Our pick
The quick flight
Helicopter, alpine landing
- Length25 minutes
- GroupUp to 6
- SnowNot guaranteed
Estimate your group cost
Mount Cook helicopter tour or ski plane: flights over the Tasman
Mount Cook: Scenic Helicopter Flight with Alpine Landing
★ 4.7 · 510 opinions
The quick version
A Mount Cook helicopter tour lasts from about 25 minutes to under an hour and usually includes 10 to 15 minutes standing in the snow on an alpine or glacier landing.
Flight essentials
Compare 4 side by side
What your group pays to fly
Pick how many are flying and compare the starting fares.
- Alpine landing flight25 minutes · starts at, per person $223
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View - Lower Tasman route30 minutes · starts at, per person $285
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View - Ski plane and heli45 minutes · starts at, per person $323
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View - Glacier landing flight40 minutes · starts at, per person $385
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View
From-prices on GetYourGuide, shown at the ECB reference rate. Your exact price is confirmed during booking.
A Mount Cook helicopter tour shows you the Tasman Glacier from above in under an hour, with a landing in the snow. Here we set out how flights differ, what they cost and how weather and weight decide your seat.
Editorial team, tasmanglaciertour.com · Updated November 8, 2026 · Allow 7 min
Summary view
- Short flight25 minutes with an alpine landing, from $223.
- Glacier landing45 minutes, including 10 to 15 minutes on the glacier.1
- Ski planeSki plane and helicopter in a 45-minute flight, from $323.
- Who can flyAll ages, with ear protection and lap belts for children.2
- Book earlyOperators advise flying early in your stay, leaving room for weather.3
What a Mount Cook helicopter tour covers
A Mount Cook helicopter tour is the quickest way to grasp the scale of the Tasman Glacier. The ski plane and helicopter company at Mount Cook Airport says its flights run from a 10 minute overview to over an hour.4 Most visitors choose something in between: long enough to fly up the valley, land in the snow and come back with the glacier spread out beneath them.
The listing this page books is a 25-minute helicopter flight with an alpine landing, from $223, which averages 4.7 from 510 reviews. It takes up to 6 people and flies from Mount Cook Aerodrome, where check-in closes 45 minutes before the flight. Those 510 reviews give a long record to judge it by.
Every flight shares the same backdrop: the Tasman Valley, the terminal lake with its icebergs, the ice tumbling off Aoraki/Mount Cook and the snowfields of the upper glacier. What changes between them is the length, the aircraft and, above all, where you land. The sections below explain each choice, then the prices, the seats and the weather.
Side by side
Scenic flights over the Tasman compared
| Flight | From | Length | Landing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine landing flight | $223 | 25 minutes | Alpine, snow not guaranteed |
| Lower Tasman route | $285 | 30 minutes | Alpine |
| Ski plane and helicopter | $323 | 45 minutes | On the Tasman Glacier |
| Glacier landing flight | $385 | 40 minutes | On the glacier |
| Across the Main Divide | $440 | 55 minutes | Views of Fox and Franz Josef |
These are from-prices per seat, not quotes; routes and landings depend on the weather on the day.
Alpine landing or glacier landing
The landing is the detail to check before you book. The operator explains that an alpine landing touches down at a mountain site in the national park, while a glacier landing is on the glacier itself and makes snow underfoot more certain all year.10 Its 25-minute Tasman Taster, for example, lands on Brass Peak or Liebig Dome after crossing the terminal lake.11,12
That alpine site has snow for most of the year, but the operator warns it may be bare from about December to March.13 The GetYourGuide listing for the 25-minute flight says the same: snow cannot be guaranteed all year round. If standing in snow is the whole point and you travel in summer, choose a Mount Cook glacier helicopter flight that lands on the Tasman instead.
The operator names its Ultimate Alpine Experience, Grand Circle and Glacier Highlights flights as those that usually land on the Tasman Glacier, and its Aerial Explorer as a flight with no landing at all.14 Time on the snow is short either way: generally 10 to 15 minutes, enough for photographs and a snowball, not for a walk.15 For a walk on the ice, see our heli hike pages.
Flight lengths
Scenic flights by minutes in the air
- Alpine landing25
- Lower Tasman route30
- Glacier landing40
- Ski plane combo45
- From Lake Tekapo50
- Main Divide55
Lengths as each GetYourGuide listing states them, including the landing where there is one.
