Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand

As winter bites in the northern hemisphere, head to South Island’s majestic mountains as the park celebrates its 60 year anniversary …

Essentials

Language: English

Time: GMT+12

Money: NZ dollar

Health: Excellent facilities. Beware changing weather and strong sun

Get orientated. Rising magnificently from deep within New Zealand’s Southern Alps, the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is located at the centre of the South Island’s humped glacial spine. Taking its name from 3,754m high Mount Cook (first ascended 120 years ago in 2014), the park contains 19 peaks over 3,000m, and covers a whopping 700 sq km. Around 40% is covered by glaciers, including New Zealand’s longest, the 27km-long, 3km-wide Tasman Glacier.

Getting there. The easiest way to get to the national park, which is located off State Highway 80, is to hire a car; it’s a four-hour drive west of Christchurch and a three-hour drive north of Queenstown.

Intercity Coachlines runs daily services from Christchurch and Queenstown to the park . Alternatively, catch a public bus to the towns of Twizel or Lake Tekapo; from there, Cook Connection runs shuttlebuses to and from Mt Cook (Oct-May).

The visit. The Aoraki/Mount Cook Visitor Centre in Mount Cook Village has exhibitions as well as information on all the walks and activities available within the park.

The mountains are the main draw, but are not for the inexperienced or ill-prepared – conditions can change suddenly. Climbers must fill out a climber’s intentions card at the visitor centre.

If you’ve no head for heights, but still want to enjoy the rugged landscape, follow one of the walking tracks around the visitor centre or choose a gentle forest trail; look out for the Mount Cook lily, the world’s largest buttercup.

If you feel like getting a better overview, take a scenic flight from Mount Cook airstrip; trips soar above the park and also land on glaciers.

Snow sports enthusiasts should visit June-October. Skiers and snowboarders of all abilities are catered for – there are four snowfields, as well as the chance to tackle routes down the Tasman Glacier.

A Mountain Legend. Aoraki/Mount Cook Is New Zealand’s highest mountain, and is sacred to the Ngal Tahu tribe. Legend has it that the mountain and its companion peaks were formed when a boy named Aoraki and his three brothers came down from the heavens to visit Papatuanuku (Earth Mother) in a canoe. The canoe flipped and the brothers climbed onto the overturned boat; eventually the wind turned them to stone. The canoe became South Island; Aoraki, the tallest brother, became Mount Cook; the rest became the Southern Alps.

Walks from Mount Cook Village. There are several good, well-signposted walking tracks in the vicinity of Mount Cook Village. They are suitable for people who do not have any climbing experience.

Kea Point and Governors Bush are short walks that focus on the park’s vegetation and birdlife. Longer walks include the Sealy Tarns, Hooker Valley and Red Tarns tracks. Although these tracks are well marked, the ground is rough in places and it is advisable to wear stout shoes or boots and to carry a walking stick. A warm sweater or Jacket is needed for places exposed to the wind, even during summer.

Brochures on the walks, with descriptions and walking times, are available at the visitor centre in the village.