An Aoraki / Mount Cook helicopter or ski plane flight takes you past New Zealand’s highest peak and puts you down on the snow. You fly up the Tasman Valley over braided rivers and the iceberg-dotted Tasman Lake, with Aoraki / Mount Cook beside you, then land on the Tasman Glacier or a high alpine pad for 10 to 15 minutes of quiet in the mountains, when conditions allow.
All three flights on the Aoraki / Mount Cook hub are shared, leave from Mount Cook Airport and include a landing when the weather and snow allow. You fly past and beside the peak, never over its tip or onto the summit.
Which Aoraki / Mount Cook flight to book
- Aoraki / Mount Cook Tasman 25-Minute Helicopter Tour, from NZ$379 per person. About 25 minutes in an AS350 Squirrel helicopter up the Tasman Valley and over Tasman Lake, with an alpine landing on Brass Peak or Liebig Dome in the Liebig Range and views toward Aoraki / Mount Cook. Snow on the pad is not guaranteed year-round, and it may be rocky. Live commentary and headsets are included.
- Aoraki / Mount Cook Glacier 45-Minute Ski Plane and Helicopter Tour, from NZ$599 per person. About 45 minutes: one aircraft flies you out past Aoraki / Mount Cook and over Tasman Lake, you land on the Tasman Glacier, the engines shut down, and you fly home in the other aircraft. It needs 8 passengers to operate.
- Aoraki / Mount Cook Glacier Highlights 45-Minute Ski Plane Tour, from NZ$699 per person. About 45 minutes in a Pilatus Porter ski plane with up to about 9 seats, past Aoraki / Mount Cook to a landing on the Tasman Glacier, New Zealand’s largest. Commentary is included.
For the shortest flight with a landing, take the helicopter. If standing on the Tasman Glacier itself is the point, choose a ski plane flight, and the combo gives you both aircraft for less, provided enough people book.
Before you go
- Where: Mount Cook Airport on State Highway 80, about five minutes’ drive before Aoraki / Mount Cook Village, with free parking. There is no hotel pickup. The exact flight time is confirmed after booking.
- Check-in: closes 30 minutes before departure; for the Glacier Highlights ski plane flight, allow 45 minutes.
- Minimum group: shared flights need a minimum number of passengers, often 4, and 8 on the combo.
- Who can fly: all ages, with children flying with an adult. Infants may sit on a lap, but a seat is still allocated and charged. Individual weight is generally limited to about 116 kg, and you may be weighed at check-in.
- What to bring: a warm jacket, shoes for standing on snow, sunglasses and a camera. Drones and selfie sticks are not allowed.
- Cancellation: free up to 24 hours before for a full refund. Mountain weather changes quickly, and landings depend on visibility and the snow surface; if a flight cannot operate, you can usually reschedule or claim a refund. Flights are sold year-round, weather permitting.
Not sure which flight suits you? Email us at hello@flyovertheworld.com and we’ll help you choose.