The Nature's Trail Day Trip

Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo Day Trip from Christchurch

18 reviews

from $190.04 per person

Opens the live booking page with current dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Duration: 10 to 13 hours
Meeting point: Christchurch
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Run by: The Nature's Trail

Overview

This day trip from Christchurch, run by The Nature's Trail, strings together the stops on the route: the Fairlie Bakehouse, Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki, New Zealand Alpine Lavender Farm, the Tasman Glacier area, and Mt. Cook Village itself. Transport is private and air conditioned, with bottled water supplied, and only your own group takes part.

The shape of the day is simple. You break up the drive at Fairlie, then work through the lakes and the lavender farm before the longest stop of the itinerary, an hour at Tasman Glacier, followed by 50 minutes in Mt. Cook Village. Several stops carry no entry fee, while the bakehouse and the lavender farm do not include admission. One recent traveller noted the drive itself is a commitment, roughly three hours each way between Christchurch and Tekapo, and skipped the Mount Cook section because of cruise port timing.

It is private, not a shared coach, which shapes the feel. Travellers need moderate fitness, and the booking page advises against the tour for people with back problems or who are pregnant. Meals are not included, so plan food around the bakehouse stop and the village.

Where this tour sits among 5 tours in Christchurch Day Trips listed here (from-price per person, USD)

Lunch Included, Wi-Fi On Board$144
Day Tour, Lunch Included$153
Small Group, Lunch Included$169.62
The Nature's Trail Day Trip (this tour)$190.04
Private Day Trip Via Tekapo$195.72

What's Included

Included

Air-conditioned vehicle
Bottled water
Private transportation

Not Included

Meals

Itinerary

Christchurch departureThe booking page does not state the pickup arrangement; confirm the meeting point and start time on the live booking page before the day.
Fairlie BakehouseA 30 minutes stop. Admission is not included, so anything you buy here is at your own cost.
Lake Tekapo45 minutes at the lake.
Lake PukakiA 20 minutes stop.
Alpine Lavender Farm30 minutes at New Zealand Alpine Lavender Farm. Entry is not included in the tour price.
Tasman GlacierThe longest stop, 1 hour.
Mt. Cook Village50 minutes in the village, before the return drive to Christchurch.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points worth knowing before you book this one.

$190.04from, per person

10 to 13 hoursduration

5.0across 18 guest reviews

The drive is long. A reviewer described the Christchurch to Tekapo leg as roughly three hours each way and flagged the distance as the trip's main drawback. Expect long stretches between stops.
Food is on you. Meals are not included. The Fairlie Bakehouse stop is the natural place to pick up food, though admission and purchases there are extra.
Private group. Only your group participates, with private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle and bottled water supplied. There is no shared-coach mix of strangers.
Moderate fitness. The operator asks for a moderate physical fitness level. The booking page also advises against the tour for travellers with back problems and for pregnant travellers.
Weather matters. The experience requires good weather, and if it is cancelled for poor conditions you are offered a different date or a full refund. The booking page is clear on this point, so it is worth building a spare day into your plans if you can.
Families and access. Pushchairs are accepted and infant seats are available, so the tour works with young children. It is not wheelchair accessible, and it is near public transportation.

Ready To BookCheck availability →

Common issues. The honest downsides are distance and schedule. The tour also runs subject to a minimum number of travellers and to good weather, with a different date or a full refund offered if either forces a cancellation. Lavender farm and bakehouse admission are extra, meals are not covered, and the trip is not wheelchair accessible.

Common Questions

What Is Included In The Price?

An air-conditioned vehicle, private transportation, and bottled water are included. Only your group participates, as the booking page describes it as a private tour.

Is Food Included?

No. Meals are listed as not included. The Fairlie Bakehouse stop is the obvious place to buy food, though admission there is also not included, and you have time in Mt. Cook Village as well.

Do I Need To Pay Entry Fees Anywhere?

The lakes, Tasman Glacier, and Mt. Cook Village have free admission. Fairlie Bakehouse and New Zealand Alpine Lavender Farm are listed with admission not included, so budget for those if you want them.

Is Hotel Pickup Provided?

The booking page does not state pickup details. Check the live booking page for the meeting point and start time before your travel date.

Is The Tour Suitable For Children Or Limited Mobility?

Pushchairs are accepted and infant seats are available. However, the tour is not wheelchair accessible, moderate physical fitness is expected, and the booking page advises against it for travellers with back problems or who are pregnant.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

Cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund; later cancellations are not refunded and changes inside that window are not accepted. If the operator cancels for poor weather or because the minimum traveller number is not met, you get a different date or a full refund.