Cheeky Kiwi Travel Mt. Cook Experience

View from the Hooker Valley Track

If you're like me, you hate renting cars. But, as a carless-city-dweller, I've accustomed myself to figuring out transportation without it. Honestly, I think being carless would make sense for many people, but that is neither here nor there!

Cheeky Kiwi Travel served as both a transportation service and a tour to the stunning Mt Cook, situated within New Zealand's Southern Alps.

While this experience was provided to me by the company, as always, all opinions remain my own. 

Pick-Up

I woke up bright and early around 6:45 AM, to meet my driver, Rhys, in a central downtown location. I stayed at Mi-Pad Queenstown, so my walk to the coach was less than 5 minutes.

If you're worried about being caffeinated, there's a 24-hour Mcdonald's right around the corner you can grab a coffee from. (for folks being picked-up downtown Queenstown)

I was the first one to be picked up, so I had the privilege of calling shotgun and sitting up front with our guide.

Our Kiwi guide, Rhys, couldn't be friendlier. He knew the ins and outs of the South Island and answered all of my eager questions about Mt. Cook and the surrounding area.

We picked up about seven other folks at their hotels/meeting points, and then we were on our way.

The drive to Mt. Cook

The Drive

The drive to Mt. Cook is considered one of the most beautiful in the world, and I can see why. As the sun rose, the rolling New Zealand landscape was illuminated with early-morning sunlight that had me plastered to my window.

We made a quick stop at a viewpoint about an hour into our journey and then carried on for about another 30-45 minutes for a coffee break. We had about 20 minutes to grab another coffee and pick up some items for lunch.

After our snack break, we were on our way to the main destination.

Suspension Bridge on the Hooker Valley Track

Hooker Valley Track

This tour is unique because it offers you 3-4 hours of free time. For an extra cost, you can book a helicopter tour that will take you on top of the glacier. That experience looked amazing, but it was just a bit out of my budget.

Instead, I embarked on the Hooker Valley Track, which led to the stunning Hooker Lake. If you're not used to hiking, I think you might need a bit more than the allotted time. I am a frequent hiker in good physical condition, and I only had about 30 minutes left of free time by the time I completed the hike. I know some older folks on the trip couldn't complete it. 

That being said, I believe the excursion with Cheeky Kiwi Travel is 100% worth seeing Mt. Cook and the stunning glacier remains in Hooker Lake. 

It was really enjoyable to just show up, hope in a van, and get dropped off on my trailhead. Be sure to bring plenty of water, and definitely do grab snacks or a light lunch at the cafe to enjoy on the hike. 

Plus, there were three suspension bridges you crossed over racing rapids. They were pretty long, so if you’re afraid of heights– hang on tight!

Eating lunch at Hooker Lake

I ate my little lunch biscuit while sitting on a boulder overlooking the glacier lake. That was one of those "is this really my life?" moments.

Additionally, I was a solo female traveler and felt 100% safe the entire experience. If you're traveling alone and don't want to deal with renting a car, I highly suggest using Cheeky Kiwi Travel to get to Hooker Valley.

Scenic stop on the return trip

The Return Trip

Additionally, you have the option of returning to Queenstown or easily transferring buses to Christchurch after your experience.

Some folks on my bus took the Cheeky Kiwi Travel bus to Christchurch, and some others joined my bus to return to Queenstown. 

On the ride back, we stopped at a few more points of interest.

There is a local salmon farm where you can feed the fish, buy fresh salmon, and grab a cup of coffee. We didn't spend a whole lot of time here, but it was a fun way to break up the drive.

We also stopped at a local fruit joint. I didn't purchase anything, but the fruit ice cream looked delicious!

Lastly, we made another stop at a scenic viewpoint that was just delightful.

After our long day, it was time to get dropped off. Rhys dropped every passenger off at their hotel or assigned meeting place. 

Things could not have gone more smoothly, and I could not recommend them enough. I know they also do Milford Sound tours, and I wish I had also gone with them for that. A lot of the other tour companies do these transfers and experiences in huge coaches, and it just isn't as fun.

If you're looking for an easy way to get to Mt. Cook, booking a transfer and excursion with Cheeky Kiwi Travel is the way to do it.

Of course, I was just looking for a quick day hike. If you are looking to do a more intense hike, you may want to look into their other transfer options or consider driving yourself.

But if you only have a few days in New Zealand, particularly the Queenstown area, this day-trip will help you hit all of the main points.

Conclusion

Cheeky Kiwi Travel is an excellent way to experience Mt. Cook and the stunning Hooker Valley Track if you're short on time or don't feel comfortable driving yourself in New Zealand. Not only do they provide a safe environment and knowledgeable guide, but they also offer additional transfers and excursions at an extra cost. Whether you're looking for a day trip or multi-day adventure, Cheeky Kiwi Travel is the perfect way to explore New Zealand in style and comfort.

While this experience was provided to me by the company, as always, all opinions remain my own.