Auckland Travel Forum

Hi,

Are there any day tours to the mountains where the snow is? I will be there in Late jan/early feb and wont be climbing it or anything, just be nice to see.....i will be alone so now car etc

I have also heard there are tours of the leading thoroughbred studs in Cambridge? Does any one knwo of them or been on one?

Jan/Feb will be summer so I imagine a day trip to the snow from Auckland would be out. The Glaciers are on the south island so too far for a day trip but well worth the visit if you are not just based in Auckland. Why not do the opposite heat wise and visit the thermal reserves at rotorua?

I will be spendng time in christchurch as well...

That is good as the two main islands are very different. The glaciers will be closer but I would suggest an overnight stay. Mount Cook and surrounds is a good visit if you like mountains,

To see spectacular glaciers and have a really fun excursion, you can take a trip on the small fixed-wing plane at Mount Cook on the South Island, which "flightsees" around the mountains and then lands on the glacier for a bit of a ramble on the snow. This only works when the weather is fine, but is a terrific highlight if you like mountains but don't have much time. We loved it!

can you catch this plane neat christchurch? Or how would i get to it etc?

As I recall, you can go by air from Christchurch or Queenstown to the village of Mount Cook -- and I think that is on Mount Cook Line (haven't checked this since a few years ago). But the aircraft for the local excursion operates from the tiny Mount Cook airstrip, and it is strictly an excursion plane for an hour or so, not a long-distance plane. So, you'd have to get yourself to the Mount Cook area first -- we arrived by bus.

The closest place (from Christchurch) from where you can take such flights around Mt. Cook and the glaciers is Lake Tekapo. From Chch you have bus service to Lake Tekapo.

Is there any web sites for the travel links and prices?

The companies that offer flightseeing from Lake Tekapo are

Air Safaris Phone (03) 6806 880
http://www.airsafaris.co.nz/
http://www.tekapotourism.co.nz/activities/airsafaris.htm

A tour costs NZ$ 280 (from Mt. Cook 320).

Tekapo Helicopters Freephone within NZ (0800) 359 835
http://www.tekapohelicopters.co.nz/
http://www.tekapotourism.co.nz/activities/tekapo_helicopters.htm

The cheapest flight costs $190. If you want a snow or glacier landing you must calculate with $270 - but prices range up to $500.

Sissi