The Tasman Glacier ski plane, a Mount Cook invention
The ski plane belongs to this valley. The company's history page tells how its founder, Harry Wigley, saw the need for a retractable ski in 1953, during his own sightseeing flights with tourists over the peaks and glaciers.5 Fixed skis could not work at the airfield, where snow lies on the runway only briefly in winter, so he set out to build a ski that could be lowered in flight.
He flew the first ski plane with a retractable ski on 22 September 1955, in an Auster aircraft, and Sir Edmund Hillary was among his passengers that day.6,7 Today the operator says nowhere else in the Southern Hemisphere offers ski plane flights, a design that began at Mount Cook.16 Its current fleet includes Pilatus Porter ski planes alongside several types of helicopter.9
A Tasman Glacier ski plane flight feels different from a helicopter. The plane lands on the snow and shuts its engine down, so the silence of the snowfield reaches you as soon as the door opens.17 Helicopters, the operator says, give a different perspective, often seeming to fly closer to the glacier surfaces and icefalls.18 The combined flight puts you in both, with a swap of aircraft on the glacier.19
Pick your flight
Which flight over the Tasman suits you
Pick what matters most and see the flight that fits.
If I want the lowest price
The 25-minute flight
It starts from $223 with an alpine landing.
If I want to land on the glacier itself
A glacier landing flight
Glacier landings make snow underfoot surer all year.10
If I want to fly in a ski plane
The combination flight
Ski plane one way, helicopter the other, from $323.
If I want to see the West Coast glaciers too
The 55-minute flight
It adds views over Franz Josef and Fox, from $440.
If I am staying at Lake Tekapo
The flight from Tekapo
A 50-minute flight over the peaks from $291.
Three ways to fly
Quick, combined or glacier landing
Both aircraft
The combination
Ski plane and helicopter
- Length45 minutes
- LandingTasman Glacier
- BagsPhones and cameras only
Upper glacier
The icefall flight
Helicopter, glacier landing
- Length40 minutes
- GroupUp to 5
- SightsHochstetter Icefall
Routes over the Tasman and beyond
The shorter flights stay in the Tasman Valley. One 30-minute listing flies over the lower Tasman Glacier and the Liebig Range before an alpine landing, from a base in the village at 81 Bowen Drive. A 40-minute listing goes further up to the Hochstetter Icefall and lands on the glacier, and another 40-minute flight takes in the Tasman and Murchison glaciers.
The Helicopter Line flies its Mountains High route from a separate base at Glentanner Park, passing the Hochstetter Icefall and the upper Tasman before returning through the Burnett Mountains, in a trip of about 40 minutes.24,25,26 Do not confuse the airfields: the operator at Mount Cook Airport warns that Glentanner Airport nearby has misled visitors before.22
Longer flights cross the Main Divide. A 55-minute listing flies around Mount Cook, Mount Tasman and Mount Sefton, with views over the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers on the West Coast. From Lake Tekapo, a 50-minute fixed-wing flight covers the highest peaks and largest glaciers without a landing. These suit travelers who want the whole range rather than a stop on the Tasman.
Ski planes at Mount Cook
How flying onto the Tasman began
1953
A ski is needed
Harry Wigley sees the need for a retractable ski.5
22 September 1955
A retractable ski flies
The first ski plane with a retractable ski flies.6
That same day
A famous passenger
Sir Edmund Hillary is among the passengers.7
Early 1970s
Skiing from the air
Heli-skiing tours begin on the upper glacier.8
Today
Planes and helicopters
Pilatus Porters fly beside helicopters from the airport.9
The Mount Cook helicopter ride price, and what changes it
On GetYourGuide, the scenic flights start from $223 for the 25-minute alpine landing, $285 for the 30-minute lower Tasman route, $323 for the 45-minute ski plane and helicopter combination and $385 for the 40-minute glacier landing flight. The 55-minute flight across the Main Divide starts from $440.
The operator's own list prices give the same picture in local currency. Its Aerial Explorer, with no landing, is NZD 349, the 25-minute Tasman Taster NZD 379 and the 45-minute Ultimate Alpine Experience NZD 599 for adults.27,11,28,19 Glacier Highlights lists NZD 699 for adults and NZD 649 for children.29 Prices are per seat, so the Mount Cook helicopter ride price is the same for a lap infant, who must still be given a seat.2
Some costs are hidden in the fare. The Helicopter Line says its prices include concession fees that help pay for conservation in the park.30 The Tekapo flight adds a fuel surcharge at check-in. For a fair comparison, set a glacier landing flight against the combination flight, not against the shorter alpine landing.
Video
Helicopter and ski plane over the Tasman Glacier
Marcus Neale on YouTube · Until you tap play, no video is loaded.
