3 Day Aoraki Mt. Cook Explorer: Christchurch to Queenstown

The Christchurch to Queenstown journey takes you from the incredibly flat Canterbury Plains right through to the dramatic mountains of the Southern Alps. The area is out of this world beautiful! This tour gives you the opportunity to absorb the wild beauty, starting in Christchurch you'll travel into the heart of the Mt Cook National Park. After a full day of exploration, on the final afternoon, hop on board the coach to Queenstown, New Zealand's adventure capital.

This is an Independent coach tour, where you travel on a combination of touring coaches and sightseeing services with commentary and/or point to point coaches which may not have commentary. You will be with different people on each part of the tour and different drivers. You have free time to explore on your own and are free to choose where and when to eat, meals are not included unless specified.

Itinerary

Day 1: Head south of the Christchurch plains to Aoraki Mt Cook National Park

Stop At: Lake Tekapo 7945 New Zealand
Depart Christchurch in the morning and travel through the lush farmland of the Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo, where you can see the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd as it stands in solitude next to the vibrant blue waters.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Aoraki Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre, 1 Larch Grove, Mt. Cook Village, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu) 7999 New Zealand
Leaving Tekapo, continue into the Southern Alps towards Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, home to New Zealand's tallest mountain. Your journey concludes on arrival at Mount Cook Village, where you can explore and soak up the views of Aoraki / Mount Cook as it towers above. Includes lunch at the Hermitage Hotel. Please note there are no food or shops at Mount Cook you will need to stock up before arriving in Mount Cook if you wish to self-cater.
Duration: 1 day 12 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Mt Cook Lodge & Motels

Day 2: Spend the day exploring Aoraki Mt Cook National Park

Stop At: Aoraki Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre, 1 Larch Grove, Mt. Cook Village, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu) 7999 New Zealand
At 3754 metres, Aoraki-Mt. Cook is New Zealand's highest mountain, located deep in the heart of the Southern Alps. From the Visitor Centre at the southern end of Lake Pukaki, you will be rewarded with magnificent views of this immense peak. As well as its impressive beauty, Mt. Cook National Park is also home to a huge range of awe-inspiring sights and activities.
Duration: 2 days

Stop At: Tasman Glacier, New Zealand
*May not operate during Winter months*
Experience the Tasman Valley 4WD Tour in Mt. Cook National Park. A rugged back road 4WD adventure, accessing awe-inspiring views over the Tasman Glacier and its gigantic moraine wall. You will get to stop at several vantage points and have the opportunity to walk up to the top of the Tasman Glacier moraine wall to view some of the most spectacular photographic opportunities within the Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. Learn about the area, its unique geology, local flora and fauna and get an entertaining insight into the rich pioneering history and stories of the past 150 years.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, 89 Terrace Road, Mt. Cook Village, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu) 7946 New Zealand
A tribute to New Zealand's Sir Edmund Hillary - humanitarian, ambassador and one of the world's greatest explorers. The centre showcases the Aoraki Mount Cook region and its people within a comprehensive museum as well as a custom-designed theatre and Digital Dome Planetarium.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Mt. Cook Village, Mt. Cook Village, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu), Mackenzie District, Canterbury Region, South Island
Enjoy buffet dinner tonight at the Alpine Restaurant located inside the Hermitage Hotel.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Dinner: Buffet Dinner at the Alpine Restaurant, Hermitage Hotel
Accommodation included: Mt Cook Lodge & Motels

Day 3: Travel to remarkable Queenstown, New Zealands Adventure Capital

Stop At: Omarama Sheep Statue, State Highway 8 and Chains Hill Highway, Omarama New Zealand
Depart Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park in the afternoon and head south through the tawny tussock of the Mackenzie Country. En route enjoy a stop in the quaint village of Omarama.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Queenstown, Queenstown, Otago Region, South Island
Crossing the Lindis Pass this is one of New Zealand's highest roads with the summit reaching 971 metres, you pass from the Mackenzie Basin and into Central Otago. Approaching Queenstown the impressive Remarkables mountain range come into view and then beautiful Lake Wakatipu as you head towards the adventure and activity capital of New Zealand.
Duration: 3 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.