first time at the movies today and it’s so vintage retro cool vibes, choose your own sofa to sit, choose your level up or down and blankets available, really cool experience! great choice of snacks. recommend for an old school experience it was really fun movie date with the family. il be back!!! 10/10

Just went to Ash Grunwald, absolutely amazing to see such a great musician up close and personal . It was like having him in your lounge ! Awesome experience

Second time visit to see "The Blues Brothers". Fantastic old time theatre with comfy couchs in place of the first few rows. Nice and warm and a supply of blankets for over the knees. A must visit when in Geraldine.

What a gem of a place, lovely old cinema, and very proud owners who keep the place going. Choice of super comfy couches or normal cinema seats, Well worth a visit.

Really cool place.. the cinema was great. Amazing place!!! My kids really enjoyed the movie and the experience.

Very cool old style theatre with a lot of soul. They have replaced a lot of the seats with random couches and armchairs, which is a really nice touch.

Most of the seating is in poor condition and the cinema smells musty. Viewing is available for most popular movies.

Extremely knowledgeable, smart and witty guy. Peter taught me a lot about astronomy, despite me having 4 years of tertiary astrophysics experience! We didn't get an opportunity to view through the telescopes much as the clouds were in the way but check the weather ahead and plan carefully.

A great evening of stories scientific and personal, from a life devoted to following a passion for astronomy. Peter is a great teacher, with a northern english sense of humour (that’s a good thing!). The session is 2-3 hours, with time for questions and answers, in a small group. Highly recommended.

Peter is an amazing host and it shows how much passion he has for what he’s doing. He answered all of our questions and showed/ told us so much about our amazing universe. Totally recommend going here!

Unfortunately, we couldn't change the weather. Clouds blocked out view. Not a star visible in the sky. But Peter showed us around and we got to view videos and photos and learn how to take them ourselves. We stayed for two hours and learned heaps. Our 12 year old girls enjoyed it even though it wasn't hands on this time. Definitely ignited more interest. Well worth the visit.

What a great evening we had! Helped by a totally clear night we were fascinated and had our minds blown by the millions of stars we saw, planets in our solar system, Peter's insights and his incredible photography. Not only is this the best thing to do in Geraldine, but up there with our best experiences in New Zealand.

Peter is such a l lovely and knowledgeable old man who told us a lot about astronomy and let us explore the sky with two of his giant telescopes. We were quite lucky with the sky and were able to see nebulas, the famous jewel box and many more beautiful sky objects. His volunteering commitment to support astronmic research is impressive and with every word he explains, you hear his passion for this science. A simply wonderful night with some other nice and interested people. Clear recommendations.

We got plenty of telescope observation time, and a lovely clear night... Save your Tekapo money and check out Peter and his Observatory, he's going to show you some fantastic highlights... and you can choose what you want to see, Cassini Divison, Great Red Spot, Globular Clusters, nebulae. What a treat!

This place is fantastic, spent several hours there with a 5 & 6 y.o, they were not bored with so much to see! An incredible collection of historical agricultural and motoring history here with plenty of other bits and pieces as well. 7 huge sheds full of exhibits! It's very unassuming from the road, don't be fooled!

Lovely place and hidden gem in Geraldine. Super friendly staff. Great collection of cars , would definitely visit again. Not just cars but also other machinery from ships, tractors, bikes and a lot more.

A must see for vintage car, tractors and machinery of all kinds, got a personal tour with Bruce. The highlight for me, a Canadian is an International Travel All, that was purchased in Canada, travelled around North America then was brought back to New Zealand where it travelled extensively here. There is also a very Canadian Bombardier Alpine Skidoo snow machine that warmed my Canuck soul😎

#NZ 04 2024 FamilyTrip# A worth with price Vintage Experience! All my family members enjoy the visit. 😍 Lots of vintage cars.. Truck.. Etc 😍 Surprisingly, Some cars are new and can be used! Really eyes opened! Yeah..

Incredible collection of vintage cars, tractors, machinery etc. Well worth the admission ticket of NZD 15 per pax. Definitely worth visiting if you’re stopping by Geraldine!

It's a lovely place to stroll down memory lane.. not just cars , but all sorts of machinery and such. I only discovered it by accident... but very worthwhile to pay a visit.

Awesome place. There is so much history here. The volunteers are incredible and know what they’re talking about. There’s something here for everyone. From vintage cars and machinery to models and household stuff. So fun. Love seeing the 80’s mazda too! Just a nice reminder that time doesn’t stop and that vintage will one day be todays ‘modern’ cars..

The exhibits were interesting, but the collection is quite small and the experience felt underwhelming for the price. By the end, it just didn’t feel like there was much more to see. Unless you’re very into Māori rock art, you could probably give this one a miss.

The staffs are very friendly and always have warm smile:) the information I got from here is very useful and helpful, I get to know better about Timaru. Please note that entry is NOT for free and the parking lots nearby is NOT for free as well.

The two women working were delightful and a wealth of knowledge, the museum was also very well curated and fit a lot of information in. Would 10/10 recommend

Great little centre with some kid’s activities inside. My daughter loved pushing all the buttons to watch the videos and the drawing. And my husband loved seeing and reading about the history. Highly recommend stopping in.

Fascinating exhibition of Maori rock art, had a lovely chat with Donna about this piece of local history.

Rock Art is described so well here, the guide so informative and descendant of the local iwi. Seen the real art around Duntroon and now understand.

A very interesting exhibit. We had seen this rock art in various places, but this explained all that is known about it. There was no tour available when we visited, but everything was well organized and clearly presented. The attendant suggested we should plan to spent 45 minutes to an hour to see it. We were there for an hour and 45 minutes and didn't quite have a chance to view all the videos. I suggest the amount of time depends upon the interests of your group. Younger kids would have enough after a half hour. If you want time to read all the materials and view all the videos, you might allow 2 or 2 1/2 hours, or more. I consider it worthwhile if you are interested in archeology, Maori History, etc.

