New Zealand’s highest mountain, Mount Cook, crowns the Southern Alps. With its halo of clouds and eternal coat of snow and ice, the mighty peak lives up to its Maori name, Aoraki, or “cloud piercer,” measuring a lofty 12,218 feet (3,724 meters)—about half the height of Everest. Scaling the summit is a feat best left to the experienced mountaineers, but hiking, climbing, ice climbing, and glacier hikes are among other things to do at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, along with helicopter and ski-plane tours of the Tasman Glacier.
The mountain weather can be unpredictable, so time your visit for spring through early fall (September through April) for the best hiking conditions. Most heli-hiking tours and glacier flights only operate during this period. The best climbing window is even shorter (late January through March), especially for less-experienced mountaineers. However, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park stays open to visitors year-round, and with the right gear and skill level, some hiking trails can still be enjoyed through winter.
There are no prizes for guessing the most popular way to get around this hiker’s base camp. Mount Cook Village itself is small and easily walkable, while 10 hiking trails are set out near town. Most hotels provide shuttles to the trailheads, or you can add on a little extra walk time. Mount Cook Airport, a 10-minute drive south, is the starting point for helicopter and ski plane tours, but almost all tours will include pickup from Mount Cook Village.
Mount Cook’s biggest claim to fame is its use as a training ground for Sir Edmund Hillary, who practiced his technical climbing skills at Aoraki in preparation for his Everest expedition. Follow Hillary and his team’s pioneering climb to the summit at the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, where you can watch full-length documentaries (20–55 minutes) at the domed planetarium. Also worth a visit is the Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park Visitor Centre, which has exhibitions on the national park.
