Christchurch to Queenstown One-Way Tour via Mt Cook & Lake Tekapo
Description
This small group, fully-guided day trip combines all of the key highlights in the area with the famous Lake Tekapo, Mt Cook National Park and Tasman Glacier. The ultimate way to get from Christchurch to Queenstown and includes a picnic lunch. Led by our famously passionate tour guides, notorious for bringing your journey to life by sharing their stories and rich background knowledge and run in modern, comfortable minibuses packed with extras ensuring your comfort and safety. Highlights: Lake Tekapo, Church of the Good Shepard Mt Cook & Aoraki National Park Tasman Glacier, Lake Pukaki Lindis Pass, Kawarau Gorge While the destinations you will be visiting are truly spectacular, we at Cheeky Kiwi Travel believe it is our small groups, our guides, the journey and the little details that set our tours well apart. Secret stops, wildlife viewings, specially designed vehicles, complementary refreshments and many other pleasant surprises ensure our tours are an experience to remember.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your tour starts in the stunning city of Christchurch. As we drive out of the city your guide will not only set the scene for your adventurous day but also point out and guide you past some of the area’s top highlights.
Departing Christchurch we then make our way through the impressive Canterbury plains with plenty of amazing New Zealand farmland and countryside to see along the way.
A charming South Canterbury town known for its boutique shops and local produce. This is where we’ll pause to collect your lunch, take a short rest break, grab a coffee if you’d like, and use the facilities before we continue our journey.
Exiting Geraldine we head towards the famous blue lakes of Lake Tekapo but to get there first we must go through some impressive alpine passes with amazing views. As we come over the hill to Tekapo you will be stunned by amazing view of the lake. Stop for a quick photo at the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd.
Turning west we begin to enter the Aoraki National Park and Lake Pukaki begins to emerge in front of us. Lake Pukaki is one of the bluest lakes you will ever see and is stunningly framed by the backdrop of Aoraki/Mt Cook and the Southern Alps. It’s not hard to see why many Lord of the Rings scene were filmed nearby and we will point them out for you.
While in the national park you have 2 hours free time to enjoy free walks/hikes or one of the extra optional activities. Some of our recommendations include: Kea Point Track, Blue Lakes, Tasman Glacier Walk or Scenic flights (see the region from the air and land on the Tasman Glacier) or Mt Cook Visitor Centre & Hermitage Hotel. Whatever you decide to do we will pick you up and drop you off where you need to go and make sure you are well looked after.
Farewelling Aoraki/Mt Cook Village and making our way back to Queenstown we stop in at High Country Salmon, a local salmon farm, where you can feed the fish and taste some of the freshest salmon in New Zealand.
Climbing in altitude, Lindis Pass has amazing views down through the valleys. Being one of only three alpine roads through the otherwise impassable Southern Alps.
During summer months when the sun is still up as we get close to Queenstown we often stop at Jacksons Orchard to try or buy some delicious local fruit or real fruit ice cream.
Nearing Queenstown we then make our way through the stunning Kawarau Gorge passing stunning views, the Kawarau Suspension Bridge and the famous Roaring Meg Lookout.
Sadly the tour must come to an end as we enter Queenstown and say our goodbyes.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
*If no pickup is selected at time of booking, you will be allocated our default meeting point (InterCity Stop, Christchurch Bus Interchange). You are welcome to update this at any time. If your location isn’t listed, please choose your nearest available option & meet us there. *Pick-ups can begin up to 20 minutes before the tour departure time, depending on location. To ensure a smooth start, please be ready and waiting outside 5 minute prior to your specific pickup time. *Pick-up locations are carefully planned for each tour and may vary by day. If your pick-up location changes, kindly inform us in advance. *Our guides make multiple stops and may arrive within a 10-minute window. We are unable to wait for late guests.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A moderate amount of walking is involved. Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
- Guests can bring 1 large & 1 small piece of luggage each
- Please advise any dietary requirements per person at time of booking
Reviews(105)
Lovely trip and tour guides- Grant and Lynette. Its a really long day however I'm grateful I got to all these lovely places without having to drive myself there
This was an amazing experience! It worked out perfectly to sightsee and get a ride to Queenstown. Our guides were both fabulous, and very informative. There were many highlights just with the sightseeing alone, but seeing Mt. Cook and the glacier lake was amazing. I also cannot stop thinking about the most delicious salmon I ate on our journey from Mt. Cook to Queenstown. I would 10 out 10 recommend!
