Mt Cook Small Group Day Tour via Lake Tekapo From Christchurch
4.5

Mt Cook Small Group Day Tour via Lake Tekapo From Christchurch

By Cheeky Kea Ltd
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Ages 5-99, max of 16 per group
Duration: 13h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Written guide
Print or digital reading material such as a guide, map, brochure, etc.
: German, Italian, French, Spanish
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  • Local snacks are included onboard throughout the day. Get the full kiwi expereince
  • Pre packed lunch is included from Fairlie Bakehouse
  • Eco friendly bottled water is supplied
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • WiFi on board
  • Pick up and Drop off
  • Doc concession
What's not included
  • Activities such as helicopter and boat trips
  • This tour is not recommended for infants
  • The walks are not guided


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
  • Christchurch Bus Exchange Lichfield Street - Regional Platform, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
    Please wait ready for collection at the bus stop on Lichfield Street outside the bus exchange. If you put Christchurch Bus Interchange intercity stop into google maps this will give you the correct location. Pick up time is at 06:25am
Pickup details
  • For a smooth pick-up process please be waiting at your selected pick-up location at least 5 minutes before your scheduled pick-up time. Your vehicle may be delayed due to previous pickups. Please be patient and wait 10 minutes before calling the office. Our drivers cannot wait for late customers. No show / late customers will not be refunded. We only pick up from locations that have a pickup noted. Please make sure you have let us know your pickup location. For hotel pickups please be waiting at or Infront of reception. Pick up times are as follows 6:18 Sudima City 6:20 Crowne Plaza 6:23 Distinctinction Christchurch 6:24 Christchurch City Hotel 6:25 Bus Interchange Intercity Stop (Litchfield Street) 6:27 Breakfree 6:29 Rydges 6:31 Urbanz 6:33 Fino 6:35 The George 6:37 Hotel Give
Hotel pickup offered
During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
    End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

      • Not wheelchair accessible
      • Pushchair accessible
      • Service animals allowed
      • Near public transportation
      If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 312127P2

      • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
      • Not recommended for travellers with back problems
      • Most travellers can participate
      • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
      • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
      • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travellers

      • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

      If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 312127P2

      From
      $299.00
      per adult
      Select date and travellers

      Similar experiences

      Itinerary
      • Pass by
        Christchurch
        Geraldine
      • 1
        Pass by
        Lake Tekapo
      • 2
      • 3
      • 4
      • 5
      • 6
      • 7
      • 8
      • 9
        Pass by
        Christchurch
      About the operator
      Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
      • Cheeky Kea Ltd
        129
        Christchurch, New Zealand
        Joined in August 2018
      • Leticia Vitoria C
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Amazing!
        The tour exceeded my expectations, the New Zealand landscapes are fantastic! The company provides a great service from start to finish, punctual for the start, a very flexible schedule, the car is comfortable and has Wi-Fi. The guide Joseph was great in providing relevant information at all the stops.
        Written 6 February 2025
      • T_J_MX
        0 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great service but pricy
        Great service that provides an efficient way to commute great distances from one area to another. Drivers were excellent but van space was very cramped. WiFi provided and most appreciated.
        Written 5 February 2025
      • O8906QNsandraw
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great guide, beautiful scenery.
        We had a great day in the Southern Alps with Jacob. He was knowledgeable, considerate and funny, and a good and safe driver. The scenery was stunning. Thanks Jacob!
        Written 29 January 2025
      • 846marcellas
        0 contributions
        1.0 of 5 bubbles
        They cancelled our tour
        I have no rating as my tour was cancelled the day before which had us searching for an alternative tour. I am not sure why this was done since we paid for the trip.
        Written 26 January 2025
      • Y9463CHdaniellet
        0 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        Majestic scenery
        The labelling of the Tour needs to be clearer. Those on board the Tour thought that it would be by train solely. We were quite suprised when the Tour guide who picked us up explained that the first part of the Tour towards Arthur's Pass was by coach and that if we hadn't purchased the full tour, return was by coach along the same route. One of the passengers who wanted to do the return trip by train was not able to contact the tour agency and had to go back by coach. This can be quite frustrating. However, the scenery is just majestic! A little bit more precision provided to would-be travellers can add even more to the experience.
        Written 18 January 2025
      • GL703
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Fantastic Day trip
        We really enjoyed this trip. Great scenery, and Francois, our guide for the day, was amazing. Very friendly, knowledgable, kept us on time but no one was rushed. He made the trip a fun day for us. We added the JetBoat option and train back to Christ Church - recommend doing those as well to get the full experience.
        Written 14 January 2025
      • rogeralanb
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        A truly memorable experience
        Such a great trip. Francois was such a great host and driver. A truly memorable experience. Highly recommended for couples.
        Written 13 January 2025
      • Sylvia W
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great day
        Our guide Paul was terrific. The itinerary was also great. A nice walk at Jetboat stop for those that didn’t jump on a boat. Castle Hill and Alpine Train ride a highlight of trip. Thumbs up.
        Written 10 January 2025
      • minalim09
        0 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great Day Trip
        Grant our driver and tour guide was friendly, detailed, a good driver! He briefed us on the days details, ensure all well and knows info to location well! The view was amazing. We had a great day! Well Done!
        Written 18 December 2024
      • yueweig2023
        0 contributions
        1.0 of 5 bubbles
        Terrible experience, will never travel with this agency again!
        Terrible experience with this agency. My trip was affected by a scrub fire. At the pick-up point in the early morning, The tour guide explained tt it would mostly be a trip on the coach, confirming that I can get a FULL REFUND if I’m not joining. However, Cheeky Kea Tours rejected my refund request on the next day. Aft multiple emails, the agency only agreed to 50% refund as a “gesture of goodwill”. Make a recording when this agency promise you verbally. They can take back their words easily!
        Written 7 December 2024
      • tauwit
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        10/10 to the Greatsights bus tour guides!
        Massive appreciation to Stuart, the tour guide, with Greatsights bus. He has exceptional knowledge of the culture and history of new zealand, and his commentary compliments the amazing views on the tour.
        Written 26 November 2024
      • Mark_and_Trishy
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        A great day out!
        An excellent day out in the company of Nick, our friendly and knowledgeable guide. Absolutely stunning scenery and a good variety of stops along the way.
        Written 26 November 2024
      • NuveS
        0 contributions
        3.0 of 5 bubbles
        Beautiful NZ , fantastic guide, bad itinerary planning.
        South Island was beautiful, natural and safe. Althought the whole trip was a rush, but what we saw was very good. When we contact Cheeky Kea, they suggested a private tour with some additional payments with option to customise the trip. Only one custom item was requested by us, a day hike trip to Routeburn track, but they managed to screw this up. Even airport pick up was missed out although this was informed much earlier to them. I think they are good for day trips but not for longer trips. The driver/guide was good and tried to make up for the poor itinerary. The key reason we choose them because it was mentioned, "we will show places that others dont".
        Written 16 November 2024
      • Indira345
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        A comprehensive experince about the west coast + train ride
        Well orgnaised tour, giving a comprehensive experince about the west coast. Sceneries were magnificant. Train ride back to Christchurch was also nice.
        Written 14 November 2024
      • Alisa S
        0 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        Overall I enjoyed all the scenery and service from driver and tour guide from Nick
        Everything was smooth, the driver Nick was very informative, he gave all the information about many places and looked after us very well, just my booking was 4 hours on the train but on that day only 2 and a half and the train was delayed 40 minutes.
        Written 13 November 2024
      See all 129 reviews
      These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

      Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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      4.5
      4.5 of 5 bubbles68 reviews
      Excellent
      54
      Very good
      7
      Average
      3
      Poor
      2
      Terrible
      2

      These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
      This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

      Jenny B
      9 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Nov 2024 • Solo
      Although the weather was overcast the trip was still great fun and well worth going on. The pickup was easy and the bus was comfortable. Snack bag and bottled water provided from the start which was a great addition. The packed lunch included was also delicious and plentiful! There were enough bathroom stops including at a bakery with delicious food. Stopped twice at Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki (once on the way there and once on the way back) so plenty of photo opportunities. Stopped inside the Mount Cook national park with enough time to go for a walk, our guide recommended the walk up some steps to see the Tasman Glacier which was amazing! Definitely worth it. Overall had a great day with an informative and funny guide.
      Written 12 December 2024
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      PetrSav
      Auckland, New Zealand109 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jan 2024 • Solo
      The Aoraki is really magnificent!
      We were lucky, it was sunny at the final destination.
      The guide William created the right mood in the bus and was very attentive to the guests. Thank him very much.

