Overview
This small group, fully-guided day trip combines all of the key highlights such as Mt Cook & Aoraki National Park, Lake Pukaki, Kawarau Gorge, Lindis Pass, the Southern Alps and High Country Salmon. Led by our famously passionate tour guides, they will bring your journey to life by sharing their stories and rich background knowledge along the way.
Low carbon footprint
What you will be doing
Departing Mt Cook Village, weather depending, we should get some amazing shots of the mountain itself. At 3724m, Aoraki/Mt Cook is New Zealand's highest peak; however, the mountain can be viewed without any acclimatisation whatsoever from the village, which is just 750m above sea level
Travelling along one of the most beautiful roads in the world Lake Pukaki begins to emerge in front of us. Lake Pukaki is one of the bluest lakes you will ever see and is stunningly framed by the backdrop of Aoraki/Mt Cook and the Southern Alps. You are sure to get some amazing photos and marvel at the sight that we are beholding. It's not hard to see why many Lord of the Rings scenes were filmed nearby, and we will point them out for you.
Farewelling Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park and making our way back to Queenstown we stop in at High Country Salmon, a local salmon farm, where you can feed the fish and taste some of the freshest salmon in New Zealand
Climbing in altitude, Lindis Pass has amazing views down through the valleys. Being one of only three alpine roads through the otherwise impassable Southern Alps.
During summer months when the sun is still up, as we get close to Queenstown, we often stop at Jackson's Orchard to try or buy some delicious local fruit or real fruit ice cream.
Nearing Queenstown, we then make our way through the stunning Kawarau Gorge, passing stunning views, the Kawarau Suspension Bridge and the famous Roaring Meg Lookout.
Sadly the tour must come to an end as we enter Queenstown and say our goodbyes.
Where we'll meet
🧭 Meeting/pick-up point: Queenstown, New Zealand
🗺️ Instructions: We will pick you up from Mt Cook Village
Things to know
Accessibility:
Children friendly
Fitness requirement
Any fitness level
Tour Language
English
License requirement
None
Additional information:
Children under the age of 7 must be in a child safety seat, as it is a legal requirement in New Zealand. If you need a safety seat or booster seat these can be added during the booking process.
Inclusion ✅
Tour guide
Water
Snack
Pick up and drop off transport
Exclusion ❌
Lunch
About your host
Cheeky Kiwi TravelWe are all about giving you a real Kiwi Adventure. Our tours and day trips have a maximum of 16 guests! We believe it's the small extra things we do, combined with being flexible, that make all the difference to your experience and give you an amazing trip. Our trips have been described as fun and informative, with, of course, a little bit of cheekiness. From the outset, our mission has been to nurture both our communities and the environment, aligning with and advocating for The Tiaki Promise. We've reduced our carbon emissions by adopting fuel-efficient vehicles and closely monitoring fuel usage. Our drivers are incentivised to follow eco-friendly practices, ensuring your journey is as environmentally responsible as possible. We pride ourselves on being a fully paperless office, and we prioritise responsible waste management during our operations. We encourage our guests to travel responsibly with Wild Kiwi and to commit to The Tiaki Promise to care for New Zealand, for now, and for future generations.
Qualmark Gold: Qualmark works with Tourism New Zealand to help the tourism industry deliver high-quality experiences and maintain a high level of visitor satisfaction. Only businesses that deliver a quality sustainable experience, ones that have undergone an independent evaluation, and showcase true New Zealand hospitality, are recognised through a Qualmark accreditation. It has three levels: Gold, Silver and Bronze.
For every trip booked, Kodama Travel donates £1 to Just One Tree to restore our forests and the ocean.