Mt Cook National Park, Christchurch

City Guide

Activities

Swimming with Dolphins

Maps

Time

<< Back to Christchurch Attractions

View of Mt Cook across Lake Pukaki

Mt Cook National Park

Mt Cook National Park is known for its exquisite alpine beauty and is home to the highest mountain in New Zealand, Mt Cook. Its Maori name, 'Aoraki' means 'cloud piercer' and at 12,016ft (3,755m) it towers above the surrounding snow-covered peaks in the park. A third of the park is covered in permanent ice and snow and the mighty Tasman Glacier is the longest glacier outside of the polar regions. Glacial melt gives the lakes their beautiful milky, turquoise colour and there are many walks in the area to take in the dramatic beauty. Mt Cook has always been the focus of climbing and mountaineering, most notably the expeditions of Sir Edmund Hillary, who went on to be the first man to reach the summit of the world's highest mountain, Mt Everest.

E-mail: mtcookvc@doc.govt.nz
Website: www.mtcook.org.nz
Telephone: Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre: (0)3 435 1186
Transport: The Cook Connection offers daily return options to Mt Cook from a variety of different locations. There are other tour operators working within the park and its surrounds

Intrepid Travel is one of the world's leading suppliers of small group adventures focused on getting off the beaten track and having real life experiences in New Zealand.

Click Here

iExplore designs made-to-order, privately-guided adventure tours to New Zealand and over 200 other world wonders. Come Back Different!