1 Fiordland National Park
2 Tongariro National Park
3 Te Papa Tongarewa
4 Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve
5 Abel Tasman National Park
6 Cape Reinga
7 Queenstown's Skyline Gondola
8 TranzAlpine Express
9 Mount Cook National Park
10 Waitomo Caves
New Zealand's highest peak, Mount Cook, forms the centerpiece of this beautiful alpine area in the heart of the South Island.
Much of the South Island is mountainous and the Southern Alps mountain range forms a backbone for most of the island's length. Of some 220 named peaks over 2,300m in New Zealand, the highest, at 3,754m, commemorates the gifted English navigator who first landed in New Zealand in 1769. It was known to the Maoris as Aoraki, after a mythical god. Nearby, Mount Tasman is the second-highest peak, at 3,498m.
Mount Cook lies in the 70,000-hectare Mount Cook National Park, adjacent to the Westland National Park. These two parks, together with Mount Aspiring and Fiordland national parks, have been incorporated into a World Heritage area. Most of the alpine terrain of Mount Cook National Park is favored by trekkers and climbers. These mountains - two dozen of them exceeding 3,000m - offer a truly spectacular panorama of peaks, glaciers, and rivers from a number of tracks of varying difficulty. Full information is available from the park's visitor center. Flights in ski-equipped light aircraft are a popular option, taking in views of Mount Cook and the Alps, and including a landing on the snowfield of the Tasman Glacier. At 28km, it is the longest glacier in the world's temperate zones. Most coach tours include Mount Cook village (also known as The Hermitage) on the itinerary, either looping in as a day trip, or spending a night or two.Address: At the end of SH80, 333 km west of Christchurch
Phone: 03 435 1818
Hours: Daily 8-6 (Mount Cook visitor information)
Restaurant: Dining facilities at Mount Cook hotels (Moderately priced)
Bus: Buses from Christchurch and Queenstown
Air: Flights from Christchurch and Queenstown
Accessible: Few paths suitable
Admission: Free access
| COUNTRY |
| New Zealand
|
| Viewing |
| Top Ten |
| What To See |
| Where To ... |
| Practical Matters |
| REGION |
| CITIES |
| MAPS |
| World |
| Europe |
| TRAVEL BOOK |
| Book Info |
| Order Online |
 |