Thanks so much for the feedback! Our guides are totally passionate about sharing the sights on the Christchurch to Queenstown Tour (glad the salmon made the trip too!). We're stoked you had such an amazing journey and hope to see you back again :)
The entire trip was amazing and truly unforgettable. Everything was well organized, and the journey was enjoyable from beginning to end. The driver from Mount Cook to Queenstown was especially wonderful. He was kind, thoughtful, and explained many things along the way. He made everyone feel comfortable and well looked after throughout the trip. I also accidentally left my tripod in the van, and he kindly brought it back to my hotel. I really did not expect that, and I was very grateful for his help. Overall, I had such a great experience. The tour, the scenery, and the service were all excellent. I would happily recommend this trip to anyone. 10/10
What a lovely story about the tripod - that's exactly the kind of care our guides take on the Christchurch to Queenstown Tour. Thank you for such a thoughtful review, and we hope to welcome you back to New Zealand again :)
We were picked from our hotel on time. A comfortable car, an experienced drivers both vans, , water and snacks were provided. Nice lunch including very needed hot soup. Shame about the weather.
Both drivers we traveled with were incredibly warm, friendly, and welcoming. Throughout the journey, they shared so many interesting stories and detailed information about the area, which made the trip even more enjoyable. They were also exceptionally kind and caring toward my little boy, making him feel comfortable and included. We truly appreciated their hospitality and had such a wonderful experience with Cheeky Kiwi. It was a joyful and unforgettable journey!
This was a wonderful experience that our family thoroughly enjoyed. While it involved a lot of driving, it was absolutely worth it for the incredible scenery, amazing photo opportunities, and unforgettable experiences along the way. The entire experience was smooth and easy from start to finish. The drivers made sure to stop regularly for bathroom breaks, food, and plenty of photo opportunities, which we really appreciated. More importantly, they made the drive memorable by sharing fascinating history and local information that we wouldn't have learned otherwise. They were friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating throughout the journey. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone traveling from Christchurch to Queenstown.
A wonderful experience on our recent trip from Christchurch to Queenstown. We booked with you Cheeeky Kiwi last minute after our original plans fell through, and I couldn't be more pleased with the service. I was traveling with my 85-year-old mother, who is typically a nervous passenger, but she felt incredibly relaxed and comfortable throughout the drive. We both thoroughly enjoyed the trip and the insightful knowledge shared by our guides, Grant and Jess. The lunch provided was also lovely. Thank you for a great experience!
Grant was our first driver from Chch to the mid point, he was very knowledgeable and had a lot of side stories that are very entertaining. Jay, the manager of the Chch branch was also very helpful and friendly. Danny was our driver from the mid point to QT who also had a lot of ideas to shares about QT and where to go and where to eat. Although it snowed really bad and we didnt really have a good view of Mount Cook and Lake Takapo, it was still a good experience overall and the drive felt very safe and the van felt very stable.
I would also like to offer a friendly observation regarding our transfers. While the overall experience was wonderful, I noticed a significant difference in communication styles between our two drivers. The first driver delivered a dense, non‑stop monologue over several hours, which made it quite challenging for non‑native English speakers to follow. Instead of adding value, the constant commentary became mentally exhausting and distracting. In contrast, the second driver adopted a much more measured and guest‑oriented approach—concise, clear, and considerate of foreign visitors, which made the journey far more enjoyable. I believe it would be beneficial to establish consistent communication guidelines for all drivers, ensuring that every passenger receives the same high‑quality, accessible information without feeling overwhelmed. Standardising this aspect of the service would greatly enhance the experience for international guests and reflect the professionalism your company clearly strives for. Thank you for your attention to this constructive feedback.
Both the drivers Grant and Lynette were very very good. Knowledgeable, friendly and kept us informed throughout the trip and made it a very memorable one. Highly recommended Crazy Kiwis
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! Grant and Lynette will be absolutely delighted to hear your kind words. They both love sharing the highlights of this spectacular route from Christchurch to Queenstown. We are so glad the journey was so memorable and informative. Thank you for booking with Cheeky Kiwi Travel and we hope to welcome you back on another New Zealand adventure very soon!
