FAQ’s
Looking for an answer to your question? We’ve shared some of our most frequently asked questions to help you out!
Bookings & Check-in
We recommend you book in advance so you don’t miss out on this amazing experience. You can easily book with us online, or contact us via phone or email.
We suggest booking for your first day in Aoraki/Mt Cook, as our experiences are weather dependent.
We recommend you make your reservation once you have confirmed dates for arriving in Aoraki/Mt Cook.
Please ensure that you allow sufficient time to travel to our base at the Aoraki/Mt Cook Airport, Mt Cook Road, State Highway 80 safely. The drive is stunningly scenic, and you may want to stop along the way.
We have strict safety briefing and aviation scheduling times so are unable to delay a trip departure if you are running late. Missing your trip would result in still having to pay for your trip regardless as we have held your place/s especially for you.
We recommend that you take out full travel insurance.
All trips depart from Aoraki/Mt. Cook Airport, 6kms before reaching the Mt. Cook Village.
There is ample free vehicle parking available at Aoraki/Mt. Cook Airport.
Our trips are weather-dependent. As we are located in an alpine environment here in Aoraki/Mt. Cook, the weather is very changeable and therefore unpredictable. For this reason, we make our final weather decision for each trip 10 minutes before departure. If the weather conditions are not suitable to fly and we have to cancel your trip, we will arrange for a refund. Alternatively, if you would like to change to a different departure time, we can make this change, subject to availability.
Glacier Experiences
Absolutely no experience is needed for any of our trips. Our guides will provide specialist equipment and professional instruction to quickly have you exploring the glacier with confidence.
New Zealand’s weather is noted for its ability to deliver four seasons in one day at anytime of the year. Dressing with this in mind will ensure you have a great time on the glacier. We recommend 3-4 upper layers such as a light shirt, long sleeve fleece, and a wind-breaker.
Jeans are not recommended for our trips as they become very heavy, cold and uncomfortable to wear when wet. Track pants or long cotton pants are best. Shorts are suitable during our summer months.
We will supply footwear, which includes socks, boots and snowshoes/crampons as well as a waterproof raincoat and overtrousers for all of our trips.
Each trip lists specifics on what you need to bring and what is provided.
We’re located in a mountainous area and are subject to great variations in weather patterns.
Weather and cloud levels can change within a matter of minutes. This is why our weather checks are not made until 10 minutes before your departure time.
The Tasman Glacier is in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park and is accessible by flying or driving and walking.
The best way to experience Tasman Glacier is flying in by helicopter or ski plane, however, you can view the glacier by driving and then walking. Turn off SH80 onto Tasman Valley Road just before Aoraki/Mount Cook Village. Follow this for about 7 km to the carpark at the end. From the carpark, you can do an easy 1-hour return walk for glacier views.
Yes, we operate our three experiences all year round, each season certainly brings its own magic.
We provide an extra insulation layer jacket during winter to ensure that you are kept warm.
Presently, there is nowhere to purchase food at the Aoraki/Mt Cook Airport except for a small cookie box and bottled water.
In order to keep your energy levels up, it is essential that you have eaten and hydrated well prior to embarking on your trip.
It is also advisable to bring some snacks and a drink with you.
The Aoraki/Mt Cook Village is only 6 kilometres away which has a few cafes and restaurants.
Health & Safety
There is an individual weight restriction of 116 kg/256 pounds for our experiences as they utilise either helicopters or ski planes. Please contact us on info@mtcookguides.co.nz or 0800 68 2665 if you would like to join a trip and are over this weight limit.
No. Please leave your drone behind. It is illegal to fly a drone in Aoraki/Mt. Cook as it is within a National Park.
If you fly a drone, it will be confiscated and you will be fined $5,000. For rules on flying drones in New Zealand, please reference www.airshare.co.nz.
Refunds / Cancellations
If for some reason you need to cancel your trip, then let us know as soon as possible. Most of our trips are fully refundable provided we receive your cancellation request twenty-four (24) hours prior to the reporting time. Please see the Terms and Conditions section on this website for more details.
Mt Cook Township
Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain, is in the central part of the South Island, deep in the heart of the Southern Alps. The mountain lies within Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.
All of our trips depart from Mt. Cook Airport, which is 6km before Mt. Cook Village. Take the turn off to Aoraki/Mt. Cook on SH8 by Lake Pukaki. Driving east, this can be found 8kms from Twizel and driving west, 50kms from Lake Tekapo.
Please be aware of the following travel times to our base, this will ensure that you allow sufficient time to travel safely. We are unable to delay a trip departure if you are running late.
These times are based on travel during summer and do not include any stopping along the way.
Please allow extra time if you are travelling in winter:
- 10 minutes from Mt. Cook Village
- 50 minutes from Twizel
- 1.5 hours from Tekapo
- 2.75 hours from Wanaka
- 3.5 hours from Queenstown
A popular hotel for visitors is The Hermitage, which also owns and operates chalets and a lodge & motel, with options ranging from backpacker accommodation through to family units. There are a few other motel options in the village and a nearby camping ground White Horse Hill which is 2km away from Aoraki/Mt. Cook Village, connected via a walking track and 10 minutes drive from the Mt. Cook Airport. Aoraki/Mount Cook Village is reasonably small and in a remote location, so booking accommodation in advance is recommended.
There are a few restaurants and bars in the village, but there are no supermarkets, only a small convenience store. The nearest supermarket is in Twizel, the closest town, 65km away. There is a self-service petrol pump, however, the prices reflect the remote location.
