Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park Travel Guide

Trek Zone

National park

Facts and practical information

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, located in the Canterbury region of New Zealand, is a true paradise for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. With its breathtaking landscapes, rugged mountains, and pristine alpine beauty, this national park is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the best of what New Zealand has to offer.

The centerpiece of the park is, of course, Aoraki / Mount Cook itself. Standing at an impressive height of 3,724 meters (12,218 feet), it is the highest peak in New Zealand and a sight to behold. The mountain is surrounded by a stunning alpine landscape, with glaciers, lakes, and rivers that reflect the majestic beauty of the surrounding peaks.

One of the most popular activities in the park is hiking. With a range of trails catering to all levels of fitness and experience, visitors can explore the park's diverse ecosystems and witness its unique flora and fauna up close. The Hooker Valley Track is a favorite among visitors, offering stunning views of the Southern Alps, as well as the opportunity to see the Mueller Glacier and the iconic Hooker Lake.

For the more adventurous, mountaineering and climbing are also popular activities in the park. Experienced climbers can challenge themselves with ascents of Aoraki / Mount Cook itself or other nearby peaks, while those looking for a less strenuous adventure can try their hand at ice climbing on the park's many glaciers.

In addition to its natural beauty, Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park also offers a range of facilities and amenities for visitors. There are several accommodation options available, from luxury lodges to budget-friendly campsites, ensuring that there is something to suit every traveler's needs. The park also has a visitor center, where visitors can learn more about the park's history, geology, and wildlife.

Alternative names: Area: 272.96 mi²Elevation: 7067 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 43°36'8"S, 170°17'6"E

Location

CanterburyNew Zealand

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Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park Top Attractions

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park Attractions - What to See and Explore

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Aoraki / Mount Cook, Mount Ollivier, Southern Alps, Blue Lake. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

Towering mountain with trekking routes
Aoraki / Mount Cook
Aoraki / Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. Its height, as of 2014, is listed as 3,724 metres. It sits in the Southern Alps, the mountain range that runs the length of the South Island.
Natural attraction • Mountain
Mount Ollivier
Mount Ollivier is a 1,933 m mountain in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. It is a peak in the Sealy Range, about 2.5 km west of Mount Cook Village. The peak is named after mountaineer Arthur Ollivier, who died in 1897. Mount Ollivier was Sir Edmund Hillary's first major climb, in 1939.
Natural attraction • Protected area
Southern Alps
The Southern Alps are a mountain range extending along much of the length of New Zealand's South Island, reaching its greatest elevations near the range's western side.

