Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, National park in South Island, New Zealand
The protected area covers 70,000 hectares of alpine terrain with 23 peaks above 3,000 meters and glaciers covering 40 percent of the land.
The first ascent of Mount Cook occurred on December 25, 1894, when New Zealand mountaineers Tom Fyfe, John Clarke, and George Graham reached the summit.
The mountain holds deep significance for Ngai Tahu people, who named it Aoraki after a young boy turned to stone according to Maori legends.
Mount Cook Village provides accommodation, guided tours, and access to numerous hiking trails including the Hooker Valley Track and Mueller Glacier walks.
The national park contains the Tasman Glacier, stretching 27 kilometers, making it the longest glacier in New Zealand with a terminal lake for boat tours.
Location: Canterbury Region
Location: Mackenzie District
Inception: 1953
Part of: Te Wahipounamu, Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve
Website: http://doc.govt.nz/templates/PlaceProfile.aspx?id=38406
GPS coordinates: -43.73330,170.10000
Latest update: May 13, 2025 04:55
New Zealand provides photographic subjects ranging from the Southern Alps to sand beaches on both coastlines. The landscape includes thermal springs in Rotorua, glaciers like Franz Josef and Tasman, and fjords in Fiordland. Mount Cook dominates the alpine region while the Coromandel Peninsula holds beaches including Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing traverses volcanic terrain and Mount Taranaki rises above Taranaki. Coastal formations like the Moeraki Boulders, Split Apple Rock and Nugget Point demonstrate geological variety. Natural waterfalls including Purakaunui Falls and Whangarei Falls sit among native forests. Cultural sites complement the natural geography. The Hobbiton Movie Set near Matamata displays the film location from the Tolkien adaptation. Larnach Castle near Dunedin represents colonial architecture. Te Puia and Wai-O-Tapu demonstrate geothermal activity with geysers and colored pools. Waitomo Caves contains glowworm caverns. Lake Tekapo offers clear night skies for stargazing. Viewpoints like Roy's Peak near Wanaka and Queenstown Hill sit above lake landscapes. Remote regions including Cape Reinga at the northern tip and Cape Palliser in the Wairarapa show different coastal environments. The Forgotten World Highway crosses historic mountain country on the North Island.
Aoraki / Mount Cook
15.8 km
Franz Josef Glacier
29.9 km
Fox Glacier
25.8 km
Haupapa / Tasman Glacier
15.3 km
Mount Ollivier
3 km
Mount Tasman
19.2 km
Hooker Glacier
8 km
Mount Vancouver
16.8 km
Mount Sefton
7.3 km
Mueller Glacier
6.6 km
Malte-Brun
25.2 km
La Perouse
14.7 km
Chancellor Hut
24.8 km
Murchison Glacier
34 km
Silberhorn
18.6 km
Mount Hicks / Saint Davids Dome
16.4 km
The Minarets
28.6 km
Mount Haast
20.4 km
Agassiz Glacier
27 km
Lendenfeld Peak
20.1 km
Douglas Glacier
10 km
Torres Peak
19.7 km
Dixon Peak
20 km
Fox Glacier Hotel
30.7 km
Mount D'Archiac
49 km
Hochstetter Glacier
17.4 km
Douglas Memorial Church
30.7 km
Huddleston Glacier
5.7 kmReviews
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