Australia
A ski plane over Aoraki Mount Cook, landing on a glacier in the Southern Alps.
A 45 minute ski plane scenic flight from Mount Cook airport through Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, with a landing on one of the glaciers and a closer pass of the highest peak in New Zealand.
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From
$559 AUD
per person
Booked with Wanderlust, an Australian travel business based in Byron Bay (ABN 34 636 612 523). We handle your booking ourselves, before and after you travel.
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Ski planes land on snow, and that is the point. You fly out of Aoraki Mount Cook Airport, up the Tasman Valley and over Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, then the pilot sets the skis down on the Tasman Glacier, the longest glacier in New Zealand, and shuts the engine off. For 10 to 15 minutes the only sound is wind and your own boots in the snow.
The 45 minutes runs like this: lift-off from the airstrip on the valley floor, then the sweep up the Tasman Valley with the milky blue of the glacier lake below and the tussock and bush giving way to rock and ice. The Southern Alps close in on both sides and Aoraki/Mount Cook, the highest peak in the country, sits at the head of it all. Then the landing: the plane slides to a stop on the glacier, you climb out into the quiet, take your photos with the aircraft and the peaks behind, and fly back down the valley to the airport.
Check in at the airport on State Highway 80, about 6km before Mount Cook Village. Wear warm layers, long pants, sturdy closed shoes and bring sunglasses, because the snow glare is serious. There is generally an individual weight limit of 116kg, children of all ages are welcome, and the flight runs seven days a week, weather permitting. If the weather is unsuitable the operator reschedules or refunds in full.
Ski plane landing on the Tasman Glacier
Engine shut down: 10 to 15 minutes of silence on the snow
Up the Tasman Valley past the glacier lake
Aoraki/Mount Cook from the air
Departs Aoraki Mount Cook Airport, 6km from the village
Runs seven days a week, weather permitting
The airport is on State Highway 80, roughly 6km before Mount Cook Village. Check in at the time on your booking confirmation; passengers may be weighed for the load sheet.
Lift off from the valley floor and follow the Tasman Valley toward the ice, with the glacier lake and the Southern Alps either side.
The pilot lands on the snow and shuts the engine down. You generally get 10 to 15 minutes out on the glacier.
A closer look toward Aoraki/Mount Cook, then down the valley to land. 45 minutes in total.
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Public reviews of the operator who runs this tour on the ground.
"Great experience. The combination of flying over the beautiful park with amazing views and landing on the snow will stay with me forever. Staff very friendly and helpful, ensuring you are informed and safe"
Marie E
Tripadvisor review
"Beautiful day with no clouds to speak of. Check in was a breeze and our pilot was awesome. Highly recommended."
loudog1225
Tripadvisor review
Traveller reviews, source shown on each · shown as excerpts.
New Zealand
9 days · 8 nights
4.9 (575 · Trustpilot)
Auckland to Wellington
6 meals included
$1999 AUD
≈ $222/day
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4.9 (575 · Trustpilot)
Christchurch to Queenstown
7 meals included
$1999 AUD
≈ $222/day
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17 days · 16 nights
4.9 (575 · Trustpilot)
Auckland to Queenstown
13 meals included
$4399 AUD
≈ $259/day
From
$559
