Things to do in Mackenzie District

The tour guide thoughtfully prepared hot chocolate with marshmallows and blankets for us, so we could lie on the grassland and watch the Southern Hemisphere's starry sky. They explained the names of each star and how to find the South Celestial Pole. It was a night full of knowledge and romance ☺️. They also gave us reusable cocoa cups, and every time I see that cup, I remember the starry sky that night ☺️☺️.

The stargazing program was very fun and interesting. The guide was nice and upbeat. We rode the bus to a stargazing place, and when we looked up, the sky was full of stars. It was very beautiful.

You must join this tour when you visited Mt cook , you could try both Helicopter and ski plane in one time( Go by Helicopter and return by ski plane or reverse）. Very great experience to land the glacier , we could touch and walk on the snow , it’s funny indeed ! experience:

The experience felt magical and expertly guided. The view of the night sky was breathtaking. The guides were incredibly knowledgeable, explaining constellations, planets, and the stories behind them in a way that was both fascinating and easy to follow. Using the powerful telescopes made the stars and galaxies feel closer than ever. This was the highlight of my trip—an inspiring, peaceful, and truly world-class stargazing adventure.

No need to arrive early, as they only allow check in at EXACTLY the time of your booking. Everything was quick and smooth.

We booked this Mount Cook and Tasman Glacier helicopter experience at the last minute, a day before the scheduled flight and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of our trip! Our pilot, Josh, was fantastic – friendly, professional, and made us feel safe from start to finish. Even the staff that oriented for the pre-flight (forgot her name). The flight offered breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks, turquoise lakes, and the stunning Tasman Glacier. Landing on the glacier was absolutely surreal, and Josh even took a great photo of us to remember the moment. Everything was well-organized, and the pilot’s commentary during the flight made the experience even more special. If you’re visiting Mt Cook, don’t miss this - it’s worth every minute and every dollar!

great experience and amazing view on the glacier, we hiked to an ice cave. The operator provides warm layers if needed. We felt very safe flying and hiking with them

So happy, so worth it, so much fun! A must-try experience. The driver and tour guide provided a very dedicated introduction. Another highlight was the glacier helicopter experience, simply amazing. Once we were on the glacier, the instructor led us with great reassurance, you could see the instructor was very experienced. We walked for about an hour or a little more, which was actually quite sufficient because it was a bit tiring. Also, it's not really that cold on the glacier, so you don't need to wear too many clothes.

The Taiwanese tour guide was articulate and engaging. They were attentive to safety, weather conditions, and appropriately discouraged excessive light pollution. We were lucky to have excellent visibility, making my first naked-eye view of the Milky Way an unforgettable experience. We also viewed Saturn later, and the ring system was fascinating. Highly recommended.