2 levels of information! :) i love how much info is packed into the space. They used the area really well. Theres an exhibition regarding WW2.. informative and thought-provoking to a certain extent. Theres also exhibits on the wildlife and the origins to modernisation of new zealand. I spent 1.5hrs here. Would have been more if they hadnt close at 430pm. It was nice to wander through the exhibits, reading everything. The staff were very nice and gave u space, whenever needed. No admission fee but the museum runs on donation. Always happy to give, to maintain.

One of my favourite museums in New Zealand. Free admission, with two levels of fascinating displays and local collections. What made my visit truly memorable was the warm welcome at reception. As someone new to Timaru, the kind lady at the front desk not only introduced me to the museum but also gave helpful tips about the area, which made settling in so much easier. A wonderful museum made even better by the people.

Really neat museum offering a great history of the region. Easy to lose track of time with so much on offer. Admission is free but donations always welcomed.

I enjoyed coming in here, it offers more exploration and wonder than many museums as it’s set up as almost a school activity/ investigation center. It has things they encourage you to touch, drawers you open, places to explore and little info boards that open up. Even has a creative coloring in section for if you have a young one who gets bored.

Super nice staff. The Explorer program is so good, combined with finding the collection items! So much fun! Please bring out more different versions, the kids loves them.

Interesting museum, contains exhibits from many fields, everyone will find something for themselves. It's impossible to be bored. Free entry, donation can be made in cash or by credit card

Really nice, place, worth the time...full of NZ and local history. During the holidays, they offer workshops for children.

Probably one of the best places I’ve walked around,great views and plenty of great amenities and things to look at.best thing to do is explore yourself.

Another kite festival down 'The Bay' Fantastic to see all the kids ( and adults ) enjoying the great weather. I was surprised at how many had never flown a kite before. I guess for us 'Old people' it was a rite of passage, learning how to first build then fly your home built kite...

Nice place to stay and beautiful beach walk.

Grate place to stop when visiting Timaru . 3 places merged on one place Rose garden, park and beach . They offer train ride as well $2 for 3 round and $6 golf .I love this place .

This place is not too large but everything is quite reasonable. Next to the sea and seaport, there is a beach for you to walk around. Inside there is also a play area for children. There's also a block of houses that I haven't finished yet. It's a suitable place if your family goes out and has children along.

I visited Caroline Bay for the Rock n Hop festival. Which was brilliant. It should be noted that if you want to put your children into the fancy dress competition you have to register online the week before. Anyway Caroline Bay is worth a visit any time with the new adventure playground, aviary, rose garden, fountain pond, then stairs up so that you can view the whole area. Timaru is a place that actually takes advantage of and uses the natural lay of the land to get the best views with amenities.

Such a beautiful place. A kind lady, who'd pointed out a seal to me first, helped me to get there, while I was out in Timaru, in an attempt to lose myself in nature. She showed me the area of the beach where penguins come at night to have their little beach party. I could see tiny footprints which I hoped belonged to a penguin or two. A path along the beach led to the cliffs, oh, those beautiful cliffs. A bridge above a railway track and a tiny unused lighthouse were the sights that greeted me there. I do wish the lighthouse was open for the public. It'd give an even greater perspective, I think. A small path from the cliff led onto another cozy part of the bay. A wide selection of small to large round pebbles could be found there. Another bridge that extended into the sea gave an absolutely graceful view of the sea. The sea changed its colors from light blue to shades of green and dark blue. Altogether, it was a peaceful and beautiful day out there, in the midst of nature. Hope to see some penguins next time!

Beautiful place. Went to the Timaru Aigantighe Art Gallery on Monday. This amazing place was orginally the home biult in 1905 for Mr Alexander Grant and Helen Grant who emigrated from Scotland and lived here for 50 years while farming Grays Hills Station in the Mackenzie Country. Their children gifted the house and grounds to the people of Timaru in 1955. One of the Pine trees on the property is the winter home for Monarch Butterflies overwintering in clusters.

I chanced upon the gallery just zooming in and out of gmaps for timaru.. its a very peaceful and to be honest, quite impressive art gallery. Not a huge place but exhibits so many artists' work. As i understood, its uses the old Grant's house as a gallery and thus, it also showcases the house's rooms and even the old kitchen! And i loved that, its like seeing what i've read of old-english aristocratic houses coming to life. 😍 The gallery itself, the works itself is very varied. Its paintings hung bold and proud on its walls. There's even a small corner where u could silent-bid for one of the painting. How cool is that! The gallery is FOC and i think they do have seasonal events to keep things fresh and engaging too. Spent a good 2hrs there. Oh! There's also an outdoor garden with exhibits too. Do explore!

Special place, this is the 3rd year I've been during autumn to see the monach butterflies and enjoy the beautiful gardens & sculptures. Love the Time Bomb. Staff as always very friendly and welcoming. Remember the butterflies are high up in the tree.

Free admission, amazing artwork and dedicated staff come together to make an exciting and intimate gallery experience. Dont hesitate to brong your children on a rainy day with fun activities and free stickers as well!

The Exhibition is free! Loved it so much we bought a painting

Very interesting exhibitions on at present, really recommend both. Friendly staff

Charming little gallery with a pretty large outdoor section of sculptures. Unfortunately no gift shop, would have loved to buy some of the paintings as a postcard..

