Aoraki/Mount Cook is New Zealand's highest peak, and the flying here matches it: six operators lift off from three departure points — Mount Cook Airport, the village at Bowen Drive and Glentanner Park on SH80 — for alpine landings, flights along the full length of the Tasman Glacier and heli-hikes on its ice. Every listed flight is free to cancel up to 24 hours ahead.
The quick way up: 25–30-minute flights with an alpine landing facing Aoraki/Mount Cook, from all three departure points.
Up the Tasman Valley and onto a mountain landing site looking directly at Aoraki/Mount Cook. Snow landings happen most of the year but cannot be guaranteed in summer.
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| GetYourGuide | NZ$379 | ★ 4.7 (513 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
From Glentanner into the Ben Ohau Range: 20 minutes of flight time and an alpine landing with the Southern Alps all around.
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| GetYourGuideBest price | NZ$385 | ★ 4.8 (9 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
| Viator | NZ$395 | ★ 4.3 (50 reviews) | Book at Viator |
Peaks and valleys around Aoraki/Mount Cook from the village base at Bowen Drive, with an alpine landing — flown with a maximum of five passengers.
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| GetYourGuide | NZ$485 | ★ 4.8 (46 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
A short journey into the remote Southern Alps from Mount Cook Airport: past Aoraki/Mount Cook, with a landing in an alpine location.
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| GetYourGuide | NZ$385 | ★ 4.8 (7 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
The long flights: along New Zealand's longest glacier, past the Hochstetter Icefall — the 50–55-minute routes cross to Franz Josef and Fox.
Over the Ben Ohau Mountains and out of the helicopter on a mountaintop — the mid-length Glentanner flight with an alpine landing.
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| GetYourGuideBest price | NZ$565 | ★ 4.9 (7 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
| Viator | NZ$579 | ★ 4.2 (25 reviews) | Book at Viator |
Past the Hochstetter Icefall and the upper Tasman Glacier, then an alpine landing in the snow (subject to snow levels).
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| GetYourGuideBest price | NZ$655 | ★ 5.0 (7 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
| Viator | NZ$672 | ★ 4.8 (60 reviews) | Book at Viator |
Over the Tasman Glacier and the Hochstetter Icefall, with a landing on the glacier itself and views across the national park.
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| GetYourGuide | NZ$655 | ★ 4.7 (11 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
The highlights of Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park with a flight along the full length of the Tasman Glacier — 40 minutes in the air, plus a glacier landing.
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| GetYourGuide | NZ$635 | ★ 4.7 (22 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
The grand loop from the village: Tasman, Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers in one 50-minute flight around Aoraki/Mount Cook.
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| GetYourGuide | NZ$835 | ★ 5.0 (7 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
The long Southern Lakes flight over Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, with a snow landing on the Tasman Glacier.
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| GetYourGuide | NZ$835 | ★ 4.7 (10 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
Along New Zealand's longest glacier, across the Southern Alps to Franz Josef and Fox and back — 55 minutes of flight time with an alpine landing.
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| GetYourGuideBest price | NZ$875 | ★ 4.8 (45 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
| Viator | NZ$897 | ★ 4.7 (141 reviews) | Book at Viator |
Fifty-five minutes around the Southern Alps with expert commentary. This product is sold with a choice of aircraft — we link the helicopter option.
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| GetYourGuide | NZ$749 | ★ 4.6 (8 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
Clearly marked exception on this helicopter site: the famous Mount Cook combo flies ski plane AND helicopter on one trip — it is the only flight here with a snow landing guaranteed all year round.
Fly in a ski plane AND a helicopter on the same trip, swapping aircraft at a glacier snow landing on the Tasman — the combination that guarantees snow landings all year round. Note: this is partly a fixed-wing flight.
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| GetYourGuide | NZ$549 | ★ 4.7 (356 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
Fly over New Zealand's highest mountain and land on the Tasman Glacier for a guided two-hour hike — maximum 150 kg per person including equipment, age 10 and up.
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| GetYourGuide | NZ$945 | ★ 4.8 (259 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
Walking on New Zealand's biggest glacier combined with a scenic fly-by of Aoraki/Mount Cook — around 15 minutes of flying each way, up to two hours on the ice.
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| GetYourGuide | NZ$899 | ★ 4.9 (322 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
An eight-minute flight onto Glentanner Station's private high country, then a guided hike with exclusive access to the historic field hut — home baking and hot drinks included.
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| GetYourGuideBest price | NZ$495 | ★ 5.0 (7 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
| Viator | NZ$495 | ★ 5.0 (53 reviews) | Book at Viator |
Snow landings on pure helicopter flights happen most of the year but are not guaranteed in summer — INFLITE states about 95% of the year, The Helicopter Line notes “subject to snow levels”. The ski plane combo is the year-round exception.
Weight rules apply: INFLITE states a passenger limit of 116 kg; The Helicopter Line's heli-hike allows a maximum of 150 kg including equipment, from age 10.
The three departure points are about 20 km apart: Mount Cook Airport near the village, Glacier Helicopters at 81 Bowen Drive in the village itself, and The Helicopter Line at Glentanner Park on SH80 — check your departure point when booking.
Every flight listed here can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before departure; weather cancellations are rebooked or fully refunded.
This site lists helicopter flights — with one clearly marked exception: the INFLITE combo that flies both aircraft on one trip and guarantees its snow landing all year. On pure helicopter flights, snow landings depend on snow levels, especially in summer.
The 40-minute flights follow the glacier and the Hochstetter Icefall with a landing; the 50–55-minute panoramas add the crossing to Franz Josef and Fox. For standing on the ice longer, choose a heli-hike.
Depends on the operator: INFLITE, Southern Lakes Helicopters and Mt Cook Glacier Guiding at Mount Cook Airport, Glacier Helicopters at 81 Bowen Drive in the village, The Helicopter Line and the Glentanner heli-hike at Glentanner Park on SH80.
Short alpine-landing flights start at the lowest price shown above; the 50–55-minute glacier panoramas and the heli-hikes cost the most.
