Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park is a national park dominated by New Zealand's two highest mountains, Aoraki / Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. Several other high peaks of the South Island's Southern Alps are nearby. The park is part of the Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage site.

Understand


Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park was established in 1953 and today covers 707 square kilometres. The park is home to 22 of New Zealand's 23 named peaks over 3,000 metres high (Mount Aspiring / Tititea is the 23rd).

The park is renowned for its natural environment. "Take only pictures and leave only footprints" is a good rule to follow.

Get in
Situated in the centre of the Southern Alps, Aoraki / Mt Cook Village is near the popular tourist spots of Lake Tekapo, Omarama, Twizel (roughly about 1–1.5 hours) and is a 3 or 4 hour drive from Queenstown and Christchurch. From Twizel there is an all-weather sealed road to.

is down the road from the village. You can fly from Queenstown with Glenorchy Air.

Fees and permits
Like most New Zealand national parks, there is no fee to enter Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park. This includes parking at the base of the Hooker Valley/Kea Point Track and at Mount Cook Village.

Get around
Walking is a popular way to get around the park. There are a number of formed tracks and recognised walking routes.

For those who want to see or ski the mountains, there are light aircraft and helicopters that can get you to places in minutes that would otherwise take hours or days of walking.

See
These are high mountains, so close up that it will put a crick in the back of your neck.



Do
Aoraki / Mount Cook is the tallest mountain in New Zealand. There are a number of glaciers, including the Tasman Glacier, New Zealand’s longest.

Skiing options include ski touring based at high alpine huts, day skiing on the Tasman Glacier and heliskiing in the Ben Ohau and Liebig Ranges.

The glacier can also be experienced on the terminal lakes, with icebergs, on a boat or kayak tour.

Mountaineering options range from introductory climbing courses to guided ascents of Mount Cook. Check what skill level is needed for the latter tours or for independent mountaineering.

For a bird’s eye view, take a flight over the Southern Alps to the West Coast. Some planes will even land you on top of the Tasman Glacier.




 * Alpineguides and Alpinerecreation are among the companies arranging tours.
 * Air Safaris provides flightseeing tours flying from both Glentanner Park and Lake Tekapo. The Grand Traverse flight from here offers an aerial sightseeing tour of all the major mountains and glaciers in both the Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park and the Westland National Park.

There are climbing courses and stargazing tours available also at Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre (see above).

Walking and tramping
Aoraki / Mount Cook Village is surrounded by beautiful nature walks for all abilities. For options refer to Department of Conservation website.

For tramping, options include an excursion to Mueller Hut (refer to Department of Conservation website above) and the Ball Pass Trek. For the Ball Pass crossing you need mountaineering experience, crampons and ice-axe, or go with a guide. For the guided option see Alpinerecreation or call.

One of the most popular tracks is the Hooker Valley Track, starting from the White Horse Hill Campground area 5 km north to Hooker Lake (directly facing Mt Cook). The track also features three swing bridges and excellent views of Lake Müller along the way. Allow 3 hours including return.

Drink

 * The Hermitage in Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre/Hermitage Hotel.

Sleep
There are huts in the mountains, be prepared to climb to reach them.

Camping out is permitted in some parts of the park, though you may need to dig a snow cave.



Stay safe
Travelling in this mountain area requires preparation and some experience of mountain country.

Even in summer, day-walkers should carry warm clothing and some high-energy food, as the weather in this area can change rapidly.

Tramping and climbing parties should be prepared to stay overnight in the open in an emergency. Intention plans should be lodged with the park rangers. Weather conditions may delay search and rescue efforts, so parties should be self-sufficient and competent in all aspects of mountaineering. Local advice and guidance should be sought on any proposed activities.

Motorists should keep to the paved roads and not venture onto unsealed roads or 4-wheel-drive tracks unless they are sure of their driving abilities and the suitability of their vehicle for the terrain and road surface. Some (notional) roads in this area (most notably Balls Hut Rd) are so dangerous they are excluded from vehicle insurance policies. In winter, chains should be carried and used when roads are covered in snow.