Mount Cook Ski Plane and Helicopter Combo: Glacier Landing

You land on the glacier and switch aircraft mid-flight.

A 45-minute scenic flight over Aoraki Mount Cook National Park that includes a ski plane and helicopter ride with a 10–15 minute landing on the Tasman glacier. You fly up in one aircraft, touch down on the snow-covered peaks, and return in the other. The tour includes a professional guide with live commentary and headsets. Check in closes 30 minutes before departure, and a minimum of eight passengers is required for the flight to operate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Ski plane and helicopter glacier flight

• Check in 30 minutes before flight
• Fly in ski plane over Tasman Valley
• Land on Tasman glacier
• Switch to helicopter on glacier
• Fly back in helicopter over Aoraki Mt Cook
• Enjoy glacier silence and scenery

The experience

This is the only flight in the world that uses both a ski plane and a helicopter on the same journey. You'll depart in one aircraft (either the ski plane or the helicopter), and climb toward Aoraki Mount Cook, passing over the Tasman braided rivers and across the lake before landing on the Tasman glacier itself. Once on the snow, the aircraft engines shut down so you can hear the silence and stillness of the peaks around you. That's when you switch to the second aircraft for the flight home, giving you the perspective of both machines without booking two separate trips.

The full flight runs 45 minutes, with 10 to 15 minutes spent on the glacier. Your guide provides live commentary through headsets during the flight, so you hear details about the landscape as you pass over it. The route takes you across the Tasman Valley and past Mount Cook itself, framing the scale of the national park from the air. Weather can cancel flights, so the operator books you into a specific departure time and asks you to check in 30 minutes early.

Souvenir photos are available to purchase after landing. A minimum of eight people per flight means departures run on a schedule. If you're traveling solo or in a small group, you'll join others on the same route. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and infants can sit on a lap or use a specialized infant seat. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are available near the departure point.

What’s included

• Professional guide with live commentary on board.
• headsets to hear the guide clearly.
• the ski plane and helicopter flight with a Tasman glacier landing and aircraft changeover.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 16:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (under 13)

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Mount Cook Ski Planes and Helicopters

Is this one for you?Most scenic flights over Mount Cook use one aircraft. This one gives you two perspectives (ski plane and helicopter) on the same morning, with a landing on the glacier between them so the scale of the peaks becomes real instead of distant.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 13).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long do you actually spend on the Tasman glacier?

You spend 10 to 15 minutes on the glacier after landing. The engines shut down during this time so you can experience the quiet of the peaks before switching aircraft for the return flight.

When do I need to arrive for check-in?

Check-in closes 30 minutes before your flight time, so you'll need to arrive with enough time to complete check-in before that window closes.

What's included in the 45-minute flight?

The flight includes a professional guide with live commentary delivered through headsets so you can hear clearly over the aircraft noise. Souvenir photos are available to purchase after you land.