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Christchurch to Queenstown: Mt Cook and Southern Alps Tour
4.1
72 Ratings
Christchurch
Embark on a scenic day tour from Christchurch to Mount Cook, passing through the stunning Southern Alps. Experience the beauty of Lake Tekapo and the Canterbury Plains before reaching New Zealand’s tallest mountain. Don’t miss this unforgettable journey!
Embark on a scenic day tour from Christchurch to Mount Cook, passing through the stunning Southern Alps. Experience the beauty of Lake Tekapo and the Canterbury Plains before reaching New Zealand’s tallest mountain. Don’t miss this unforgettable journey!
Duration:
11 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Geraldine Visitor Information Centre - Geraldine is a charming town known for its arts, crafts, and market days, and is renowned as a hub for talented artists like Austen Deans and John Badcock, who have studios in the area. The town also offers delightful edible creations, including a local cheese maker, chocolatier, and the internationally…
- Geraldine Visitor Information Centre - Geraldine is a charming town known for its arts, crafts, and market days, and is renowned as a hub for talented artists like Austen Deans and John Badcock, who have studios in the area. The town also offers delightful edible creations, including a local cheese maker, chocolatier, and the internationally acclaimed Barkers fruit products, all with outlets in Geraldine. Visitors can enjoy a morning tea break and a comfort stop at the Kiwi Country Visitor Centre.
- The Church of the Good Shepherd - This stunning location draws visitors from around the globe. Guests are encouraged to spend a few quiet moments appreciating the serene beauty of the lake and mountains, which many consider to be God’s greatest cathedral.
- Lake Tekapo - The lake is framed by the Ben Ohau Ranges and the Southern Alps. Fed by the Godley Glacier and the Macauley River, Lake Tekapo’s turquoise hue is a result of the glacial effect. It’s an excellent spot for capturing photos of the breathtaking scenery.
- Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park - Entering Mt Cook National Park, one of New Zealand’s 14 National Parks, visitors will find 70,696 hectares of stunning landscapes, including the country’s highest mountains and largest glaciers. Established in 1953, the park’s Maori name, Aoraki, means ‘Sky Piercer.’ This rugged terrain features 19 peaks over 3,000 meters, including Mt Cook, which stands at 3,753 meters, making it New Zealand’s tallest mountain, though it was once 3,763 meters.
- The Wrinkly Rams - A café rest stop offering espresso coffee and homemade food, with free WiFi available.
What's Included
- Modern air-conditioned coach with free WiFi
- Live commentary on board
- Local driver guide
- Modern air-conditioned coach with free WiFi
- Live commentary on board
- Local driver guide
What's Not Included
- Scenic Flight
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
- Scenic Flight
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Embark on a singular scenic journey from Christchurch to Queenstown through Mt Cook and behold the majesty of the NZ Southern Alps. Marvel at the awe-inspiring spectacle of the glacier-fed Lake Tekapo, the pastoral Canterbury Plains farmland, and Aoraki (Mt Cook), New Zealand’s tallest mountain, nestled in a national park and recognised as a UNESCO…
Embark on a singular scenic journey from Christchurch to Queenstown through Mt Cook and behold the majesty of the NZ Southern Alps. Marvel at the awe-inspiring spectacle of the glacier-fed Lake Tekapo, the pastoral Canterbury Plains farmland, and Aoraki (Mt Cook), New Zealand’s tallest mountain, nestled in a national park and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover the magnificent splendor of New Zealand’s premier peak with a day tour from Christchurch to Mount Cook, concluding in Queenstown.
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Each traveler is allowed 2 Bags weighing no more than 20kg each and 1 carry-on bag. Oversized or excessive luggage (e.g. surfboards, golf clubs or bikes) may have certain restrictions, please inquire with the operator prior to travel to confirm if your excess luggage is acceptable
- Tour is a total of 11 hours in total
Location
Lichfield Street
Outside Bus Interchange on 72 Lichfield St, Near Colombo Street
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.1
(72 Ratings)
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Towella69
Nov 16, 2025
Great company with fantastic drivers - Great trip. Driver’s knowledge is fantastic all about nature and geography of NZ very helpful and friendly. Part of our flexipass. Great value.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Yuan_f
Feb 14, 2025
Stewart is a very... - Stewart is a very knowlegble tour guide and keep feeding us valuable information during his long-time driving. Thank you Stewart!
Review provided by Viator
Rematkotp
Jan 28, 2025
It was a road trip and we stopped at places to take pictures or walk etc. Not at all rushed. Excellent guide cum driver. - Great road trip, not rushed, comfortable and guide/driver had vast knowledge of the place and history and educated is.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Livingthegoodli
Nov 10, 2024
What a day! - My husband and I travelled throughout NZ without a car (newly retired). Figuring out how to get to Queenstown from Christchurch was challenging and then I found this tour! Worth the cost as you get to your destination and get to see New Zealand's South Island stunning scenery. Awesome, clean, comfortable coach with large windows-we sat back and watched the magnificent scenery unfold. They gave us the pickup place in Christchurch for 7am and it appeared right on time-I could not believe it. Paul was our expert driver-especially on those windy roads. So happy he was driving and not me!
