The Honeymoon & Romantic Getaway Guide to Mt Cook 💑 [2023]

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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.

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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.

© The Hermitage Hotel Mt Cook

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.