Queenstown To Christchurch One-way Tour Via Mt Cook & Lake Tekapo

Well organized tour. Our tour guides were excellent. Well worth the money

It was smooth and fun ride from Queenstown to Christchurch with many stops on the way. Drivers were excellent.

It was smooth and fun ride from Queenstown to Christchurch with many stops on the way. Drivers were excellent.

Excellent way to get to Christchurch from Queenstown. Scenery and opportunity to do a walk excellent. Grant was a great guide and very informative.

Happy guides doing a great job.

This tour exceeded our expectations: it did not disappoint at all. We would do it again. Lots to see and learn about

Dominique was really friendly and knowledgeable!

Long drive but an interesting way to see New Zealand. Mt Cook was worth the ride. Only problem we had was sprinkling of rain and little windy while walking the trail. Beware it’s a long drive from Mt Cook to Christchurch with a stop to see the church which had beautiful view. Overall better than flying from Queenstown to Christchurch.

Shout-out to Paul! He was an amazing guide on my trip to Christchurch via Mt Cook Very attentive and did his best to give us a great experience despite the rainy weather!

the tour is packed in one day. Our tourguide is friendly and knowledgable. Definitely 5 star

We really enjoyed the tour with Hannah, her energy is contagious! The entire drive was beautiful and filled with gorgeous landscapes and fun tidbits about New Zealand.

Hanna who was half way with us, she was very lovely. Then Paul was great as well. Thank you.

Traveling from Queenstown to Christchurch with Cheeky Kiwi Travel was the perfect way to experience the South Island. Although it was a full day, the journey was paced really well, with plenty of photo stops, bathroom breaks, and opportunities to take in the incredible scenery without ever feeling rushed. Rosie was an amazing tour guide, her commentary was engaging, informative, and gave us a much deeper appreciation for New Zealand's history, wildlife, and nature. We learned so much that we never would have discovered on our own. The stunning views, thoughtful itinerary, and excellent guiding made the long drive fly by. I would absolutely recommend Cheeky Kiwi Travel to anyone looking to make the most of the journey between Queenstown and Christchurch.

I had a wonderful experience on the journey from Queenstown to Christchurch. Breaking up the drive with several stops, especially at Aoraki/Mount Cook, made the trip feel like an adventure rather than just transportation. The hikes were a highlight, and the scenery along the way was absolutely spectacular. Our driver, Lynette, truly made the day special. She was incredibly informative, sharing fascinating facts and local insights throughout the journey, while also being kind, cheerful, and welcoming. Her positive energy made the long drive fly by. I highly recommend this tour to anyone traveling between Queenstown and Christchurch. It's the perfect way to see some of New Zealand's most breathtaking landscapes while enjoying a comfortable and well-organized trip.

We booked a point-to-point transfer tour from Queenstown to Christchurch with an early morning pickup on June 26th, and it was hands-down the best decision we made. Even before the trip started, the customer service was excellent. I was a bit unsure about the arrangements beforehand and sent a few emails, but the reception team responded quickly with full, helpful details every time. Everything for the trip was perfectly well-prepared, and they even sent us a few reminders before the trip to ensure we stayed safe. The driving throughout the journey was incredibly safe. Our morning guide was full of energy despite the long hours on the road, sharing fascinating background stories about New Zealand. What really blew us away was that the guides aren’t just doing this as a job—they genuinely love the NZ landscape and are passionate about their work. They took us to secret, stunning viewpoints that we would have completely missed if we had driven ourselves, allowing us plenty of time for photos without feeling rushed. Their boss even called the lady during our trip to check the traffic, since the road was blocked due to snow the day before. What a detailed and thoughtful arrangement to make sure we could safely enjoy the great journey and views! They were also extremely thoughtful. We were worried about hiking around Mt Cook in just our running shoes, but the guide provided us with ice spikes so we could safely walk on the ice, along with water and snacks. When we reached the next leg, the handoff to their partner was seamless. The lady who took over was very thoughtful and incredibly responsible; she checked that we hadn’t left anything behind and waited patiently with us until the next vehicle arrived. For the final drop-off in Christchurch, the gentleman driver asked each of us for our specific hotels and drove us straight to our doorsteps safely and right on time. This tour gave us an amazing impression of New Zealand and this travel agency. Thank you very much for such an incredible, well-organized experience—we will definitely recommend you to all our family and friends! (P.S. Sorry for the late review, just finally got settled down! I also forgot their names, but they both gave us such amazing help. Please pass a huge thank you to them! ) Travellers from Hong Kong

Danny was an amazing tour guide who got us safely through a snow storm on Lindis Pass and kept us well entertained when we were unable to move. We also loved the guide who took us into Christchurch from the salmon farm! His stories were entertaining as well!

