New Zealand Flightseeing Mount Cook Sightseeing Scenic Flights New Zealand Air Tours

Lake Tekapo Village

Nestled at the southern shoreline of the lake is the Lake Tekapo village.
Mt John Observatory

Lake Tekapo has the clearest and darkest sky in New Zealand making this an ideal location for styudying the night sky.
Lakes Alexandrina and Mc Gregor

These lakes are spring fed making a striking contrast to the glacial fed Lake Tekapo.
Lake Tekapo

Glaciers grinding against rock, produce a fine 'rock flour' that when washed into the lake creates the unique turquoise-blue colour of Lake Tekapo.Lake Tekapo is 120 metres deep with an average temperature of 7° C.
Godley Peaks and Glenmore Stations

These high country sheep stations farm approximately 10,000 Merino sheep.The sheep graze high on the mountains during the summer and are mustered on foot by shepherds and their dogs to the lower country for the winter.
The Godley River

Carved out by a large glacier the shingle valley floor is over two kilometres wide. The criss-crossed river channels are a striking example of the famous South Island 'braided' river system.
Lilybank Station

This sheep station is one of New Zealand's most isolated and is famous as a safari game and recreation area.
Mt Sibald and the Sibald Range

Flanking the eastern edge of the Godley River, this range clearly shows active erosion typical of the geologically young Southern Alps.
The Godley Glaciers

At the head of the Godley valley are the Classen and Godley glaciers. This is the source of the glacial melt water that flows down the Godley River to Lake Tekapo.
The Murchison Glacier

At 16 km long this is New Zealand's second largest glacier.
Head of the Tasman Glacier

The Tasman Glacier is New Zealand's largest glacier, stretching 29 km down the Tasman valley. The head of the glacier receives up to 50 metres of snow annually which results in a base of snow and ice up to 800 metres thick.
Franz Josef Glacier

Plummeting steeply this magnificent 'river of ice' descends almost to the Tasman Sea at a rate of up to 4 metres per day.
West Coast Rainforest

The Southern Alps stand like a fortress in the path of the prevailing moisture-laden westerly air flow. This results in Westland receiving up to 5 metres of rainfall annually - ideal conditions for maintaining Westland's rainforests.
Fox Glacier

Fox Glacier's Maori name, 'Te Moeka o Tuawe', derives from a legend in which ancestor Tu Awe fell to his death while exploring the area. His lover Hine Hukatere wept, filling the Fox & Franz Josef glacier bed with everlasting tears of ice.
Mt Tasman

Mt Tasman is New Zealand's second highest peak and is famous as a classic ice-climb.
Aoraki/Mt Cook

Aoraki - 'the cloud piercer'. New Zealand's highest mountain is 12,316 feet high. Mt Cook was first climbed on Christmas day in 1894 by three local mountaineers.
Mt La Perouse

Mt La Perouse has a beautiful peak and is very popular for climbing. In 1948 La Perouse featured in one of the last ground based rescues (before helicopters) when an injured climber was successfully rescued from near the summit.
Tasman Glacier

At the terminus of the Tasman Glacier is the terminal lake. This lake is 150 metres deep and lined with ice, it feeds the huge braided Tasman River which then flows into Lake Pukaki.
Mt Cook Village and The Hermitage

Nestled beneath the Sealy Range is the small alpine village of Mt Cook. The existing hotel is the third; the original Hermitage Hotel was built in 1884.
MacKenzie Basin

Approximately 14,000 years ago the ice that covered this area began its retreat. Today the golden tussock covers the glacier deposits and these remain clearly visible from the air.