9-Hour One-Way To Tekapo

Queenstown to Lake Tekapo via Mt. Cook 1-Way Small-Group Tour

★ 4.5 26 reviews

from $203.66 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: 9 hours
Meeting point: Queenstown
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
On board: Snacks and water included
Run by: Cheeky Kiwi Travel

Overview

This one-way small-group tour with Cheeky Kiwi Travel runs from Queenstown to Lake Tekapo over roughly 9 hours, with a long stop at Aoraki Mount Cook National Park along the way. It starts early, at 6:30am, from The Station on Shotover Street, and finishes at the Dark Sky Project, 1 Motuariki Lane, Lake Tekapo.

The route north passes through Lindis Pass and pauses at Omarama before reaching Lake Pukaki, where the tour stops for 5 minutes. The longest stop of the day is Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, with 2 hours at the park, followed by a short stop at Lake Tekapo itself before drop-off. The group is capped at 15 travellers.

Snacks and water are provided, luggage space allows one large and one small bag per person, and there is no toilet on board. Lunch is not included, but the booking page notes opportunities to purchase food along the way. The tour is not workable for wheelchair users.

Milky turquoise water at the north end of Lake Pukaki, a stony shoreline, thin morning mist, the Southern Alps beyond.

What's Included

Included

Complimentary Hotel Pickup (select locations only)
Water available & snacks provided
Space for luggage - 1 large & 1 small per person
Fully guided small group tour
Air-conditioned vehicle
Booster seat (Safety/booster seat for children aged 7 & younger (please advise if you prefer to provide your own))

Not Included

Lunch - opportunities to purchase along the way
Toilets on board (Restroom on board)

Itinerary

Meet in QueenstownCheck in at The Station, corner of Shotover and Camp Streets, for a 6:30am departure. Complimentary hotel pickup is available at select locations only.
Lindis PassA 5-minute stop.
OmaramaA 30-minute stop.
Lake PukakiA 5-minute stop.
Aoraki Mount Cook National ParkAbout 2 hours at the park, the longest stop of the day.
Lake Tekapo and drop-offA 10-minute stop at Lake Tekapo, then the tour ends at the Dark Sky Project, 1 Motuariki Lane.

GuideIncluded

PickupIncluded

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this day runs, from the early start to the luggage limits.

Start time. Departure is 6:30am from central Queenstown. Hotel pickup is complimentary at select locations only, so confirm your exact arrangement on the booking page. Allow time to find The Station at the corner of Shotover and Camp Streets if meeting there.
Food and drink. Snacks and water are provided on board. Lunch is not included, but the booking page notes opportunities to purchase food along the way.
Luggage. Each traveller can bring one large and one small piece of luggage. That makes the tour practical as a one-way transfer if you are staying in Tekapo afterwards.
Group and vehicle. The group is limited to 15 travellers in an air-conditioned vehicle. There is no restroom on board. Booster seats for children aged 7 and younger are available if you advise at booking, and you can bring your own.
Accessibility. The tour is not wheelchair accessible. The meeting point is near public transportation. Most travellers can participate, and that participants should have no heart problems or other serious medical conditions.
Weather. The experience requires good weather. If it is cancelled for poor conditions, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.

Ready To BookCheck availability →

Common issues. The tour needs a minimum number of travellers to run, and if that minimum is not met you will be offered a different date or experience, or a full refund. Weather cancellations follow the same pattern. There is no toilet on board, and wheelchair users cannot be accommodated. Lunch is at your own cost during the scheduled stops.

Common Questions

Where Does The Tour Start And Finish?

It starts at The Station, 25 Shotover Street in Queenstown, at 6:30am. The finish point is the Dark Sky Project, 1 Motuariki Lane, Lake Tekapo. Complimentary hotel pickup is offered at select locations only.

What Is Included In The Price?

Snacks and water, a fully guided small-group tour in an air-conditioned vehicle, luggage space for one large and one small bag per person, a booster seat for children aged 7 and younger on request, and complimentary hotel pickup at select locations. All the stops on the itinerary are free admission.

Is Lunch Included?

No. Lunch is not included, but there are opportunities to purchase food along the way.

Can I Bring My Luggage?

Yes, each traveller can bring one large and one small piece of luggage. This is why the tour works well as a one-way transfer to Lake Tekapo.

Is The Tour Suitable For Children And People With Limited Mobility?

Children aged 7 and younger can have a safety or booster seat if you advise at booking, and infant seats are available. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and participants should have no heart problems or other serious medical conditions.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

Cancel at least 24 hours before the 6:30am start for a full refund. Inside 24 hours, no refund or changes are accepted, and cut-off times are based on local time. If the operator cancels for poor weather or because the minimum traveller number is not met, you will be offered a different date or experience, or a full refund.