From Lake Tekapo, to Mt Cook, small towns, stopped for lunch at Hermitage Hotel (our cost) and the amazing drive into Queenstown arriving on time about 7pm. A long day but it never felt it. Stopped along the way where you could get snacks and fresh muffins and coffees (our cost) - clean bathrooms. it was one of our favorite days in the breathtaking country of New Zealand. I thoroughly recommend this trip. Thank you Greatsights for providing a phenomenal travel experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Faraway50692447360
Feb 25, 2026
Short time at each stop - The sights themselves were amazing, but we ran so far behind due to traffic/construction, delays with loading the bus in Christchurch, and people at multiple stops getting back to the bus late that we only got 40 minutes to spend at Mount Cook. We ended up having to leave people behind at multiple locations, which was certainly not the tour guide's fault as he was very clear in his directions. Still, definitely appreciated being able to transfer from Christchurch to Queenstown and see some sights along the way, especially since this was a last minute booking for us due to abrupt changes in travel plans. Tour guide was also very well informed and had a lot of information about the surrounding area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
N_o
Jan 4, 2026
Cannot hear the driver!! - Short stop Mt. Cook FYI - about a hour, will pick folk along the route, you can get on with luggage to Queenstown
I dropped stars because I don't understand how we had a great bus in the morning, with electric outlets wifi and then we are told there will only be a driver swap, only. To get to Mt cook we get this bus with no connection for charging, no wifi but the worst is the very noisy air vent at the back coupled with the drivers low voice, he was literally speaking to himself as far as I am concerned, so that the second leg of the journey was utter useless in terms of receiving information. Tod. The driver twice about the noise he didn't seem too bothered and that darned vent kept coming on after a couple minutes. Won't recommend as this took away from the experience I wanted
I love to get information about places we travel through.
Review provided by Viator
Ashwatramani
Dec 25, 2024
Well planned journey. Poor Guide. - My wife & I along with our 4 year old son did this tour from Christchurch to Queenstown on the 22nd of December. My rating is low mainly because of the driver.
The Good - Very well planned trip and really nice stops along the way. We stopped at Geraldine for breakfast. We then stopped at Lake Tekapo, followed by Lake Pukaki and then Mount Cook. On the way down from Mount Cook, we stopped at a couple more places including an orchard and then finally Queenstown. The bus was very very comfortable - had USB charging for phones and wi-fi as well.
The Bad - We spent 10 days in New Zealand and every single person we met and interacted with were very nice, except for this driver. I think his name was Nui, and he was extremely unpleasant, rude and short all along the way to me and my wife. He seemed very grumpy whenever we asked him a question, and his narration along the way was also very dull and seemed as if he was just doing the narration for the heck of it.
Except for our driver, i think the overall tour was good.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Svetak32
Sep 25, 2025
Poor organisation - We’ve travelled on a tour from Queenstown to Christchurch and it was a horrible experience. From Queenstown to Mount Cook we made couple of stops for photos along the road which was nice, but one of them was for 30 min in a cafe which was too long and unnecessary since would be better to spend more time in Mount Cook. In Mount Cook we had only 1h 45 min time which was not enough for proper hiking unless you’re super rushed and except hiking there is nothing much to do there, only eat in the cafeteria. From Mount Cook to Christchurch the driver changed and it got only worse. The driver looked like a first timer since he didn’t know where to go and had a supervisor with him teaching him and showing the route. After 1h driving from Mount Cook to lake Tekapo we stopped near the restroom while the stop near the church was completely skipped. When I asked why we don’t make a stop for a photo near the church which was part of the written tour program, the supervisor of the driver replied that they are already late, couldn’t care less about the tour program. At the end the drive from Mount Cook to Christchurch was 4h silent drive with couple of toilet stops. The driver was not commenting anything and the bus was used for a driver’s class. Never again..
Review provided by Tripadvisor
431dmitryb
Jan 20, 2025
AVOID BY ANY MEANS!!! - Terrible tourist company - they have left me on the Mt.Cook. I was 5 min before, but the driver Paul decided to leave earlier. I called customer service less then 10 min after the bus departed, but they didn't return the bus. Nor they booked a hotel for me or gave me food vouchers. Total ignorance of their customers! AVOID BY ANY MEANS, especially the driver Paul - very unfriendly and messy driver that constantly leaves people on Mt.Cook. On the next day he left 2 ladies! This is not funny!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bob_h
Apr 1, 2024
Fixed problems, otherwise Viator will lose customers. - I booked two Day-Tours from Viator. Each one had its own problem. Especially the trip to Mountain Cook, booking number 1113052315, was totally ruined. According to this booking, it should be a round trip. Both start and end points are Christchurch. However, what the local provider had are two programs. One started from Christchurch and ended in Queen's town. The other started from Queen's town and ended in Christchurch. The local provider helped my wife and I to fix this problem but it did not work. So we could not join the tour.
The Viator should refund me this part totally.
The other reservation is the Arthur's Pass, booking number 1112631717. Due mainly to the schedule change of tranzAlpine train, the local tour provider modified the way we travel and informed me in time such that my wife and I can enjoy this trip. But even the day before this tour, I still received an email from Viator that gave me wrong information.
It tells me that Viator does not communicate with local providers often such that it gives your customer a lot of wrong information. The Viator should fix problems otherwise you will lose customers totally.
Review provided by Viator
