Mt Cook Skiplanes and Helicopters was one of the highlights of my recent visit to Aoraki/Mount Cook. From the moment we took off on our 45 minute flight, the views were simply incredible. Flying over the Southern Alps, turquoise glacial lakes and the vast Tasman Glacier gave me a completely different perspective of this stunning part of New Zealand. The real highlight was landing on the Tasman Glacier. Stepping out onto the snow, surrounded by towering mountains and complete silence, is something I will never forget. We were fortunate to have perfect weather, which made the scenery even more spectacular and gave us fantastic photo opportunities. Having time to walk around, take it all in and appreciate just how remote and beautiful the glacier is made the experience even more special.
I also really enjoyed the pilot's commentary throughout the flight. Learning about the mountains, glaciers and the history of the area added another layer to the experience and made me appreciate the landscape even more. The whole operation was professional, well organised and ran smoothly from check in through to landing.
While my experience focused on the Glacier Highlights flight, another member of our Product team was fortunate enough to experience the Ultimate Alpine Experience - a world exclusive offering available only with Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters. Combining a ski plane flight one way with a return by helicopter over the same spectacular landscape, it showcases Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park from two very different perspectives and is an unforgettable way to experience New Zealand's alpine environment. Her feedback echoed much of the same sentiment…describing the scenery as absolutely incredible and the commentary from both pilots was a standout. I agree with her comment that their passion for the national park, it's history, geology and features and their obvious love for what they do brought the landscape to life throughout the flight! Whether travellers choose the Glacier Highlights flight, the Ultimate Alpine Experience or another flight - one thing is certain - Aoraki/Mount Cook is a destination that offers two completely different, yet equally spectacular, perspectives. Exploring it from the ground is breath-taking but seeing the mountains, glaciers and alpine landscapes from the air adds an entirely new appreciation for the scale and beauty of this remarkable region.
