New Zealand · MACKENZIE COUNTRY TOURS
Summer fills these weeks ahead and the best go first. Below: the 15 to lock in before you fly, what each includes and where they differ.
Review of Lake Tekapo’s 75-minute alpine stargazing tour, with a 14-inch telescope, dark-sky farm setting, warm jackets, and free photo.
“We had a great couple of hours. Taken to a farm and was educated about the stars and constellations. High power telescope to look at stars, moon and jupiter. Saw the most amazing Meteor which was the highlight and felt so lucky to witness that.”
Review of Lake Tekapo’s 90-minute stargazing tour, with powerful telescopes, hot chocolate, marshmallows, blankets, and free night-sky photos.
“Very engaging and knowledgeable guides. Loved the blankets and hot chocolate and meeting others from across the globe”
Review of Mount Cook’s 25-minute helicopter flight, alpine landing, glacier views, pricing, weather limits, and practical booking tips.
“It was an amazing experience and worth the money that we paid. We really enjoyed the view.”
Review of the Mt Cook day tour from Queenstown, with scenic stops, guided commentary, free time for walks, and practical booking advice.
“Wonderful trip, we loved our guide Jeff’s commentary and stories. He was very attentive to all the guests on his van. He prepared us for our walk through Hooker Valley and we were fortunate enough to have a clear day to see Aoraki/Mount Cook. Great wine suggestions!”
Explore Mount Cook from Tekapo with Tasman Glacier, Hooker Valley, Lake Pukaki stops, snacks, Wi-Fi, and flexible hiking time.
“I had a great day. Very accommodating and was offered snacks and water which was very lovely. Was given enough time to do the walks I liked, so whether you want to do a shorter trail or a longer one, you have the option because of the different pickup times. Great trip with great stops !! Thank you, had a lovely time and would defo recommend as a solo traveller”
Review of Cheeky Kiwi’s 12-hour Mt Cook and Tasman Glacier tour from Queenstown, with scenic stops, hiking advice, costs, and practical tips.
“Greg was a great guide for the long dive to Mount Cook. He stopped at scenic points, made sure we were comfortable, and had interesting commentary. We had favorable weather so the Hooker Valley Track was busy, but still beautiful.”
Fly by ski plane and helicopter over Aoraki Mount Cook, land on the Tasman Glacier, and judge the weather, views, and value.
“Very beautiful up there at the tip of the mountain Pictures are just awesome memories from up top”
Walk on Tasman Glacier, explore blue ice caves, and fly beneath Aoraki/Mount Cook on a small-group heli-hike from $537.
“The receptions and the staff were nice to us and provided a very clear introduction and briefing to us prior to the beginning of the events. They have all sorts of equipment that we could borrow, including Rain coats, backpacks, etc. My guides, Hunter and Kirby, are friendly and professional.”
Fly from Mount Cook Airport to the Tasman Glacier for a guided two-hour heli hike among ice caves, peaks, and Southern Alps scenery.
“It was our first helicopter ride and it was an amazing and unforgettable experience. We felt really safe during the hike. Max, the guide was fun and caring. The hike as such could have been longer tho.”
Review of Chameleon Stargazing at Lake Tekapo, with telescopes, astronomy stories, hot chocolate, marshmallows, photos, and weather tips.
“Lots of interesting information and while we did struggle with a few passing clouds it was a very good time. Seeing the stars/planets through the telescopes was amazing. A cold might so dress warmly! Hot chocolate & marshmallows was a nice touch!”
Review of Mount John stargazing in Tekapo, with expert guides, telescopes, warm jackets, transport, costs, weather tips, and practical advice.
“The guides were very knowledgeable and informative. The bus trip up to the observatory was fun and described by the driver as the only nightclub in Tekapo. The viewing of the night sky was spectacular. We learned how to find the southern celestial pole and saw Alpha Centauri, Jupiter and a number of other objects in the night sky.”
Mount John Observatory stargazing review: telescopes, expert guides, dark skies, cold-weather tips, pricing, weather risks, and booking advice.
“This was an amazing experience!! Highly recommend. Got to look up at the sky with our bare eyes and also with some powerful telescopes. It was so cool and very accessible to people who don’t know much about stars. I believe our guides were named Kieran, Alice, and Olive - they were wonderful.”
Review the 55-minute Mount Cook helicopter flight, including glacier views, snow landing, price, weather risks, and practical booking advice.
“The ground staff provided excellent services by explaining details of our trip and safety procedures. Greg, both our pilot and guide, carried us safely over top of the mountains as well as throughout the trip! We are pleased to say that the whole trip was memorable caused it was managed by capable hands.”
Relax at Tekapo Springs with all-day access to three hot pools, alpine views, cooler pools, and family-friendly facilities above Lake Tekapo.
“it was OK. Couldn't physically sit and really see Lake Tekapo, but it was sort of visible.I was looking forward to a bit more of a relaxing bit of downtime after a long drive, but just a wee bit frustrated at the kids using as a swimming pool. had to retreat to the hotter pool, which was OK for a while, but needed to go into cooler pills, which were busier and noisier.”
Review of Tekapo Star Gazing Tour, combining guided southern-sky astronomy, indoor projection, blankets, and quiet nighttime hot pools.
“Great experience. The moon was a little too bright and caused poor conditions for star gazing. However what we could see was explained and shown to the group effectively. The dip in the hot pools with more info about the stars and randoRead more”
Pick a coast, a crater or a cellar door.