The tour guide tried to make this a fun trip and incorporated lots of stops along the way and food. If you need to get one way I recommend this.

form Arnab Bose and Family -If there is 10 stars i would give our driver and guide Jason who on my birthday took my family to Mt cook from queenstown, we had to take the flight from Mt cook as well and he had planned everything so perfectly to accommodate us, so kind, always giving , always before time, absolute legend, great going keep it up, will recommend all my friends

Tour was awesome, especially made better with our guide Shura who ensured that our journey throughout was comfortable and also provided tips for the walks at Mt Cook National Park.

Loved discovering the wonders of the South Island with Cheeky Kiwi! Witnessing Mt Cook and the gorgeous blue lakes were a dream come true. Nature is New Zealand is truly magnificent. I couldn't have picked a better day for this tour as the sun followed us everywhere we went. If I could, I would do it all over again! Thank you so much to the team that makes this experience so memorable with good commentary, interesting facts and a kind and caring attitude all along the way!

Loved discovering the wonders of the South Island with Cheeky Kiwi! Witnessing Mt Cook and the gorgeous blue lakes were a dream come true. Nature is New Zealand is truly magnificent. I couldn't have picked a better day for this tour as the sun followed us everywhere we went. If I could, I would do it all over again! Thank you so much to the team that makes this experience so memorable with good commentary, interesting facts and a kind and caring attitude all along the way!

Grate journey with professional tour guide with proper information and facilities all over the journey.

It was very nice, precise and proper information from guide.

Very good experience and friendly guide. Highly recommended

Awesome. Very impressive tour. A one-way tour is really good for saving time, and this tour definitely helps a lot.

Wonderful experience. We were extremely lucky to see Mount Cook in full, as the sky was perfectly clear. The scenery, fresh air, and beautiful weather were truly mesmerising. Every place we visited had its own charm, and the hikes were definitely the highlight of the trip. Special thanks to our drivers and guides, Jess and another gentleman (sorry, I forgot his name), who were both knowledgeable, and made the journey enjoyable. All in all, this was a fantastic and memorable experience, and absolutely well worth the time.

Queenstown to Christchurch via Mt Cook. The tour transfer was grand. My wife & I enjoyed yet again another Cheeky Kiwi adventure with our driver Ollie to Mt Cook & our second drover Rose to CC. Small group, lovely conversation with other passengers, great views to Mt Cook where we changed drivers. Late pickup due to a british passenger in Queenstown & then an asian-american passenger from Mt Cook who thought they were on a private tour & was always late returning to the van. Be kind & be on time, try to remember we all want a good experience. The drivers handled the situations professionally & with some humor. This is a very good tour company, I highly recommend, will use them again on the north island.

Must say that it was an awesome experience. Both the guides cum drivers- Glan and Rosy were very good at knowledge and were helpful. They were accommodating as when we told them to stop for a while on a lake (which was not s stop), they stopped. One even dropped me near my accommodation in Christchurch, which was slightly detour. Both kept us engaged throughout by telling interesting stories. Highly recomend.

Both drivers - Jonathan & Jay - made the trip enjoyable & interesting with their informative discussions throughout the journey. Moreover they helped book a last minute helicopter ride for my Son & I which made the overall journey even better, thank you. The smaller minibus was comfy as well.

While the drivers solid and informative (with one caveat), I think travelers should understand what they’re signing up for before getting up at 6am for a thirteen hour day on a bus. First, your time at Mt. Cook largely depends on your driver and group staying on schedule. Our driver made a few unscheduled stops, including at the request of individual group members for coffee. That, along with the delays to the bus by the driver and group members, meant that we only had two hours at Mt. Cook rather than the scheduled three hours. Practically, that left time for a quick, truncated hike and then, rather than a second hike, an unnecessarily lengthy stop at the hotel cafe. The stop at the cafe was especially unnecessary given the 50 minute (supposed to be 30 minute) stop for breakfast. Of course, the driver was just trying to be nice to cater to the group, but the effect was severely cutting into the time for the main attraction of the tour. Second, while the bus is comfortable enough, it is a cramped place to be trapped with someone’s screaming toddler for eleven hours. To travelers, I recommend bringing soundproof headphones or looking into the private group option (including with this company). For the tour company, for the enjoyment of the majority of your customers, I recommend that you steer families with small children to your private tour option.

The trip was long, but truly amazing as whole. I was impressed by Olly’s knowledge about New Zealand while he has been here for a few months and also his broad general knowledge. His information did add value to the trip and made it more enjoyable. Best of luck on your next adventures in scuba diving and cycling! I am sure they will be just exciting and rewarding. Happy to show you around my country when you are in Australia one day, Olly. Rose is another lovely knowledgeable tour guide in our second leg of the trip. She made sure we arrived at Christchurch safely and comfortably. Hope you enjoy your break with the fam, Rose!

This is a very convenient option for people who don’t want to drive around. The hosts are very knowledgeable and kind. The whole experience was comfortable. However, the stop at lake tekapo is brief. The tour can be organised to provide more time and experience there

Long ride but great trip. Hiking at Aoraki was beautiful. Ollie took us from Queenstown to Aoraki and was informative and fun. Renee took us from Aoraki to Christchurch and made a lond ride back interesting with her farm facts.

The van picked us up with our luggage at our hotel in Queenstown. We drove through the beautiful countryside with opportunities to get out of the van for photo opportunities. Our guide stopped at clean restrooms along the way. The hike up to view Mt. Cook and the glacier was a welcome exercise. Our guide changed after Mt. Cook, and another guide drove us into Christchurch. Both women provided excellent information about the local lifestyles and countryside we travelled through

Both drivers helpful and informative during the ride. Pace also good , no rushing. Scenery wonderful and plenty of time for walks.

We were picked up on time by Ollie. A funny guy who got us to Mt Cook on time. There, we changed driver to Renee. She was great too. Some people have said that the 2nd leg was rushed. It was in a way, but this is down to the drivers reaching their max hours. The only aspect that could be trimmed is the glacier lookout. Perhaps give more time for the easy trails at Mt Cook. Overall, it is more expensive than the public bus. But you are collected and dropped off where you need to be.

From speaking with Cheeky Kiwi reception, Matilda, for a suitable date (Booking.com wasn't working) I had complete confidence we would be looked after. Flying home from Christchurch & being in Queenstown we were excited to be seeing Mt Cook, Lake Tekapo & the country in between. Our 2 drivers were exceptional with their commentary, answering questions, advising of comfort & food stops & looking after passengers. I've since heard more from others who've travelled with Cheeky Kiwi & must complement you on the great reputation you are building.

Both Martin and Willem were fantastic and knowledgeable drivers. We had lots of time at mount cook to stroll around and very nice stops at both lakes! Everything was very easy and enjoyable

Yanis was our driver and he was an absolute delight! I’m from the States in the Midwest and appreciated learning about the agriculture and dairy life of NZ farmers. He was so funny and insightful and made the trip a highlight of my time in NZ :)

The only reason this is a 4 instead of a 5 is because it is so long and cramped in the van and sometimes it was hard to hear. The 3 drivers we had were Great! Lynnette our 1st driver was fun and shared information along the route. Brandt our 2nd driver was a wealth of geological information and great commentary! The 3rd was Polly who enlightened us to Maori knowledge and culture. Great information but 11 to 12 hours makes for a long day. The views were breathing taking! We had a perfectly clear day, which we have been told is rare. My only other suggestion is give us 15 more minutes at the Mt Cook overlook. We made the trip for the Mt Cook view and most couldn't make the walk to the best view point in the time allocated. I made it barely, but the views were well worth it!

Another great day with Cheeky Kiwi. We had perfect weather, although a bit foggy when arriving at Mt Cook, but it totally cleared up. Our guide Josef from Queenstown to Mt Cook was awesome, going above and beyond to make sure I could do the helicopter flight I eventually decided to do thanks to this perfect weather, AND still be able to do the two short hikes (if I walked fast, which I did!). We then switched vans and drivers and the two ladies were also nice, with lots of explanations along the way. It is a very long drive with no stops and not much to see after Lake Tekapo. But that's how it is! This was my 4th day trip with them, and I highly recommend it, very professional, very informative, comfortable rides, time to stop and take photos, snacks and (most of the time) lunch provided, nice atmosphere with people of all ages and nationalities. A great experience for solo travelers!

