Mt Cook: 55-Minute Scenic Flight in Helicopter or Ski Plane

Name: Mt Cook: 55-Minute Scenic Flight in Helicopter or Ski Plane
Brand: GetYourGuide
Price: 428.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.63 (8 reviews)

4.6 (8 verified reviews)

Ski plane pilot at the controls with snowy mountains outside the windscreen

Wing strut of a ski plane framing a turquoise lake and braided river below

Snow-covered Southern Alps peaks under a pink evening sky

Passengers in headsets looking out of a helicopter cabin at snow-covered rock faces

Icebergs floating on Tasman Lake below dark mountain slopes

About This Experience

This 55-minute scenic flight with INFLITE crosses the Southern Alps and back, and you choose to fly it in a helicopter or a ski plane. From take-off the route traverses the Main Divide to the West Coast for views of the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers, then tracks north along the Tasman Sea.

Recrossing the snow-capped peaks, you return to the Tasman Glacier and track south down it through Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. The flight passes the Grand Plateau and the Hochstetter Icefall under the east face of Aoraki/Mount Cook before descending over Tasman Terminal Lake. Mount Tasman and Mount Sefton are also on the route.

A safety briefing comes before take-off. The listing does not promise a landing, though one reviewer describes the ski plane landing on the glacier. Seats are assigned on the day, and one reviewer found the middle seat behind the pilot gave poor visibility, so a window is not guaranteed.

The operator emails after booking to confirm your exact flight time, which may differ from your request; if it does not suit, you get a full refund. Weather cancellations are fully refundable. Each passenger must be under 116 kg (255 lb), and bags and selfie sticks are not allowed on board.

Highlights

Across the Main Divide to the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers
A run north along the Tasman Sea coast before recrossing the Alps
Aoraki/Mount Cook, Mount Tasman and Mount Sefton up close
The Grand Plateau and Hochstetter Icefall under Aoraki's east face
A choice of helicopter or ski plane for the same route
A descent over Tasman Terminal Lake to finish

What's Included

✓ 55-minute scenic flight
✓ Choice of helicopter or ski plane (select your option when booking)
✓ Safety briefing before take-off
✓ Views of the Fox, Franz Josef and Tasman glaciers
✓ Full refund if weather cancels the flight

Not Included

Food and beverages
A guaranteed landing (none is listed for this flight)

What to Bring

Comfortable clothes
Warm layers
Sunglasses
A phone or camera (bags are not allowed on board)

Good to Know & Caveats

After booking, the operator emails to confirm your exact flight date and time, which may differ from your request. If you cannot make the new time, you get a full refund.
Weather cancellations are fully refundable.
Each passenger must weigh under 116 kg (255 lb). If a group's combined weight reaches the safety limit, the flight may be rescheduled, with a full refund if you cancel.
The meeting point can vary with the option booked; follow the details in your confirmation email.
Seats are assigned on the day, and a middle seat can have limited views.
Bags and selfie sticks are not allowed on board.

Not Suitable For

People with mobility impairments
People over 116 kg (255 lb)

Meeting Point

Flights leave from INFLITE Mt Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters' base at Aoraki/Mount Cook Airport (Mount Cook Aerodrome), Mount Cook Road. The meeting point can vary with the option you book, helicopter or ski plane, so follow the check-in details in the operator's confirmation email.

What Travelers Say

Rated 4.6/5 by 8 verified GetYourGuide travelers.

Very helpful Staff, Great Pilot (Angus). Overall a very enjoyable experience.
— Paul, June 11, 2024

Amazing trip. Plane landed and took off from glacier, which was awesome.
— Ian, February 24, 2024

The team were absolutely super, my partner had to cancel through fear which they completely understood. Then the first weather change meant a shortened plane flight. Next flight cancelled due to weather but they fitted me onto a helicopter flight instead!! Thank you for a great experience!
— Elise, February 10, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I choose the helicopter or the ski plane?

Both options fly the same 55-minute route across the Main Divide to the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers and back down the Tasman Glacier. The choice comes down to the aircraft you would rather experience. Pick your option when booking, and check the meeting point in your confirmation, as it can vary by option.

Does the flight include a landing?

The listing does not include a landing; it describes a scenic flight with a safety briefing. One reviewer reports the ski plane landing on and taking off from the glacier, so a landing may happen on some flights, but do not book on that basis. INFLITE's glacier combo includes a snow landing if you want one.

Which peaks and glaciers will I see?

Aoraki/Mount Cook, Mount Tasman and Mount Sefton, the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers on the West Coast, and the Tasman Glacier on the return. The route also passes the Grand Plateau and the Hochstetter Icefall under Aoraki's east face, and finishes with a descent over Tasman Terminal Lake.

Can I choose my seat?

No. Seats are assigned on the day to balance the aircraft, based on passenger weights. One reviewer in the helicopter found the middle seat behind the pilot gave poor visibility, while others rated the views highly. Each passenger must be under 116 kg (255 lb) to fly.

What if my flight time changes or the weather turns?

The operator confirms your exact time by email after booking, and it may differ from your request. If you cannot make the new time, or the operator has to change it, you are entitled to a full refund. Weather cancellations are 100% refundable, and reviewers describe being moved to another flight.