      The hardest part, and why this trip maybe rough for someone, is the time you spend in the bus while going to Mt Cook.
      The trip started at 6:30 at the Interchange.
      It took 30 min to pick up the visitors.
      Then it was 5.5 hour drive with 3 stops:
      Breakfast-15 min (not included)
      Two viewpoints- 10 min each
      Finally you have a 90 min time for walking on a track to see the Aoraki. It is definitely not enough.
      The return trip takes 5 hours with 3 short sanitary stops.

      I recommend not to take a return trip. You may stay at the Heritage overnight instead.
      Written 3 February 2024
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Makayla B
      18 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jul 2023 • Family
      My brother and I absolutely LOVED every minute of our day tour with Brent, he went above and beyond to ensure we were running on time as we had passengers who didn’t show up to the pick up point. We ended up being the only two that were on the tour to Mt Cook National park, this suited us amazingly as we got the ‘personal touch’ having Brent and his wealth of knowledge re the surrounding area all to ourselves! The national park had been covered in a blanket of snow over night, and we arrived to bright blue clear skies with not a cloud in sight. We were able to complete the entire Hooker Valley track, which was just breath taking. Although the journey in the mini bus is long, I would do it all over again in a heart beat. Brent was attentive to the road and drove very safely, if I ever book again I hope Brent is the driver 😎 10/10 for the kiwi classics provided on board (Spring water, L&P, Whittakers choc and Copper kettles) plus all the kai (food) from Fairlie bake house! The lunch provided was far more than expected, we took it with us to Hooker Lake and ate it over looking the glaciers floating around (the lake was even frozen over!) 😍 Ngā mihi nui team from two Hauraki Māori who appreciated the little touches made, to protect our taio while showcasing the best parts of our country.
      Written 10 August 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      HI! What a wonderful review! Thank you for taking the time to write this. I am very glad you had such a great time and I will pass this onto Brent! Safe travels and hope to see you on one of our tours again :)
      Written 14 August 2023
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Traveler C
      Zurich, Switzerland22 contributions
      2.0 of 5 bubbles
      Before this tour we joined a perfect/amazing tour with cheeky kiwi travels from Q'town to Milford Sound with an outstanding guide. Our expecations were, based on this previous trip, high but to be honest,it was not as far as good as we experienced with the sistercompany.

      In the morning, the weather was cloudy/foggy and no vieww to Mt. Cook from Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo. It changed during noon and we got perfect weather when driving back to Christchurch. The guide made a stop at Lake Pukaki in order to have wonderful pictures from Mt. Cook area. When a participant asked whether we will also stop at Lake Tekapo to enjoy the stunning scenery again, the guide said no as we had to travel back to Christchurch. I did not understand such a answer from a travel agent. There would have been not better place to have a (short) stop at Lake Tekapo. Instead of having a break there we stopped at three ordinary places on our way to Christchurch for a comfort break.

