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 New
Zealand > Canterbury >
Aoraki - Mount Cook
Within
the Southern Alps of new Zealand, Aoraki,
or Mount Cook at over 12,000 feet, is the highest New
Zealand mountain and within the surrounding Aoraki National Park,
there are over 140 mountains exceeding a height of 2000 metres.
The mountain heights are strictly
for experienced climbers and even then, there are frequent rescues
and 2- 5 people dying every year from accidents or misadventure. So
unless you are an experienced mountaineer, keep to the marked
trails. As you see from the photo of Mt cook (above right & Mt Cook
is the right peak) the huge cornices waiting to fall and sweep away
anything in the path.
The Mt Cook National Park has an
estimated average of 250,000 visitors per year, though as the park covers
an area of approximately 70,011 hectares (or 270
square miles) so you are unlikely to feel crowded.
 The
Tasman Glacier is the longest glacier in the National Park, at 27 km
(17 miles) long. Just a 15 minute walk from the car park will take
you to the point (right) where this photo was taken, (from the top
of terminal moraine), there are fantastic views of the
glacier, the glacier lake with it's floating icebergs, as well as Mt
Cook and surrounding peaks.
Activities
Include:
-
Tramping
For trampers, the Park has 18 huts available for
accommodation. For more experienced trampers, but not yet
climbers, the three most popular alpine routes are Mueller Hut,
Ball Hut, the Copland Pass to Welcome Flat and it's hot thermal
pools.
-
Day Walks
 Even
for the day visitor, the Tasman glacier view, glacier lake
outfall and the Blue Lakes can all be seen in about 2 hours.
From the village, the Kea point walk takes you almost to the
sheer foot of Mt Sefton, (pictured right - Mt Cook Village is
hidden in this photo.) where you also see the terminus of the
Mueller and Hooker glaciers and there are other trails to
explore.
-
Nature
study
From stepping out from your car, you will see
many unusual alpine plants.
-
Glacier
skiing in the winter
-
Fishing in
the summer
-
Mountaineering
-
A local
bus tours hourly during the day.
-
Play
tennis
-
Hunting by permit.
 There
are hundreds of unique native plants and some 40 bird species
including the intelligent and colourful Kea (right) which will steal
your picnic and vandalise your possessions if you leave them
unattended.
The park has approximately 4000mm
of rain which falls on average for 149 days every year with snow
around the village for an average of 21 days every year.
Guided
Trips
-
Alpine
Guides operate a guided day
walks within the National Park daily from
November to March. They also run courses
covering essential mountaineering
skills with guided ascents of local
peaks during the summer season.
-
Kayaking
-
Air
Safari's and scenic flights which can land
high up on the glacier where the engines are
switched off so that you can experience the
quiet solitude of the alpine vastness.
-
The
Helicopter Line offers flights so you can
discover that the beauty of the Mount Cook
National Park, glaciers and lakes which seen
from above will create a lifetime memory.
-
Customized
heli-hiking adventures to discover unique
aspects of the parks flora and fauna.
-
Air
services also operate from Tekapo and Twizel.
 Mount Cook
Village:
Is located near to the base of Mount Cook has
quality accommodation at the
Hermitage Hotel
& Motels, the YHA hostel or camping. The
park information centre has up to date information on all trails and
activities and there are a couple cafes.
Getting
There:
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