We choose 1 hr trek with Hannah and had so much fun with the horses and taking in all the beauty. My husband rode a calm horse , Torque while I had a very cheeky horse Bobby . We had to turn around half way because I dropped my phone and had to look for it. If you have Bobby, he does a few jumps here and there while trekking which might be scary for a beginner but after a few small jumps you get used to it. Word of caution , if you take your phone , put it safe in a zipper pocket or tightly secure pants or you’ll drop it like I did. Hannah is in the process of setting up her payment portal so only takes cash or bank transfer. Must do for anyone near Fairlie!

Love the ride. I joined the 1.5hr trek and it’s my first time riding horses. Most of the horse trekking in NZ don’t operate in May. But luckily we can still ride here. Hannah was patience and the horses were calm throughout. Hannah was also taking pictures for us so we can enjoy the ride and scenery.

This was an absolutely amazing experience. I am so happy that Real Kiwi Horse Trekking operates all year round. Even in the winter months. Hannah was so good with helping us book a ride and Sue took us on an amazing 2 hour trek through the woods, along the river and through the hills. All with amazing views of the sheep, cows, and of course the mountains They were so friendly and made this ride so easy. I have not ridden much before this but this made me feel like a pro. The horses were wonderful and I cannot recommend this enough. Definitely make this stop on your NZ trip. It's worth it.

A wonderful experience! They operate year-round so we were able to do a trek with them in the winter. Hannah was great to communicate with when planning, and our guide Sue was fantastic - smart and steady leading the horses, always checking in to make sure we didn't need anything, and even took photos during the ride so we didn't need to worry about fumbling with our phones. The horses were great on the trail, and the views and landscape we trekked over were just breathtaking. Definitely recommend, would trek with them again!

Definitely one of the favourite highlights of our South Island trip, our guides Sue and helper Riley were both lovely, patient and caring. It was fun noticing all the little quirks and personalities of the horses too. Well recommended. 😊

Hannah was very kind and friendly. It was our first time riding horses, and everything went perfectly. The horses were smart and steady. We absolutely loved this experience!

Had a fantastic time with Hannah and Sue, loved learning all about the farm, horses were fab, knew what they were doing! 100% recommend

Very enjoyable place to visit. Excellent range of interesting historic items, especially the jet boat display. We spent a long time there and will go again. There is something for everyone including food and great coffee.

The museum is well worth a visit, you will need cash for entry. The cafe is an absolute must, the chicken and Mushroom pie is delicious. It is crammed full of chicken and mushies all made freshly on site. The pies are $8 with chips. All food is made on site. A wonderful fire for chilly winter days.

Such a fascinating place, so much to see and learn! We popped in for a quick visit and were amazed by how big it is, we spent ages exploring. Lots of displays to interest all ages!

Lots to see, displays are well organised and the cars are awesome, friendly staff and very informative 😀

Cafe: Recently under new management, we have enjoyed several visits to the Museum Cafe. Great coffee and the danish pastry I had today was outstanding. Made on site. Delicious. Definitely worth a stop.

Had the best pie that’s ever touched my mouth. What a treat, needs an award 1# best pie I’ve ever had brisket, tripple cheese and red onion. Oh my I’m salivating thinking about it.

Very friendly people, pretzel amazing, coffee average but place had a good vibe

We had a lovely time at Alpine Alpacas; the staff were welcoming and friendly, and we really enjoyed meeting the alpacas, plus the horse and the Shetland pony ❤️ Feeding them was such a cute experience! The shop has some really nice things too. Would highly recommend to anyone staying in Fairlie or passing through :) Thank you for a lovely morning!

Our group of 6 throughly enjoyed ourselves visiting Alpine Alpacas. We felt very welcome by the staff members, Sharon and Riley, who took the time to tell us about the different animals and their personalities. A We also had the joy of meeting Spot, an eleven day old lamb! Definitely the highlight of our day.

We love Riley’s guide tour!! When she said she is lots of animals’ mom, I can see proud on her face. She knows her children very well, very professional! Very nice tour!

Had a great time at Alpine Alpacas today! The staff were lovely and the alpacas are so cute. I really enjoyed feeding and stroking them and meeting the horse and Shetland pony too :) a great place to visit.

Amazing 45 min guided tour experience with Riley at 10am. The animals are very cute. Riley ensured we had a great time. Thanks for showing us around.

Excellent up close experience with alpacas, lambs, horse. You can feed them too. Riley was a great guide. She explains well.

We had a lovely time feeding & learning about the alpacas. Riley was really friendly & knowledgeable, would recommend if you’re staying in the area

Roundhill is a wonderful ski resort. It starts with a scenic access road that goes along majestic Lake Tekapo. The road is easy to follow with no obstacles for normal family cars. The views there are breathtaking. The parking is perfect, never we had any issues with finding a spot. Access to the fields is great, the learners areas is quite big, and it gives good opportunity to warm up or try new things even for experienced skiers. I got great time learning new stuff with Alex on a snowboard there. The views from the mountain on the surrounding mountain range, and on the lake are the great addition to overall experience.

Beautiful ski field, you can tell it’s under well management. Handy parking, clean restrooms, lovely cafe. Staff are friendly and pro! Would definitely come back every season.

An awesome small local KIWI locals mainly Ski Field.. The Learner Pomma is a challenge for snow boarders.... Saw a few just give up ans walk back to their cars... Shame.. Ski field will lose them and their future income.... Lovely well groomed well laid out field...... Try and pre investigate when schools and bus loads of children are there.... Otherwise thw ques are crazy....

Amazing place to ski if you like to carve. Dylan makes the best cup of tea on a ski hill! She’s a legend.

Great place to learn ski\snowboarding. Friendly and helpful staff. Cafe spacious and warm with good drink options. Plenty of parking. Stunning views. Big thank you to the roundhill team for assisting with snow chains fitment on double wheeled camper and all the advice given on how to descend safely! Anybody who is driving campervan and didn't fit chains before please do a practise fit\unfit(another camper was strugling to remove chains at the bottom) beforehand, weather on the mountain changes quickly and watching youtube vids on how to is pretty hard when its snowing.

Beautiful, friendly and unforgettable experience at Roundhill Ski Area Roundhill is such a beautiful and family-friendly ski field. The views are absolutely stunning, and the whole place has a really relaxed, welcoming vibe. The staff on all the lifts were super friendly and helpful — it made the whole experience even better. I had a ski lesson with Henrietta and honestly, she was THE BEST instructor I could have hoped for. I’m in my 40s, a complete beginner, and was honestly pretty terrified of getting on skis. But Henrietta was so calm, confident, and kind — she made me feel completely safe and capable. She explained things in a way that made perfect sense, and somehow made the whole thing feel much easier than I expected. Thanks to her, I forgot my fear and had a genuinely fun time learning. I can’t thank her enough for the confidence she gave me and the amazing experience overall. If you're thinking of taking a ski lesson at Roundhill, I highly recommend asking for Henrietta!

Great place for beginners intermediate and advanced skiers. New infrastructure. Not the newest, but not the worst rental skies and boots. Clean cafe where u can get soup fries or some other snack. Learners area where u can get lessons with a tutor. Long black trails for experienced skiers. If it's ur first time skiing, it's perfect place to start. Highly recommended!

Statue of a Collie dog with the inscription that without the help of these animals they could not have farmed this land. Beautiful location on the shore of this beautiful lake. You should take a trip up the hill which has beautiful views over the lake and mountains

Just a simple sheepdog statue on a rock on the sides of Lake Tekapo. Not sure if this was intentional, you have the Good shepherd Church nearby and you have the Sheepdog that shepherds the sheep - celebrating 2 different shepherds ..

Lovely statue memorial to the Sheepdog (Border Collie) and wonderful views of the lake.

Humble little tribute right next to the Church of the Good Shepherd. Worth a quick stop, especially if you appreciate the history of the region.

Beautiful and meaningful statue, the sheepdog memorial located just a short walk away (100m) from The Church of the Good Shepherd. Least visitor as compared to the church itself , if you are around the corner I recommend you to drop by.

You can never go wrong with a statue dedicated to dogs.

Since it is next to the church, just visit it. Nothing interesting about this statue.

This world-famous landmark has received countless praises — especially during lupin season, on every star-filled night, and in that iconic view where the cross in the window aligns perfectly with the deep blue of Lake Tekapo. And truly, it deserves every bit of that admiration. But what surprised me most is how stunning it becomes in harsh weather. I once visited during heavy snowfall, and the scene felt completely different: vast, silent, almost otherworldly. The sense of emptiness and solitude — like a landscape where “no birds fly over the endless mountains, and no footprints can be found on the snowy paths” — stands in sharp contrast to the usual crowds and bright, calm days. People often say you need good weather to enjoy a place, but for the Church of the Good Shepherd, every kind of weather is a unique stroke of luck. I’ve visited many times, and I know I’ll return many more times in this lifetime.

Small rustic church facing the magnificent lake tekapo. Would have loved to attend the Sunday sermons here if given the time and opportunity. Come early or later into the day where there are less crowds fo better photos.

Original we stopped by about 2pm but there were heaps of people, parking is crazy and it wasn’t easy to take pictures so we went back at 8:30pm for sunset and it was so much better. The church is closed and quiet and you can spend as long as you want taking pictures. Please be mindful this is a functioning church and you need to respect that!

Beautiful Church that was built by Anglicans but is used by different sects for worship. Plenty of parking but the church closes at 5pm for tourists. It is important for tourists to remember that it is a sacred place, I think the church should do more to ensure that people outside do not talk too loud. Otherwise, a beautiful location and cosy architecture.

Lovely little church on the edge of Lake Tekapo. Famous for just being a stone church is a beautiful location. We entered during a service so no internal photos but outside it is very picturesque. If you want a photo with no one around then I suggest an early morning visit as popular with the tourist coaches.

2nd time visiting this scenic place, after my 1st visit 8 years ago. Stands out for its solitude beside beautiful Lake Tekapo and the gorgeous mountains in the background. Much more crowded this time compared to many years ago. Still, a not to be missed place.

Even though we visited in early November — and came for sunrise, sunset, and even during the night for some stargazing — there were still quite a lot of people around, which is understandable though. At a certain hour the area around the church gets closed off, so afterward you can only walk around the fence, but it’s nothing too inconvenient. There’s a beautiful photo spot by the water just behind the church.

Absolutely stunning view of Tekapo and the MacKenzie Country. Be aware though that the road may be closed at anytime due to bad weather particularly windy weather so watch out for that. Would definitely recommend to anyone who likes looking out over the world.

The place was very interesting! We leaned about the telescopes and the astrophotography viewings. The area was really beautiful! The cafe's food was also great!

This is a ABSOLUTE MUST see if you visit Lake Tekapo. Make time to come up here on a sunny day and see for MILES around. The view from the top is INSANE. See the pics that I posted. We visited, luckily on a CRYSTAL CLEAR sunny day and it was AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL..... There is also a cafe at the top where you can have coffee and some snacks/food to enjoy while you are up there

A good place to have coffee from Astro Cafe. The entrance to the complex cost 8 NZD. The view from the top is beyond stunning. You can watch how visitors of all origins posing for pictures in different styles; this alone is also interesting in addition to the view.

Beautifull sights over Lake Tekapo from Here. Just do not take the car to get here, you’ll be charged 8 dollars. Walk the track starting from close to the tekapo springs, it’ll be way more fun with even better views (away from the insta crowd) if you’ll do the full round when going back along the lake. Rec with nice weather!

I'm sure the view is spectacular but the $14 road users fee to get there and see essentially no more than what I've seen on the way here (Mnt Cook and surrounds) for free I couldn't justify it. Would have bought breakfast and coffee whilst up there otherwise. 4 stars due to road fee.

The 2hour hike path was worth it! Not too difficult and got to see the great view on the way up! We drove up again, very nice views with a lovely cafe up there!

We hiked up the track to the mountain to watch sunset and stargaze. It was a nice and quiet place to be at that time. It was a bit of a moderate slog up the mountain, but well worth it. There is a gravel parking lot at the start. Just watch out for horse excrement while making your way up the trail.

The road is a bit slippery with snow, have to be careful and wear a proper shoes. I have spend 1.5-2 hr to reach the hill, please don’t wear too many jackets, super hot to climb up the mountain.

The view on the summit is amazing. We walked up one day after snow, and the view along the track is also fantastic

Easy track up with mostly flat trails and some steps. 3.8km return track with 273m accent. Finished in 43 minutes (I am a regular jogger with good fitness).

Nice walk once you get past Tekapo Springs at the bottom and brilliant views from the summit. The track flattens out after you exit the tree line and go up the stairs. Nice cafe at the top if you need somewhere to rest before heading back down.

Amazing views on the lake and the dessert-like surrounding 🥰 would recommend to do the loop anti clock wise (first along the lake, then up to the observatory and then down through the forest - cause that last part are just steep serpentines and I was glad I could walk them down and not up 😅)

This was my very first hike and our tween first hike. It was quite hard for unfit person but well worth the hike. It was great nice outing for family. Free activities. For fit people probably only take 4hours. For me took 5 hours cos stop a lot. There are heaps of resting area. Best part for photos. Good internet reception. I did video call oversea to show the summit and signal was great. Top of the summit, there is a Cafe. Pls see my review on Cafe at Their pages. Please note: you can drive up to summit but It is more fun to hiking up. Recommended! If unfit person like me can conquer the summit. You can! 😘

We were so lucky to have a snow fall in October so we could enjoy having fun in the patches around. Visited the café and the visitors centre

“Mount Cook is beautiful in every way. The drive there is so good with amazing views all around. Snowy mountains, fresh air, and peaceful nature make it feel like heaven. A perfect place to relax and enjoy.”

The trip and hiking to Aoraki / Mt. Cook has been really interesting. The natural beauty and views of the natural environment there has been vibrant and amazing, the glacier there had dated to be thousands plus years old. Temperature drops significantly as you further hike up the altitudes. One of the most visitors and tourist attractive geographical feature in South Island, New Zealand.😍😊

Very nice view. 1st we went at evening and because it bevome sark early, then we come back next day. My kids very happy to play with snow

Loved going up there it's a good change of scenery away from city life

A beautiful outdoor hiking experience. The mountain views,river valleys and trails are absolutely worth the trip.

Lovely place. I went here with a tour. Hoping that I’ll visit the place again and do some camping!

Visited Hooker Valley in September 2025, and it was one of the most stunning walks we’ve ever done in New Zealand! The trail is well-marked, flat and accessible, making it perfect for all ages. Along the way, we crossed three beautiful suspension bridges, each offering unique perspectives of the surrounding mountains and rivers. The scenery is constantly changing, from braided glacial rivers and tussock-filled valleys to snow-capped peaks of Aoraki / Mount Cook. The highlight of the walk is Hooker Lake itself, with its turquoise waters and icebergs floating gently on the surface. The view of Mount Cook reflecting on the lake was breathtaking — truly a picture-perfect moment. Even though it was early spring, the air was crisp and refreshing, and there were still patches of snow that added to the dramatic landscape. We spent time at the lake, taking photos and enjoying the peacefulness of the area. The trail is about 10 km return but it feels easy thanks to the well-maintained path and gentle terrain. Hooker Valley Track is a must-do for anyone visiting Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park. It’s accessible, scenic and offers some of the best alpine views in New Zealand. Highly recommended for nature lovers and photographers alike!

Hooker Valley Track – Absolutely Breathtaking! We were blessed with great weather — clear skies but a bit chilly, which made the walk refreshing! Only the first bridge was open during our visit, so it was a shorter trail (about 15 minutes each way, 30 minutes total), but still totally worth it. The view was absolutely breathtaking — snow-capped peaks, crystal-clear water, and that stunning Mt Cook backdrop. Even with the limited access, it’s a must-visit spot for anyone heading to the area. ❄️✨

Good place to trek. Exceeded my expectations. It was a lovely sunny day when I went and I had a good enjoyable exercise day. 2 of the bridges were still closed but it's still worth going. Not difficult to walk. I saw people with wheelchairs along the way. Highly recommended.

Hike was done in early Oct , 2nd swing bridge is closed so we didnt find the terrain too difficult. Very scenic. Great weather on the day we hiked so all was good. Highly recommended.

Stunning scenarios and views. Would reccomend to go on a hike here. We came during spring, the weather was good, there wasn't much of a crowd and the air was fresh and clean. The hiking trails are decent, safe, and can be easily spotted so its really hard to get loss.

This world-famous track is all over social media on a blue-sky day, but honestly, it’s just as stunning when the weather turns moody — cloudy or light rain gives the whole valley a dramatic, almost mystical vibe. Of course, if it’s pouring down or snowing heavily, it’s better to stay away for safety reasons. And on a foggy day, visibility gets so low that walking into the valley kind of defeats the purpose. The track itself is medium-level at most. With some basic gear you can easily finish it. Still, whether it’s summer or winter, make sure you bring proper layers and rain protection — the weather in the valley isn’t exactly four-seasons-in-one-day, but it can be as unpredictable as someone in love. The swing bridges, the glacier lake and the Hooker River are absolute highlights — not that you can miss them anyway. If you’re lucky, you might catch a full view of Aoraki / Mt Cook, but most of the time the summit hides behind the clouds. And if you ever get to witness the golden glow on the peak at sunrise or sunset, that’s pure magic — a real blessing. Trust me, unless the track is closed or visibility is dangerously low, spending around four hours here is worth it at any time.

it was a bit crowded when we visited in the beginning of march, but we were lucky to get a parking slot 😅 the way leads you through the stunning scenery of the mountains along the amazing glacier river until the lake - no steep part, it goes up and down in a really easy way and is mostly flat... also some boardwalk parts and three swing bridges to cross the river 😍🥰 definitely a must-do👍🏻✨️

Been planning this visit for 2 years now. Finally got the chance to go but unfortunately the Hooker Valley Track has been closed from the first bridge onwards. It is set to open Autumn 2026. So hopefully we make it for that next year. Otherwise, everything was so stunning. Seeing Mt.Cook right in front of me made me feel some sort of emotion- i cannot describe . I will definitely be going again in the winter.

If you are in New Zealand and you didn’t visit Mount Aoraki then it is a bog miss, not fulfilled of your trip. It is a mind blowing view from any place, the road trip is awesome and refreshing journey. The picture you will be taken will not present how beautiful the serenity is. Just be there, spend some time, be quiet, make your own way, stop somewhere and breathe.

Wonderful, soring mountains, glacier and native bush walks. Can be busy, but tracks are well built for the numbers. Take your time to soak or all in. DOC information centre worth a visit for informative display.

The Aoraki/Mt Cook NP Visitors Center is one of the best I have ever explored. I have a particular interest in exploration, trekking, and history of those activities. If you do too, it is well worth an hour or so of your time. Mt Cook has been a proving ground for great mountaineers and the center documents many of those who passed through. The presentations on rescues was fascinating too. It was also the first I've seen that gives props to the first women explorers. First females, essentially climbing in dresses, had great stories.

This tourist center is worth a visit for everyone. It showcases the history, development and construction process of Mt. Cook, as well as the protection of the mountain's environment and wildlife.

While we were watching the movie (which is very interesting!), we essentially got kicked out of the building at 11:30AM by the tenant, because it’s here lunch hour!!!! So my understanding is that no matter how many people are in there (we must have been about 20 or more, the parking is full), she emptied the building so she can have here lunch. I’m fine with people taking a break, don’t get me wrong, but isn’t there a better way to treat visitors who drove hours to get there? This is an internationally famous area, with loads of visitors year round! While the video explains how proud the Kiwis are about Aoraki Mount Cook, a Kiwi kicked if out of the visitor center! Now, this being said, if you can get in when it’s open, it’s beautiful in there, great book shop and exhibitions. But here we are in the car, watching groups after groups get turned around at the door!!

Free visitor center with loads of information on Mount Cook and Tasman Glacier. We were planning on visiting the famed Hooker Valley trail but its closed again. This visitor center will keep you occupied for at least 15 mins if you are keen on history and geography. Highly recommend!

Lake Pukaki is perfectly positioned at the foot of Southern Alps. The scenery around will blow your mind away. We might have seen such pictures as the backdrop of calendars during my childhood. But never imagined such a beautiful place. The area is famous for Salmon & salmon farms too. This aquamarine colour due to the glacial flour will leave you mesmerized.

Pale water holds the mountain's gaze, A sheet of ice, in sunlit haze. The Southern Alps, in jagged crown, Reflect their snow on water down. The air is thin, the light is gold, A silence ancient, grand, and old. Upon the shore, the tussocks sigh, Beneath a vast and endless sky. Lake Pukaki, a turquoise gleam, The color of a waking dream. It drinks the melt from Tasman's feet, A glacial, breathtaking retreat.

Lake located on the road to Mt Aorangi, lake has some spectacular views and lookouts galore. Can see clear around the valley on a nice day.

It’s so beautiful here! You also can see Mount Cook in the distance.

Our coach passed beautiful Lake Pukaki on the way to Mount Cook, which became visible from quite a distance. The entire lake is an almost perfect and consistent aquamarine, from the glacial runoff silt.

Definitely worth a couple of visits! You can get even closer to the mountains when you drive towards Mount Cook. The lake is an endless body of turquoise blue. There is plenty of parking available. Toilet facilities are not the best though.

Beautiful place to have look on Mount Cook. It gives beautiful look with several other mountains. It's very big and spread in large area till Mount cook.. Drive along with this lake gives you a very sceneric beauty. Even if you wanna dark star view. Than it's a best place to see. By going more along with lake (not on main road) side road. You can get good spot which will give a broad view of sky and definitely you will get too many stars and planets (satellites too if you lucky enough).

Really loved this boat ride/tour. Good boats, seemed pretty new. Terrific guide/boat driver he was very good really, gave us heaps of info and drove the boat well. Sorry I have forgotten his name I think he was American. Saw lots of ice bergs in the lake and even touched them. Definitely do this if you go to Mt Cook

Unforgettable Adventure on Ice! The Glacier Explorer tour was an incredible experience! Cruising among icebergs on the Tasman Lake, right next to the glacier face, was surreal. The guides were knowledgeable and friendly, making it fun and educational. A once-in-a-lifetime chance to get up close to a glacier – absolutely worth it!

Well organised and significant care factor throughout, we initially had to cancel due to poor weather and were put in a wait list, they had a cancellation on a following day and we were called straight away. Ben was an excellent guide and shared lots of interesting facts and made the tour. Icebergs and scenery were amazing, highly recommend to anyone visiting for a unique experience.

Worth a visit Need to hike before reaching the boarding point and hike back after that Need to leave the bags then wear safety vest. Safety briefing on the boat. Informative and educational tour about the glaciers. Get to go up close and also taste the glaciers Our guide was awesome, he would rotate the boat to ensure everyone had good views, also helped us to take photos Windy and cooling when boat is speeding.

Ben our guide was top notch. Super knowledgeable and funny. Didn’t want the experience to end. 5 stars! - from your Scotland crew 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Great experience it's a must do if your in the area, bit of a hike from the car park to the boats.

They cancelled our tour 15 minutes before the scheduled start so driving 2.5 hours here was unfortunate. Understand that the weather is not in their control but still frustrating. Refund want a issue but a bit 'oh well' otherwise. Yes, spectacular views abound, so the place is probably worth a visit regardless.

The museum is dedicated to Sir Edmund Hillary while he was in Aoraki training in preparation for his ascent on Everest. It also has the 1st glacier landing plane located there. Awesome 👌

This is attached to the hermitage hotel it has a large shop selling hiking gear but quite expensive it has very few general items. The cafe on the first floor is welcome after the hiking but can get very crowded when the tours return. There is a small museum

My wife is really interested in Sir Edmund Hillary and we were really interested in visiting the museum. Don't bother. Most of the museum talks above the alpine centre and area itself. Yes, I find that somewhat interesting, but paying $25 per adult I thought I'd get more. Get a free month on Netflix and watch some documentaries instead.

Save yourself $25 and just don't bother with this. Vaguely interesting yes but at the end of the day it is poorly presented and isn't much more than a small collection of books and photos. So much more could be done to present the story of this man in an amazing way. Until then save yourself the money

We were only visitors for a short stay. Haven't made good use of this centre. You can get information here and can also buy supplies for the climbing the snow mountains. There' s also a museum and movie to watch. It's a pity that we didn't have time to enjoy all these. Hope I can stay a few days here next time when I came.

A great perspective o the history of the nz Alps and sir Edmund Hilary.

Tourist trap. You spend there 20 minutes for $25. Mount Cook National Park visitor centre nearby is much better and free.

This track is very easy and quick if you are looking for something to do. The views are good and similar to Hooker Valley Track from the same starting point. The trail is well maintained.

A reasonably easy trek up this track to view the glaciers at the spectacular Kea point. The views at the end are worth it, and so is the beautiful walk up to this point. I could do it with a child on my back. Highly recommended.

Easy and short hike with fantastic views. If hooker valley is too long and crowded for your taste, kea point is a good alternative, although Hooked Valley is still quite a bit better in my opinion, if it wasn’t for the sea of tourists, but hey, I’m one of them so can’t complain 🤷🏻‍♀️ we brought pizza from the store Edmund Hillary cafe at the hermitage, although the pizza was cold when we arrived, it was still delicious after a hike 😂👍

easy hike with good scenery throughout. Mueller Lake is a bit underwhelming though. should be the easiest walk in the Mt Cook area - easier than Tasman Glvier viewpoint.

A spectacular view at the end is reached by an interesting walk wirh many stunning vistas. Recommend. Need good footwear as the taxkbis very uneven and rocky in many places.

Kea point look out track is pretty easy track. About 30minutes of walk to reach the kea point from the parking area. Not much of a climb, even old people were completing the stretch. Kea point overlooks the Meuller lake, you can also see the Mt Sefton, Mt Cook from here. If you want to choose between Hooker valley track and Kea track and if you have 3hrs to spare - then go for Hooker valley ..

Very lovely easy walk to a nice view of the Mountains! Took us about 50 mins return at a slow pace!

Booked thr GYG. Thanks helicopter line for the awesome experience on the Heli Hike on 24th Sept 11am (really thankful for the good weather too). We had 2 guides with us and they were both very informative and caring. Appreciate the smooth heli ride too.

Kia ora, Thanks for your arrangement that I DO enjoyed the activity. I never see such magnificent views , that is more than awesome. Emma from Alpine Guides is really a thoughtful and professional instructor,Scott and Andy are also with kindness to inspire me up, that did release me from nervous mode. I hope we can meet up again. Sincerely, Helen

Honestly, the experience itself was decent, but the reason I’m rating three stars is I can’t help but feel like this was a bit of a tourist trap… and I left feeling slightly cheated. For about $1000 per person you get taken on a very short helicopter ride to do a 100m “hike” on Tasman Glacier. The hike isn’t really a hike, more a very short walk to two “caves” in the glacier. One of the caves was completely man made with pickaxes - which isn’t what this company advertises. The ice caves themselves look NOTHING like they do in the photos on the website - in reality they are very small and barely enough for one person. They’re not even really “caves” at all, more like just small holes in the ice that the guides carve out seats in If this experience were half the price it was I would still say it was overpriced. You are not going to get the grand meters tall ice walls they show you in the brochure Our guides on the other hand were great, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic - which is the reason I did not give two stars. If you’re debating doing this trip because of the high price, I’d say skip it and save your money - there’s so much other great stuff to spend your money on in the South Island Also, guys, for $1000 it would be nice if you supplied boots in all sizes - I had to wear boots that were nearly two sizes too big. What are we doing here?

Simply amazing glacial walk experience with the best guide one would ever wish for - Narly. He seems to be a bit of a local legend having been up Mt Cook 45 times and even Everest! Extremely insightful experience which shows the real dynamic nature of glaciers.

Had a great flight of 55minutes. Sam was a very friendly pilot, he could tell us a lot about what we were seeing and the entire flight went super smooth. There was almost no wind so he joked it was quite easy to give us this wonderful flight but still I think he was very experienced and I felt absolutely safe.

Our guide, Carey, was amazing and watches over our safety really closely. He’s very engaging and made all of our comfortable from the beginning. High recommend this tour to view the tasman glacier as you’ll be in good hands.

Went helihiking with Brian. Great hike, easy and interesting. Brian really knows his stuff. Made the walk back to Glenntanner an incredible experience.

Honestly, should be a 4.5 star Sashimi is fresh and neatly packed with chopsticks and soy sauce and wasabi. Smoked salmon tastes good when eaten with sandwich. The view is great, but can be hot in the afternoon. Small shop but serves it's purpose well as a pit stop. Many tourists, toilet is clean.

Like many other tourists, we visited this place. Sashimi was nice and fresh. It seems prices are always increasing. 100gm for $15. 500gm large was $53. I also tried the hot smoked salmon to try. Prices are better than High Country Salmon if you want to only try sashimi only.

When you come to Mount Cook, you must try the salmon sashimi here. This shop is more suitable for takeaway or a simple meal. There’s only one table inside, but there are several outdoor tables where you can enjoy delicious food by the riverside while admiring the scenery and the distant Mount Cook.

The salmon was super delicious and incredibly crunchy, with a perfectly balanced taste. We came back twice! The sashimi is genuinely unbeatable. It was quite windy to sit outside, and finding an empty spot inside this small shop was a challenge. With better weather, the experience would be completely perfect.

Salmon that melts in your mouth like butter… and the most stunning views of Mount Cook! You’ll definitely want to make a stop here. Located next to the i-site. Plenty of parking for all vehicle types, and clean public toilets. This is a great place for a leisurely picnic, coffee or a quick snack on the banks of Lake Pukaki. There are picnic tables along the water front, and a picture perfect spot for noteworthy Instagram posts. The Salmon Shop has the cleanest sashimi I’ve ever tasted. So deliciously melt-in-your-mouth. It was the best I’ve ever had. They have small containers with about 10 to 12 pieces for $15, served with wasabi and soy. Their smoked salmon dip is $15 each or 20% off if you buy two (which we did). This was a beautiful treat we enjoyed later at sunset paired with a lovely crisp glass of Pinot Gris. They also sold fresh caviar and wasabi, different cuts of salmon, crackers and some great condiments that pair beautifully. You could also purchase cold drinks, filter coffee, tea, and a yummy hot “lemon honey and ginger” drink (which was so good we came back for seconds). This was great for soothing my partner’s sore throat he’d been struggling with. A small section of the shop had upmarket tourist souvenirs which were far better than many of the junky things you might find at the usual tourist shop. Whether you’re a salmon lover or not I definitely recommend a stop here. The view alone is worth Gold, and I’m sure you’ll be a sashimi convert once you’ve tried this most delicious treat!

Fresh salmon and with the best view to eat at. I would recommend if you are in the area. People had also brought their own noodles to eat with salmon. Which I thought was a great idea

Fresh salmon sashimi that are cut too small. Very nice view around the place (scenery is not part of the shop, is free). Quite expensive, $15 for 100g (1 small box). Place is often crowded but they serve very fast.

Since so many good reviews we make a special trip here to try. We have ordered the fresh salmon, some sushi's to try it. Salmon meat tasted good the the cut is thicker comparing to other restaurants. We tried the chicken sushi, personally find it is not that great. The indoor sitting area is not too big so could sit outside especially in warm day.

An absolute must visit! I am glad I came here. There is a sashimi and smoked salmon section with other goods like tea pots, souvenirs and then there is a cafe which overlooks the salmon farm. They have sashimi that tastes buttery and rich and smoked salmon with various flavours (really liked it). Inside the cafe they also serve sushi. If you go outside on the deck there are pellets that you can feed the young salmon. Overall, very pleasant experience. Staff were friendly and helpful. Thank you to the young lady in the fish shop and deli, you were helpful and also thank you to the tall young guy in the cafe.

Popped here for dinner whilst staying in twizel! There is a mix of preprepared food and menu items - seating is all self service! The food was very tasty we got a few things to share! The salmon was all very tasty! Only issue we had was my dad wanted a well done steak which they only cook their steak to be medium rare.

Had dinner at High Country Salmon near Twizel — great experience overall! The salmon sashimi was fresh, tender, and full of flavour. The chowder was a little on the salty side, but the ingredients tasted very fresh. The fries were perfectly cooked — crispy on the outside and fluffy inside. A nice spot to enjoy good salmon dishes with a lovely atmosphere by the water.

Unfortunately, this restaurant did not meet my expectations. While the salmon was fresh, the sushi itself was cold and tasted as though it had been pre-prepared. I ordered the cooked salmon sushi and the pork belly, but neither dish was enjoyable. The view is decent, but overall, the experience did not justify the visit. I do not plan on returning.

It is different that you order and pay for your food. You then find your own seats and they deliver you with the food. We ordered platter for two. Nice presentation but if you are there for the salmon, order salmon sushi or sashimi only which we should have done. We stayed at Mount Cook Hermitage and this Salmon restaurant would be the closest at 60 km away. Also it is 3km from Twizel, a small village from Mount Cook that you can get reasonable priced food.

Came after the hype and the place was busy with people when we got there. We had to line up for quite long for food orders. When it was our turn the server told us that their kitchen was closed as they had too many orders to make and couldn’t make new orders anymore. We were very disappointed of course as we came all the way to try their salmon and all we could get was anything ready at the counter. We got some sashimi and sushi for sharing. Honestly they tasted average though salmon was fresh. They had a pond behind the restaurant where you could feed the fishes in it. We quickly finished our lunch as the place was busy and people were waiting for seats. We then went over to the shop next to the restaurant to have a look at what they sell.