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Big Sky Stargazing – 90 Minutes

Join your Big Sky Stargazing guide at The Hermitage Activities Desk, Hermitage Hotel, Terrace Road, Aoraki Mount Cook Village, to commence a Big Sky Stargazing tour. Their fully trained guides are delighted to show you the beautiful southern night sky using the naked eye, state of the art astronomy telescopes and binoculars at the outdoor viewing platform, or if the weather is not favourable then 'live' under their high definition digital dome planetarium.

Unleash your imagination as you discover the neighbourhood in the universe including the Southern Cross, seasonal ecliptic objects, planets, star clusters, moons, distant galaxies and even their very own galaxy, the spectacular Milky Way.

Available on these holidays:

Tasman Valley 4WD Tours – 2 ½ hours

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.

Your professional guide has a wealth of knowledge of the Aoraki/Mt Cook area. 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.

Available on these holidays:

Glacier Boat Cruise - 1 ¾ hour

Join your Glacier Explorers vehicle at The Hermitage Hotel, Terrace Road, Aoraki Mount Cook Village, Mount Cook National Park to commence a Glacier Boat Cruise tour. Be taken to the beautiful Tasman Valley. (The guide will lead a 20 minute walk over 1.5km on uneven track. (Note that the walk is in an alpine region where the track is uneven, and the weather can change rapidly).

Board a boat to explore the fascinating glacial landscape dotted with icebergs and the ever-changing ice face of the glacier. The boat passes so close to the iceberg’s clients can touch them! Commentary from the guides imparts their knowledge and passion for this amazing alpine environment.

This trip provides spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and some of the best photographic opportunities available in the national park. Tour involves a 15 minute drive, a 30 minute walk to Glacier Lake and 45-60 minutes of cruising. Tour concludes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes after commencement, back at The Hermitage Hotel.

Available on these holidays:

Alpine Vista 20 - minutes

A Helicopter Line vehicle will pick you up from your accommodation in Mount Cook for your transfer to the Helicopter Line tour at Glentanner Park, Mt Cook, the departure point of your tour. Join your crew to commence a Alpine Vista helicopter tour. Sweep through the rugged high country landscape of the Ban Ohau Mountain Range to a landing site on a snow field high in the mountains.

Enjoy the fantastic vista from this alpine setting as you look out to the mountains and glaciers, and down into the valleys that were carved out by glaciers centuries ago. Tour concludes approximately 20 minutes after commencement, at which time hotel drop offs will commence.

Available on these holidays:

Alpine Explorer - 35 minutes

A Helicopter Line vehicle will pick you up from your accommodation in Mount Cook for you transfer to The Helicopter Line tour at Glentanner Park, Mt Cook, the departure point of your tour. Join your crew to commence an Alpine Explorer helicopter tour.

Experience this magnificent alpine environment with a high alpine flight over the Ben Ohau Mountains and watch as the landscape changes from low rolling hills, becoming steeper and more rugged as rising above scarred ridges left by ancient glaciers. Fly close to these steep ridges and rise over a mountain pass that reveals superb views out to Aoraki/Mount Cook and its surrounding peaks. Be prepared for an amazing alpine landing where you will be able to step out of the helicopter and play in the snow.

On the return journey enjoy expansive views down the Tasman Valley to Glentanner Park, at the head of Lake Pukaki. Tour concludes approximately 35 minutes after commencement, at which time hotel drop offs will commence.

Available on these holidays:

Mountain High – 40 minutes

A Helicopter Line vehicle will pick you up from your accommodation in Mount Cook for your transfer to The Helicopter Line tour at Glentanner Park, Mt Cook, the departure point of your tour. Join your crew to commence a Mountain High helicopter tour.

This is a premier flight over an amazing alpine region with vast snowfields, glaciers and a spectacular view of New Zealand's highest peak, Aoraki/Mount Cook. Land high above glaciers and experience what it feels like to stand in snow amongst the mountains. Tour concludes approximately 40 minutes after commencement, at which time hotel drop offs will commence.

Available on these holidays:

Tasman Glacier Heli – Hike – 3 hours

A heli hike on the Tasman Glacier in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is an adventure usually reserved only for experienced mountaineers. At 27 kilometres (17 mile) long, 4 kilometres (2.5 mile) wide and 600 metres (2,000 ft) thick, it covers an area of 101 square kilometres (39 sq mile), starting at a height of 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) above sea level.

You'll fly from Mount Cook airport over the gorgeous Tasman Glacier Lake and ice formations on the lower reaches of the Glacier to a location 3000m above sea level and assessed on the day to be safe. Venture on to the surprisingly undulating ice terrain in the shadow of the highest peaks of the Southern Alps (Aoraki and Mount Tasman); equipped with glacier boots and crampons and spend the next 2 hours in another world in the mountains. On the return flight home, you'll fly close by the massive 1,000 metre high (3,200 feet) Hochstetter Icefall on the eastern face of Aoraki/Mt Cook.

We team up with Alpine Guides Ltd, Mount Cook who have been taking visitors over this epic icefall terrain since 1966 and can trace their heritage back 100 years. They have an immaculate safety record, rigid assessments and using quality equipment your safety and enjoyment is taken care of.

Available on these holidays:

The Adventurer: Tasman Glacier Hike – 3 hours

Combine the excitement of walking on New Zealand's biggest glacier with the thrill of breath-taking scenic helicopter fly-bys of New Zealand's largest mountain, Aoraki/Mt Cook. You will fly into your drop off point on a remote part of the glacier. Your guide will outfit you with special ice spikes for your feet, called crampons, designed for glacier conditions. Then you'll go exploring the amazing ice formations, following your guide as they cut steps in the glacier, using skills handed down from New Zealand's mountain pioneers. Your trip finishes with another spectacular scenic flight back to our Aoraki/Mt Cook base. Every journey is unique, because the glacier is changing all the time and our experienced guides are always finding something new and interesting to show our visitors.

Available on these holidays:

Mt Cook & The Glaciers – 50 minutes

Premier flight over the Mount Cook National Park and its vast glaciers and snowfields. See the ancient waters of the Tasman Glacier Lake before flying the length of the Tasman Glacier, New Zealand's longest glacier. Experience what it feels like to stand in snow amongst the mountains as you take in a spectacular view of New Zealand's highest peak, Aoraki/Mount Cook during your snow landing. Cross to the West Coast and view the formidable Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers before completing your journey with uninterrupted views of the summit ridge of Aoraki/Mount Cook.

Available on these holidays:

The Wigley: Top of the Tasman Glacier Hike – 5 hours

Explore the immense beauty of the upper snowfield of the Haupapa/Tasman Glacier. As you fly in to 2200m on board either by helicopter or ski plane, marvel as the rock and ice debris transforms to glistening white. Equipped with snowshoes, walking poles, harness, and other equipment, ready to explore ice formations in this ever-changing environment, the heart and birthplace of New Zealand mountaineering. Flight home tracks down the eastern side of New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki/Mt Cook and the stunning Hochstetter icefall. Return home with incredible memories of experiences in this vast mountain landscape.

This experience is named in honour of Harry Wigley, pilot, and pioneer of the retractable ski for glacier and airfield landings.

Available on these holidays: