Activities in Mackenzie Country
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Alpine Springs & Spa
The Alpine Springs & Spa is open all year round with hot pools scattered amid quickly growing native trees. Private pools and saunas ($24 per hour) are also available, and spa packages start at $80. ‘Skate and Soak’ combo deals are available, and there’s a good cafe for coffee and cake, or a snack and something stronger.
reviewed
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Discovery Tours
Discovery Tours is based in Twizel and operates guided, small-group tours around the Mackenzie Country and Aoraki/Mt Cook, including hiking and helibiking, plus a popular two-hour tour (adult/child $75/40) to the site of the Pelennor battlefield in the Lord of the Rings movies. You can even get to charge around like a mad thing wearing LOTR replica gear. A shorter one-hour LOTR tour (adult/child $30/5) is also available.
reviewed
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A
Air Safaris
Does 50-minute ‘Grand Traverse’ flights over Mt Cook and its glaciers (adult/child $295/195), taking you up the Tasman Glacier, over the upper part of the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, and by Mts Cook, Tasman and Elie de Beaumont. A similar flight goes from Glentanner Park, but with higher prices (adult/child $340/240).
reviewed
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Helicopter Line
Helicopter Line flies over the Mt Cook region from a helipad beside Mackenzie Country Inn. Sightseeing flights last from 25 minutes ($220) to 60 minutes ($525) and include a snow landing.
reviewed
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B
Tekapo Helicopters
Has five options, from a 25-minute flight ($195) to a 70-minute trip taking in Mt Cook and Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers ($500). All flights include icefield landings and views of Mt Cook.
reviewed
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Lake Tekapo Winter Park
At the western edge of the lake, the Lake Tekapo Winter Park features a year-round skating rink and a winter mini-snow slope for gentle snow-tubing action.
reviewed
