Plan a Romantic Getaway, Anniversary or Honeymoon to Aoraki Mt Cook
Home to the most dramatic landscapes in the South Island, between the highest mountain and longest glacier, Aoraki Mt Cook is often considered the “peak” of a honeymoon itinerary in New Zealand. With that in mind, it’s a place to do something special to celebrate, whether it’s flying among the snowcapped mountains in a ski plane or a humbling walk among towering glacier valleys. We go through the most romantic experiences, as well as accommodation listings, in this romantic getaway, anniversary and honeymoon guide to Mt Cook.
Romantic Activities in Mt Cook
- Enjoy an intimate helicopter flight and picnic among the peaks with INFLITE Experiences
- Land on the Tasman Glacier in a ski plane (more info on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook)
- Tackle the Mt Cook hikes together
- Check out the exhibitions and artwork at the Aoraki Mt Cook National Park Visitor Centre
- Do a glacier kayaking tour with Southern Alps Guiding
- Explore the Tasman Glacier on a heli-hike with Mt Cook Glacier Guiding (on Viator and Tripadvisor) or The Helicopter Line (on KKday and Tripadvisor)
- Indulge in a spa day together at Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat or Lakestone Lodge
- Have a tipple at the Snowline Bar.
For more details on each activity, see the 9 Romantic Activities in Mt Cook for Couples.
Adventures for Couples
Aoraki Mt Cook is all about awe-inspiring scenery, so make it the place on your honeymoon or romantic getaway where you finally get to experience mesmerising landscapes from the sky, do some stargazing and enjoy awe-inspiring hikes.
Helicopter and Ski Plane Tours
Helicopter tours provide an intimate experience flying through vast glacier valleys, over iceberg-scattered lakes and landing on snowy peaks. The Helicopter Line (see Viator, Tripadvisor or KKday for more details) and INFLITE Experiences (on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook) both offer exceptional helicopter tours including snow landings with a variety of flight durations to suit your itinerary and budget. INFLITE also offers a romantic ski plane picnic experience, where you’ll land on the Tasman Glacier for a private picnic in the snow. Alternatively, their standard ski plane tour (on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook) is still pretty magical and the only ski plane experience in New Zealand.
Hiking at Mt Cook
Complement your sightseeing tours of Mt Cook with one of the free hikes in the national park. That way, you can experience the majestic mountains, just the two of you. The Hooker Valley Track is a popular one, taking three hours to complete and incorporating views of the Mueller Glacier, Hooker Lake and more. Other romantic alternatives include the Red Tarns Track and the Governors Bush Walk. Find more information about these walks and much more in the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Mt Cook and the 10 Must-Do Hikes Around Mt Cook.
Stargazing
There’s no more romantic way to end an evening in Mt Cook than watching the stars. Aoraki Mt Cook is in the middle of an International Dark Sky Reserve meaning it has the best conditions to see vivid displays of faraway stars and galaxies. While simply stepping outside on a clear night and looking up is a worthy way to enjoy this experience, it’s well worth enhancing on one of the stargazing tours. Big Sky Stargazing is based at The Hermitage Hotel and includes a planetarium show before you head out to learn about the constellations you’ll see through powerful telescopes.
Alternatively, Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat has a unique wine cellar observatory that incorporates wine and nibbles into your stargazing experience. Lakestone Lodge also has its own stargazing tour where you’ll lie back in a recliner or hammock with a warm blanket and a glass of mulled wine as your guide points out astronomical features seen with the naked eye.
For more adventure ideas, like heli-hiking on the Tasman Glacier, check out the 9 Romantic Activities in Mt Cook for Couples.
Romantic All-Weather Activities
Sure, much of Mt Cook’s highlights are weather-dependent. Nevertheless, we like to use a rainy day to hit the pause button and do some of the more relaxing things on a romantic getaway to Mt Cook, like indulging in a spa day!
Mt Cook Spa Day
Mt Cook’s luxury lodges like Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat and Lakestone Lodge can help you out with the said spa day, offering relaxing treatments where incorporating the view of the brilliantly blue Lake Pukaki is a core part of the experience.
Aoraki Mt Cook National Park Visitor Centre
For couples who’s rather learn something together, a good go-to is the Aoraki Mt Cook National Park Visitor Centre. It’s better described as a museum and art gallery than a visitor centre, showcasing all kinds of captivating Maori carvings and artwork of the surrounding area. You’ll also learn about the flora, fauna and geography of the national park through various exhibitions, some with video demonstrations.
For more inspiration for a wet-weather day, see the 6 Things to Do in Mt Cook on a Rainy Day.
Romantic Restaurants in Mt Cook
Don’t expect any cosy cafes or intimate dining experiences on your romantic getaway to Mt Cook. Here, it’s all about grand dining halls with towering windows to encapsulate the views of New Zealand’s highest peak.
A good go-to for dining in the village is The Hermitage Hotel, which boasts a fine dining a la carte menu at The Panorama Restaurant and an ever-changing seasonal menu or buffet at the Alpine Restaurant. The most romantic option, in our opinion, is simply enjoying a tipple at the slightly more intimate Snowline Bar at the end of the day…
If you’re seeking much more romantic dining experiences, however, we recommend staying at one of the luxury lodges listed in the 5 Best Luxury Accommodations in Mt Cook. Meals are prepared especially for you and a limited few other guests, rather than the mass production of hundreds of tourists’ food made in Mt Cook Village. The quality and care show.
Romantic Accommodation in Mt Cook
- Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat
- The Hermitage Hotel Mt Cook
- Lakestone Lodge
- Mt Cook Lodge and Motel
- Aoraki Court Motel
For more details on each recommendation, check out the 5 Best Romantic Accommodations in Mt Cook.
More About Mt Cook
That’s it for our honeymoon and romantic getaway guide to Mt Cook. For more trip-planning advice that might not necessarily fall under the “romantic getaway” category, see the following guides:
- The Travel Guide to Mt Cook on a Budget
- The Luxury Travel Guide to Mt Cook
- The Complete Travel Guide to Mt Cook
Finally, find even more honeymoon tips in The Honeymoon & Romantic Getaway Guide to New Zealand.
Author
Laura S.
This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor in chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in New Zealand over 10 years ago and with a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to travel New Zealand. She knows Aotearoa inside-out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience New Zealand’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also editor of several other South Pacific travel guides and is the co-host of NZ Pocket Guide’s live New Zealand travel Q&As on YouTube.