Went with my mom. A very good choice for traveling from Queenstown to Christchurch, save some money meanwhile got a chance to hike Mt. Cook for around 2 hours. Special thanks to Grant and Benj, our drivers, very responsible, very knowledgeable and super professional! One family of our group members has some communication problems with their agency ( booked the wrong time for helicopter, and couldn’t find their accommodation) ; both of the drivers chose to place the rest of us at the scenic area (to let us do our sightseeing), then went back to the minibus helped solving the problem—— everyone got what they wanted, a win-win situation. We will definitely pick Cheeky Kiwi to do local tours next time when revisiting New Zealand. 该公司的司导们非常专业负责，解决问题耐心迅速，Cheeky Kiwi是当地报团的不二选择。诚荐！

The whole experience was incredible. The service was wonderful and they took very good care of us. They also did a very good job explaining to us all the details about what we were seeing.

Stunning views and a well planned journey. Joe and Nigel were excellent drivers and guides. Knowledgeable, entertaining and very informative. Professional yet bringing their own personal touch. I can highly recommend this tour through fairytale land with Cheeky Kiwi!

My son and I were looking for a one way transfer to Christchurch and thought this seemed like a good way to see some sights on the way. Jess picked us up at Gibbston Winery as we stayed there because it was the last pickup of the tour and I could sleep in a bit longer. She was super informative, easy going, drove us a couple hours including a breakfast stop to Mt Cook where there were lots of options for hiking, flying or Helicopter/Glacier landings. Jess worked hard to change some bookings due to weather and execute new bookings for people who decided at last minute they would like to fly to a glacier. The views from the visitor center were breathtaking. Im not gonna lie, the roads are winding and I’ve been in NZ for three weeks now, we have taken 10+ tours - no one yet has driven the speed limit around these turns. I think they are all so used to the track they all drive like they are Formula 1 drivers. Jess and Wilhem did slow down when I asked. Unfortunately, my stomach is not fond of racing or winding roads or car travel in general (unless I’m driving) so I took a pill and a patch and dozed on and off throughout the day. A little goes a long way. This ended up being a twelve hour tour. We left at 7am and got to Christchurch at 7:45pm. Twelve hours might be four or five hours too many. The stops were all interesting and Jess departed while we were at Mt Cook and Wilhem took over. Wilhem was funny and engaging and might have been a little too engaging - he requested we get to know each other by introducing ourselves and where we are from and what we do for a living- the questions might have been a little too personal and the jokes a little off-color for my taste but at least it wasn’t boring. Wilhem went out of his way to give me a heads up on the turns and slow down and he was great with checking in on our final destinations and making sure we got where we wanted to be - I would recommend the tour but communicate the length and details better to be prepared - I thought this was a 6/7 hour one way tour/transfer.

Excellent. Bus arrived on time at hotel for punctual departure. Guide Amanda was very friendly and helpful. She was happy to join us on walks and explained instructions clearly ie where we needed to be and at what time to depart. Change over of drivers was seamless at lunchtime. Would definitely use again especially if Amanda was on trip.

Beautiful opportunity to incorporate a tour into a transfer from Queenstown to Christchurch. Our tour guide, Dean drove the first leg to Mt Cook. He was friendly, super knowledgeable and warm. Lots of great information. The scenery (albeit rainy) was magnificent with stunning landscapes. We did 2 hikes, and loved them both. Drivers were switched and then Joe drove the final leg to Christchurch. A lovely young guide who provided great information. Lake Tekopa was stunning. It was a long day but so worth it. Joe dropped us off right at our AirBNB. Super impressed with the company and the guides. We’d highly recommend them!

I took this shuttle because I was flying out of Christchurch. The shuttle and service are good, you go through all the tourist spots. Lake tekapo, the church and the road with the mountain. Worth the combination of a bus and yet sightseeing the touristy stuff. A big thanks to cheeky kiwi as I left my credit card in Queenstown and they kindly arranged for it to be brought to Christchurch. Many many thanks, you guys rock!

A fantastic day all round, thanks to drivers who were informative and friendly, highly recommended cheeky kiwi! Thanks guys for a wonderful day trip