacier.
Almost all scenic flights include a 5- to 10-minute alpine snow landing. The pilot shuts down the rotors, letting you step out onto a permanent snowfield at elevations above 2,000 meters.
Helicopters cannot fly in high winds or low visibility. If the operator cancels your flight, you receive a full refund or the option to reschedule for a later time or date.
No. Operators ban backpacks, loose bags, iPads, and selfie sticks on standard scenic flights for safety reasons. You can bring a small pack if you book the three-hour heli-hike.
Children can take the scenic flights. Infants under 15 kg sit on an adult's lap and pay infant rates. The three-hour heli-hike has a strict minimum age of 10 years.
Wear a warm, windproof jacket, enclosed sturdy shoes, and sunglasses. The glare off the snow is intense, and temperatures at 2,000 meters are much colder than in the village.
Very strict. The maximum weight for a rear seat is 150 kg (330 lbs). You must declare your exact weight when booking; if you weigh 15 kg more than declared at check-in, you may be denied boarding.
Most flights depart from Mount Cook Airport, located a few minutes' drive from Mount Cook Village. A few specific tours depart from Franz Josef or Fox Glacier on the West Coast and fly over the mountains.
Yes. Flights sell out quickly during the peak summer months (November to April). Booking early also allows you to secure a slot on your first morning, giving you time to reschedule if weather grounds the aircraft.
A scenic flight keeps you in the air for most of the trip, with a quick 10-minute stop on the snow. A heli-hike uses the helicopter just as a taxi to drop you on the glacier for a two-hour guided walk with crampons.
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This flight follows the 27-kilometer length of the Tasman Glacier before crossing the Main Divide. You'll start at the terminal lake. It's grey and dotted with icebergs. From there, the pilot follows the ice up toward the high peaks. It's the most direct way to see the scale of the Southern Alps. You'll land on a level snowfield for about 10 minutes to stand among the peaks. The 3,724-meter summit of Aoraki / Mount Cook sits directly opposite the landing site. If the sun's out, the glare off the snow is blinding—bring sunglasses even in winter. It's quiet. Pack a spare camera battery; the cold drains them fast. The return leg crosses back to show the steep, fast-moving Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers on the West Coast. These glaciers drop sharply toward the rainforest. It's a steep descent. You'll finish the loop with a close pass of the Aoraki summit ridge. Check the weather forecast for the 1,000-meter cloud ceiling. If it's lower, pilots often have to reroute or cancel.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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This 45-minute trip uses both a helicopter and a ski plane to reach the Tasman Glacier. You'll fly into the mountains in one aircraft and return in the other, switching at the landing site. It's the only flight that pairs these two experiences. The route tracks the Tasman Valley toward the high snowfields. Book this one if you want to try both aircraft. You'll spend about 15 minutes on the glacier itself. The air is thin and the silence is usually absolute. Check in 30 minutes before your flight time at the airfield. Bring polarized sunglasses to handle the white-out glare.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
Aoraki, or Mount Cook, is the highest peak in the Southern Alps at 3,724 meters. It divides the South Island between the wet western coast and the dry Mackenzie Basin. Sir Edmund Hillary used these glaciers to train for his Everest expedition in 1953. The terrain is harsh. The flight path goes past the Hochstetter Icefall and over the upper Tasman Glacier. You'll land on the snow for about ten minutes to step out of the plane. Wear polarized sunglasses; the white-out glare is painful without them. The return leg crosses the Burnett Mountains before the landscape flattens into the arid Mackenzie Basin. Morning flights are more reliable as clouds usually gather by mid-afternoon.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
This 45-minute helicopter flight circles the peaks of Aoraki Mt Cook National Park. The route passes the Hochstetter Icefall and follows the length of the Tasman Glacier, bringing you level with the 3,724-meter summit of Aoraki. It's the fastest way to reach the high alpine. Pilots land on the upper snowfields of the Tasman Glacier for 10 to 15 minutes. You'll step out onto the névé snow to see the surrounding ridges from a stationary vantage point. Wear sunglasses even on overcast days. The glare off the white ice is sharp. Check-in at the Mount Cook Airport base closes 45 minutes before your departure. If the cloud ceiling is too low for a safe flight, you'll get a reschedule or a full refund. Book the 8:00 AM slot for the most stable air.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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This helicopter flight crosses the Ben Ohau range to land at a high-altitude site. You'll see jagged peaks and U-shaped valleys left by receding glaciers. It's a short trip. Pick this one for a mountain landing without a full-day commitment. Rotors kick up grit or snow as you touch down on a rocky ridge. Snow landings depend on the season — don't count on white ground in mid-summer. Sit on the right side for the clearest look at the glaciers.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Helicopters depart from Fox Glacier Village and fly directly over the 13-kilometer-long Fox Glacier. You'll see deep blue crevasses and jagged ice pinnacles as the aircraft climbs toward the upper snowfields. The pilot lands on the snow above the glacier's primary icefalls for a short walk. It's bright up there. The flight continues toward the west face of Aoraki (Mount Cook), where the rock walls rise sharply from the ice. These flights are highly weather-dependent and pilots will cancel if the cloud ceiling drops below the peaks. Book the 8:00 AM or 9:00 AM slots to avoid the afternoon mist that frequently obscures the mountain. Polarized sunglasses are necessary to handle the glare off the snow.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
The Tasman Glacier stretches 27 kilometers through Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park and reaches widths of 4 kilometers. You'll start with a helicopter flight that lands on the ice at 1200 meters above sea level. From there, a guide leads a two-hour hike. It's mostly undulating terrain. You're walking directly beneath the highest peaks of the Southern Alps. Wear sturdy boots; the ice is harder than it looks. The path winds through shifting ice formations and past blue crevasses. Massive icefalls drop down the surrounding mountain faces, feeding the main glacier body below. On the flight back, the pilot maneuvers past the Hochstetter Icefall for a close view of the frozen cascade. Bring sunglasses to handle the glare. Flights are weather-dependent; check the status an hour before departure.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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This 40-minute flight departs from Franz Josef and crosses the Main Divide of the Southern Alps. You'll see the blue ice of the Franz Josef and Fox Glacier neves before the pilot circles the summit of Aoraki/Mount Cook. From 10,000 feet, the view stretches from the Tasman Sea to the high peaks of the Mackenzie Basin. Look for the deep crevasses and vertical icefalls where the glaciers tumble toward the rainforest. The pilot lands the helicopter on a high-altitude snowfield for a ten-minute stop. It's the quietest part of the trip. You'll need sunglasses even on cloudy days because the glare off the snow is intense. If the cloud ceiling is too low to cross the mountains, flights are grounded or rerouted—it's worth calling the hangar an hour before check-in. This is the route to pick if you want to see both sides of the Alps in one go.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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This flight crosses the lower Tasman Glacier and the Liebig Range before landing on a high alpine snowfield. You spend about 20 minutes in the air looking at the granite faces of the Southern Alps. It’s the quickest way to see the mountain's height without a multi-day hike. The pilot lands the helicopter directly on the snow for about 10 minutes. You can get out and walk around, but the wind up there is usually biting. Keep your jacket zipped. On the return leg, the route passes the eastern side of Aoraki / Mount Cook. Flights depend entirely on clear skies. If the cloud ceiling is too low, pilots will cancel or suggest a lower route — check your phone an hour before departure. Morning slots usually have the clearest air before the afternoon clouds roll in. Book those.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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