New Zealand’s South Island offers a wealth of natural beauty, from crystal clear lakes and snowy mountains to emerald forests and silvery glaciers. With some of the most incredible landscapes in the world, this stunning scenery is not to be missed – and no trip to the South Island is complete without a visit to Mount Cook and the region’s gorgeous glaciers.
This scenic paradise is also the perfect playground for thrill seekers. Nearly every corner offers an adrenaline-inducing activity, with bountiful powdery ski slopes, downhill mountain bike tracks, wilderness horse treks and backcountry hiking trails.
Visitors can—and should—seek to partake in adventure or sightseeing during a visit to this incredible landscape. Thanks to the Mount Cook and Glacier experiences True South Flights offers, both activities are easy to fit into your itinerary. Their range of scenic flights and exhilarating experiences will ensure you have an unforgettable time from both the air and the ground.
Read on to learn more about this region and how to make the most of your time there.
The South Island’s crown jewel is undoubtedly Aoraki Mount Cook, located inside the 70-thousand-hectare Mount Cook National Park. Sitting amongst the impressive Southern Alps mountain range, which runs the length of the South Island, Mount Cook is New Zealand’s highest mountain. At 3,724 metres, it’s one of Aotearoa’s most photographed and recognisable natural wonders.
The name Aoraki is derived from a Māori legend about Aoraki and his three brothers. According to the legend, the brothers were canoeing around the Earth Mother, Papatūānuku, when they struck a reef and became stranded. While waiting atop the overturned canoe to be rescued, an icy southerly wind turned their hair white and their bodies to stone. The canoe became the South Island, and Aoraki and his brothers the mountains of the Southern Alps. The tallest brother, Aoraki, transformed into Mount Cook.
With more than 3000 glaciers in the Southern Alps, there’s plenty to explore. Sightseers, hikers, and skiers will delight in their pristine beauty and the endless exploration opportunities they provide. The team at True South Flights offer Mount Cook and Glacier experiences that include getting up close and personal with Franz Josef and Tasman Glaciers on a memorable heli-hiking adventure.
Of all New Zealand’s glaciers, the twelve-kilometre-long Franz Josef is the most famous and visited. The best option for making contact with this glacier is heli-hiking. This one-day excursion features a fixed-wing flight and a scenic helicopter ride deep into the glacier, over deep crevasses and waterfalls, before landing at the upper Franz Josef icefall. Here, you will disembark for a two-hour on-foot exploration of the striking ice caves.
As New Zealand’s longest glacier, Tasman Glacier stretches an impressive twenty-seven kilometres. A one-hour flight from Queenstown to Mt. Cook high over the Southern Alps is followed by a beautiful helicopter flight transporting you over the Tasman terminal lake. After a safe landing in the middle of the Tasman Glacier, you will be fitted with crampons and spend two hours hiking on the glacier ice.
For the real adrenaline junkies, heliskiing is a must-try. Among its Mount Cook and Glacier experiences, True South Flights offers two exciting options for both novice and experienced skiers and snowboarders.
Fancy skiing the longest run in the country? This full-day tour includes an extraordinary flight for you and your ski equipment to Mount Cook, where you will be met by a specialist ski plane to transport you to the top of Tasman Glacier. Enjoy two runs up to ten kilometres long with a thrilling 1000-metre descent on an easy-to-moderate (green to blue grade) run.
Take in the view from the flight along the Southern Alps to Glentanner Airport, where you will board a chopper to take you to some of New Zealand’s highest helicopter landing areas. Enjoy five runs over up to six mountains in Mount Cook National Park, with an average length of 800 vertical metres and a range of terrain. This intimate four-person trip is perfect for those seeking a curated experience on the slopes.
If skiing and hiking aren’t your cup of tea, you can still enjoy the breathtaking South Island landscapes from the sky with a scenic flight tour.
Those short on time will love this half-day excursion. Admire all the scenery that Mount Cook has to offer with a scenic flight that highlights the grandeur of this region. Pass over Mount Cardrona and picturesque Wanaka before soaring above the Southern Alps. Understand the scale of the landscape as you track along majestic mountains, including Mount Glenmary, Mount Hooker, Mount Dechen and, of course, Mount Cook, before taking in some of the area’s many glaciers.
A shorter option for those on a schedule, the Helicopter Glacier Landing features both a spectacular flight with mountain, valley and classic MacKenzie Country views and the chance to land on the snowfields at one of Mount Cook’s neighbouring glaciers. A thirty-minute round trip of Mount Cook allows you to marvel at its magnificence up close, and you won’t be disappointed with the photography opportunities as you play in the snow.
Ready for the trip of a lifetime? Jaw-dropping views are just a flight away!
Don’t miss the opportunity to see one of the world’s greatest natural beauties. Let the experts at True South Flights take you on a journey you’ll never forget.
Book today, or contact our friendly team to learn more.
Remarkables Park Town Centre,
1B/8 Hawthorne Dr, Frankton, Queenstown 9300,
New Zealand
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