Natural attraction • Lake
Blue Lake
Blue Lake is a small lake at the foot of the Tasman Glacier in inland Canterbury, in the central South Island of New Zealand. Its outflow is the Tasman River, part of the Waitaki River system.
Natural attraction • Lake
Sealy Tarns
Sealy Tarns is a small flat area with two small tarns halfway up the northern slopes of the Sealy Range, New Zealand. It is accessible from the Hooker Valley and Mount Cook Village via a tramping track maintained by the Department of Conservation.
Natural attraction • Lake
Hooker Lake
Hooker Lake is a proglacial lake that started to form in the late 1970s by the recent retreat of the Hooker Glacier. It is in the Hooker Valley, in the Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park in New Zealand's South Island, just south of Aoraki / Mount Cook.
Natural attraction • Mountain
Mount Sefton
Mount Sefton is a mountain in the Aroarokaehe Range of the Southern Alps of New Zealand, just 12 kilometres south of Aoraki / Mount Cook. To the south lies Mount Brunner, and to the north The Footstool, both more than 400 metres shorter.
Natural attraction • Lake
Tasman Lake
Tasman Lake is a proglacial lake formed by the recent retreat of the Tasman Glacier in New Zealand's South Island. In the early 1970s, there were several small meltwater ponds on the Tasman Glacier. By 1990, these ponds had merged into Tasman Lake.
Natural attraction • Mountain
Mount Vancouver
Mount Vancouver is a peak in the Southern Alps. At 3,309 metres it is New Zealand's fourth highest named summit. It is an elevation on the ridge leading north from Aoraki / Mount Cook, between Mount Dampier and the Clarke Saddle.
Natural attraction • Mountain
Malte Brun Mountain
Malte Brun is the highest peak in the Malte Brun Range, which lies between the Tasman and Murchison Glaciers within New Zealand's Southern Alps.
Natural attraction • Natural feature
Mueller Glacier
The Mueller Glacier is a 13-kilometre long glacier flowing through Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park in the South Island of New Zealand.
Natural attraction • Mountain
Mount Hicks
Mount Hicks is a mountain in the Southern Alps in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park on the South Island of New Zealand. The mountain is 3,216 metres high. It is above the Hooker Glacier, in the vicinity of Aoraki / Mount Cook. The mountain was first ascended in 1906. The starting point for ascents is the Empress hut.
Natural feature
Haupapa / Tasman Glacier
Haupapa / Tasman Glacier is the largest glacier in New Zealand, and one of several large glaciers which flow south and east towards the Mackenzie Basin from the Southern Alps in New Zealand's South Island.
Natural attraction • Mountain
Dixon Peak
Dixon Peak, previously known as Mount Dixon, is the 23rd highest peak in New Zealand, rising to a height of 3,004 metres. It is located in the Southern Alps of the South Island in the Mackenzie District, within Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, and only a short distance from its more illustrious neighbour Aoraki / Mount Cook.
Massive glacier with walks and boat trips
Tasman Glacier
Haupapa / Tasman Glacier is the largest glacier in New Zealand, and one of several large glaciers which flow south and east towards the Mackenzie Basin from the Southern Alps in New Zealand's South Island.
Natural attraction • Natural feature
Hooker Glacier
Hooker Glacier is one of several glaciers close to the slopes of Aoraki / Mount Cook in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. It is not as large as its neighbour, the Tasman Glacier, measuring 11 kilometres in length.
Natural attraction • Mountain
La Perouse
La Perouse, originally called Mount Stokes, is a mountain in New Zealand's Southern Alps, rising to a height of 3,078 metres.
Natural attraction • Natural feature
Murchison Glacier
The Murchison Glacier is an 18-kilometre long glacier flowing through Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park in the South Island of New Zealand.

Day trips

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Church of the Good Shepherd (Lake Tekapo), Lake Matheson (Fox Glacier), West Coast Wildlife Centre (Franz Josef).

29 milesS
View point, Church
Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo
Nestled on the shores of the turquoise-hued Lake Tekapo, amidst the rugged beauty of New Zealand's South Island, stands the Church of the Good Shepherd. This quaint stone church is not only a place of worship but has become an iconic landmark and a must-visit for...
20 milesNW
Nature, Natural attraction, Lake
Lake Matheson, Fox Glacier
Nestled amid the rugged beauty of New Zealand's South Island, Lake Matheson is a pristine glacial lake located near the town of Fox Glacier. Known for its stunning reflective waters, this natural wonder offers visitors a mirror-like view of the country's highest peaks...
16 milesN
Nature and wildlife, Park, Zoo
West Coast Wildlife Centre, Franz Josef
Nestled in the heart of the rugged West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, the West Coast Wildlife Centre stands as a beacon of conservation and education in the quaint town of Franz Josef. This unique facility is dedicated to the protection and study of some of New...
28 milesS
Scenic walking areas, Observation decks and towers, Observatories and planetariums
Mount John University Observatory, Lake Tekapo
University of Canterbury Mount John Observatory, previously known as Mt John University Observatory, is New Zealand's premier astronomical research observatory.
33 milesE
Winter sport, Ski area
Mount Potts
Mount Potts, situated in the heart of New Zealand's South Island, is a lesser-known gem among the country's ski areas. This remote and rugged alpine environment offers a unique skiing experience, far from the crowded commercial resorts.