      Although, all went well and we got what we paid for, at the end, with not having even a short stop at Lake Tekapo on the way back with wonderful view and weather, this trip was just beyond my expectations from a provider perspetive. But to be fair, the services as ordered were fully provided but compared to the outstanding guide with cheeky kiwi travels, this trip reached not this level.
      Written 31 October 2022
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      HI, We do have an itinerary we must stick to so our drivers don't go over their legal hours. This means we provide only one stop at Lake Tekapo for 10 minutes and that is on the way to Mt Cook, this is also to maximize the first half of the day and allow our customers to spend more time in Mt Cook. (given the length of the tour) there is no need to stop at the same location twice.
      Written 8 March 2024
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Lynn H
      Sydney, Australia126 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Tour was great with lovely scenery and Megan our guide was very knowledgeable and made sure our day was was a good one. The stop at Fairlie Pies for breakfast was just what we needed as the pies were just the best. The only thing that prevents me giving this 5 stars is the lunch stop at the Hermitage was pretty bad - long queues, long wait times, tables not cleaned, and the food was average at best (when you did eventually get it). They were obviously massively understaffed. This does not go against the tour operator, but they do need to come up with an alternative for the lunch stop. Perhaps a picnic type lunch would be better. Snack packs were provided which were welcome. Apart from lunch, the day was a long but good one.
      Written 7 March 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Thank you for taking the time to write us a review. We are glad that you had a great time with Megan. I apologize for the frustration during lunch. The Hermitage is the only place for food in Mt Cook, but we are in the process of looking for alternative options for lunch
      Written 8 March 2023
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      fellowbrokegal
      3 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Dec 2023 • Family
      The views of Lake Tekapo were breath- taking and we were very lucky with the weather at Mt Cook. Despite the long drive there and back, Joseph was very attentive to each persons needs and always checking in with us. Joseph went above and beyond with his service.
      Written 20 January 2024
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      HI, Thank you for your review, It is so lovely to read that you had a great time on board with us. I will pass your kind words onto Joseph. Thank you again we loved having you on board.
      Written 1 February 2024
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Vacation53589702084
      1 contribution
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Feb 2025 • Family
      I wasn't sure if I wanted to go on a tour to Lake Tekapo, but it was a great idea to go on a tour to Mount Cook. It was a great tour. At Mount Cook, we had a two-hour trek, which was a good memory. The minivan was also comfortable, with 15 people around, and we had a number of toilet breaks that made us feel comfortable. It was another fun trip with a good guide!
      Automatically translated
      Written 7 February 2025
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      mary_ann_hinde
      Brisbane, Australia10 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Sept 2022 • Solo
      This company was awesome from start to finish. Krystal picked me up from my accommodation at 6am promptly and the day just got better as we went along. Krystal was fun enthusiastic, knowledgeable, caring and safe all great qualities you want in your tour guide. Not everything on the day went according to Plan A but it didn't matter as Krystal was determined to give us the best Plan B she could. Aoraki/ Mt Cook turned on some amazing snowfall and Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki were both equally as picturesque as the Southern Alps. Amazing tour through amazing country with a great guide.

      In addition, Krystal was back on another tour the next day and contacted me to offer to drop me at some walks as she knew I had no transport. That is caring and service above and beyond.

      Thank you to Krystal and Cheeky Kea that's a memory created that I'll never forget👍
      Written 14 September 2022
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Hi Mary We are glad you had such a great time on this tour with Krystal and the level of service is what we are all about at Cheeky Kea. We hope the rest of your trip is just as good and thank you for taking the time to write us a review :)
      Written 18 September 2022
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Nicole S
      18 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      WOW just wow, without a doubt the best experience of my trip to New Zealand. My group just happened to be all girls my age, and the tour operator matched our energy to the max. He gave us plenty of time in each destination and took so many pictures for us.
      This tour was so fun and provided SO much food. Every time we’d leave the van and come back there was a new snack bag.
      The bakery was so cute, eclectic, and yummy!
      You definitely get your bang for your buck.
      If you do one tour in the South Island, make it this one.
      Written 24 March 2024
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Thank you for sharing your incredible experience with us! We are thrilled to hear that our guide matched your group's energy and made sure you had plenty of time to enjoy each destination. It's wonderful to know that you found the tour fun, delicious, and a great value for the price. We love providing memorable experiences and are glad that we could be a highlight of your trip to New Zealand. Your kind words mean a lot to us, and we would love to welcome you back for more adventures in the future.
      Written 28 March 2024
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Brian T
      4 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Oct 2022 • Friends
      The whole experience was pleasant and enjoyable, our tour guide Krystal was super friendly and very helpful, nothing was too much trouble. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to see Mt Cook and all the sites on the way and have a guide who knows her stuff. We will use this company again on our next trip.
      Written 23 October 2022
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Thank you so much for taking the time to write us a review. Krystal was very happy to see all the wonderful things you had to say about her All the best with the rest of your travels:)
      Written 25 October 2022
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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      *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

      Mt Cook Small Group Day Tour via Lake Tekapo From Christchurch provided by Cheeky Kea Ltd

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