Things to do in  Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu)

Carving its way through the Southern Alps, the Tasman Glacier (Haupapa) is the largest glacier in New Zealand and a highlight of Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. It’s also stunning—pristine white snow and ice at the glacier’s peak give way to craggy rocks and debris at the bottom, where glacier melt meets the silver waters of Lake Tasman.

Twenty-two of New Zealand’s highest mountains stand proud in the Southern Alps. Magnificent Mt. Cook (Aoraki) rises 12,217 feet (3,724 meters) tall, making it the country’s highest peak and one of the South Island's most prominent natural features. The Maori name Aoraki is aptly translated as “cloud piercer.”

Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park stretches from Westland to Fiordland on New Zealand's South Island, comprising a 434-square-mile (700-square-kilometer) UNESCO World Heritage Area. Star attractions include Tasman Glacier and the Hooker Valley wilderness—a mecca for climbers, hikers, skiers, and lovers of natural beauty.

Beneath towering Aoraki/Mount Cook, the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre is a tribute to the legendary New Zealand mountaineer and philanthropist. Discover peaks and valleys of Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park in the state-of-the-art cinema and study mementos from Hillary’s long life as an explorer.

Reaching the berg-dotted Lake Hooker is just one motivation to hike this winding 6-mile (10-kilometer) trail from the campground near Mount Cook Village. Just as rewarding are views of Mueller Glacier and Mount Cook (Aoraki), as well as the white waves of native Mount Cook buttercups that bloom each spring. This is one of the area’s most iconic walks, and it’s spectacular.

Sweeping views of bright lakes, mountain scenery, and New Zealand’s longest glacier reward hikers on the short-but-scenic hiking trails departing from Tasman Valley. It’s an uphill, roughly 1-mile (1.5-kilometer) round-trip walk to Tasman Glacier View, with the option to add a short spur trail to Blue Lakes. For a longer walk, take the 2.3-mile (3.7-kilometer) round-trip path to Tasman Glacier Lake.

Located in Mt. Cook Aoraki National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Hermitage Hotel is a well-loved landmark. In prime position with fabulous views of the mountain, the hotel dominates the northern edge of Mt. Cook Village. Chalets, motel rooms, and lodge accommodation are offered at several locations around town.

Climbing gently from Mount Cook Village past native bush, subalpine grasslands, and scenic viewpoints, the 3.7-mile (6-kilometer) round-trip Kea Point Track is among the most popular day hikes in the area. Reaching the top means vistas that stretch from Mount Sefton to Hooker Valley, the Mueller Glacier moraine wall, as well as the main attraction—the 12,218-foot (3,724-meter) Mount Cook (Aoraki).