Harry Wigley piloted an Auster aircraft, the first ski plane using a retractable ski on 22 September 1955, with Alan McWhirter as a passenger.
Before you fly
Flight day checklist
When booking3
On the day3
For the landing3
- A warm layer: landing sites run 1-3 degrees cooler23
- Sunglasses for the snow glare
- Sturdy closed shoes for the snow
Seats, weight limits and children
Small aircraft are loaded by weight. The operator says seats cannot be chosen or guaranteed in advance, because they are assigned on the day by passenger weights.31 Its Pilatus Porter ski planes have 9 seats, and its helicopters usually seat between 5 and 7 people, depending on weight.32 The Helicopter Line caps each helicopter at 6 passengers or a combined 480kg.33
Individual limits apply too. The 25-minute GetYourGuide flight sets a passenger limit of 116 kilograms, and the flight from Tekapo sets 130 kilograms. The ski plane combination needs the names and weights of all passengers at booking, and allows no bags on board, only phones and cameras. Weigh yourself honestly; a mismatch can cost you the flight.
Children are welcome. The operator says its scenic flights suit all ages, and it provides ear protection and lap belts for young children.2 That makes a flight the family alternative to the heli hike, which starts at 9 years.34 Dress everyone warmly: the operator says its landing sites usually run 1-3 degrees colder than the airfield.23
Weather holds and booking terms
Flights depend on visibility and wind, and the operators plan for it. Most flights need a minimum number of passengers to go, and the operator will reschedule or combine flights if numbers are short.35 The Helicopter Line advises flying early in your stay and keeping your plans loose around the weather.3 A flight booked for your first afternoon can roll to the next morning if cloud closes in.
The cancellation terms differ by channel. On GetYourGuide, the 25-minute flight offers free cancellation until 24 hours before, and a full refund or a rescheduled flight if weather cancels it. Booking direct with the ski plane company, the full refund window is 48 hours before check-in.20 Check which terms you are buying before you pay.
On the day, allow time to reach the airport, since check-in closes 45 minutes before departure.21 The operator also describes itself as a carbon zero certified aviation company, if the footprint of your flight matters to you.36 Bring sunglasses for the glare and a warm layer for the landing, and leave bags in the car.
FAQ
Questions answered quickly.
How much is a Mount Cook helicopter tour?
From $223.
That is the 25-minute flight with an alpine landing; longer glacier landing flights start from $385.
How long do you spend on the snow?
10 to 15 minutes.
Most landings last 10 to 15 minutes on the snow, the operator says.15
Is snow guaranteed on every landing?
Helicopter or ski plane?
Can I choose a window seat?
No.
Seats are assigned on the day by passenger weight, for safe balance.31
Can children fly?
Yes, all ages.
Ear protection and child lap belts are provided; infants on a lap still need a seat.2
What if the weather is bad?
You get a refund or a new flight.
The 25-minute listing offers a full refund or a rescheduled flight if weather cancels it.
Sources
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Glacier Highlights ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Frequently Asked Questions ↩
- The Helicopter Line (helicopter.co.nz) · Mountains High ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Scenic Flights ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Our Company ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Our Company ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Our Company ↩
- Mt Cook Glacier Guiding (mtcookguides.co.nz), the operator of the heli hike this site books · Tasman Glacier ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Our Company ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Frequently Asked Questions ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Tasman Taster ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Tasman Taster ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Tasman Taster ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Frequently Asked Questions ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Frequently Asked Questions ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Frequently Asked Questions ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · The Ultimate Alpine Experience ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Frequently Asked Questions ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · The Ultimate Alpine Experience ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Frequently Asked Questions ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Getting Here ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Getting Here ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Frequently Asked Questions ↩
- The Helicopter Line (helicopter.co.nz) · Mountains High ↩
- The Helicopter Line (helicopter.co.nz) · Mountains High ↩
- The Helicopter Line (helicopter.co.nz) · Mountains High ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Scenic Flights ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · The Ultimate Alpine Experience ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Glacier Highlights ↩
- The Helicopter Line (helicopter.co.nz) · Mountains High ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Frequently Asked Questions ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Frequently Asked Questions ↩
- The Helicopter Line (helicopter.co.nz) · Tasman Glacier Heli Hike ↩
- Mt Cook Glacier Guiding (mtcookguides.co.nz), the operator of the heli hike this site books · The Adventurer: Tasman Glacier Heli Hike ↩
- Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters (mtcookskiplanes.com) · Frequently Asked Questions ↩
- Mackenzie Region tourism (mackenzienz.com) · Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters ↩
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