At 3,724 m, New Zealand's tallest peak is known as Aoraki by Māori. [17] Anyone venturing further than the walking tracks is strongly advised to notify their intentions at the Visitor Centre on the day you start. Together they form part of Te Wahipounamu South Westland World Heritage Site, recognised for its outstanding natural values. The Department of Conservation administers activities in the park, including the White Horse Hill camping ground. Your adventure begins here. During the coldest months of the year, Mueller Glacier Lake, Hooker Lake, and Tasman Lake usually freeze over at least partially. The mountains of the Southern Alps in general are young, less than ten million years old, and are still building. To Ngāi Tahu, Aoraki represents the most sacred of ancestors. The famed Mount Cook lily, Ranunculus lyalli, is the largest buttercup in the world. The weather conditions in the park, in particular at higher altitudes can be unpredictable and change rapidly. The braided riverbed of the Tasman is home to the kakī/black stilt, one of New Zealand's rarest birds. The Hermitage Hotel in Mount Cook Village, New Zealand, is a hotel located inside the Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, 65 kilometres north of Twizel. [1] Introduced red deer, chamois and Himalayan tahr can be hunted. Road access into the park is via State Highway 80, along the western shore of Lake Pukaki. The hike is really easy to follow and very well maintained. On the opposite side of the Hooker Valley, Mt Ollivier was Sir Edmund Hillary's first major climb, in 1939, and since the establishment of a tramping track to Mueller Hut, not far below the summit, is now one of the easiest accessible mountains in the park. Glentanner Park Centre is located 15 mins drive from Mt Cook Village on the main road into Mt Cook. Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is a rugged land of ice and rock, with 19 peaks over 3,000 meters including New Zealand’s highest mountain, Aoraki/Mount Cook. Rainforest and tropical woodlands with a heath understorey cover the upper slopes and sheltered gullies. The glaciers that have helped shape the park's landscape include five major valley systems: Godley, Murchison, Tasman, Hooker and Mueller. This is part of a formal intentions process that operates in the park and is used to initiate formal search operations. Getting to Aoraki/Mount Cook from Christchurch is half the fun on this private day trip. Always check the weather and be extra careful in winter as avalanches are more common. As of 2016[update] the cycle trail still includes 15 kilometres along public roads. The area was gazetted as a national park in October 1953 and consists of reserves that were established as early as 1887 to protect the area's significant vegetation and landscape. Cook Village restaurants and search by … [12], There are about 35[13] to 40 species of birds in the park and include the kea, the only alpine parrot, and the well-camouflaged pipit. These are mostly contained in the valley floors of the Tasman and Hooker Valley, since they are the most accessible parts of the park. Learn More. All of these routes still require significant alpine mountaineering experience. – European discovery of New Zealand – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand", "Mount Aoraki (Mount Cook) rock avalanche", "Height of NZ's tallest peak Aoraki/Mt Cook slashed by 30m", Otago-led study revises height of Aoraki/Mt Cook, "Ngai Tahu Settlement Section 3: Aoraki/Mount Cook", Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Education Resource 2010. There are 19 peaks In 1851 Captain J. L. Stokes, sailing down the West Coast, gave the mountain its European name, Mount Cook, in honour of the English navigator Captain James Cook. Walking tracks in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park brochure (PDF, 4,461K), Walks around Aoraki/Mount Cook Village brochure: Chinese (PDF, 1354K) | French (PDF, 1145K) | German (PDF, 1144K) | Spanish (PDF, 1145K). [10], The plant life in the majority of the park consists mostly of alpine plants. Best Dining in Mt. Visit Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre for help with outdoor plans and to explore the artwork collection, interpretation exhibits and watching DVDs about the area. Cook Village, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu): See 2,334 Tripadvisor traveller reviews of 6 Mt. Aoraki/Mount Cook village lies within the park with Twizel the nearest town outside. The south wind froze them and turned them into stone, creating the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana. Its 27 km long, up to three km wide and 101 sq km. Mount Cook National Park is one of the most popular destinations in New Zealand for tourists, and I can see why. Alpine experience is required. Between 1,300 m and 1,900 m and in the valleys, the vegetation is predominately snow tussock grassland, as well as golden speargrass, large mountain daisies/tikumu (Celmisia semicordata, Celmisia coriacea), and Mount Cook lily, (Ranunculus lyallii), the largest buttercup in the world. Take only pictures and leave only footprints is a good rule to follow.. Get in []. A concession is required to fly a drone on any public conservation land. Mount Cook National Park is world-renowned for its scenery and is popular among hiking and walking enthusiasts. The park is also part of Te Waipounamu - South Westland World Heritage Area in recognition of its outstanding natural values. [14] A black alpine wētā, also known as the Mount Cook flea is found above the snowline. Mt Cook Lodge is located in Aoraki Mt Cook National Park in New Zealand's South Island. We are a Learning Experiences Outside The Classroom (LEOTC) provider operating within a unique alpine environment extending from Aoraki/Mount Cook to the Mackenzie Basin. [1], More than 400 species of plants make up the vegetation in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, which include more than 100 introduced plant species such as the colourful Russell lupin, the wild cherry and wilding pines. Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is the starting point of the Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail to Oamaru. About 40 species of birds are found in the park, and perhaps the most distinctive of these is the kea, a mountain parrot well known for its mischievous antics. The area was formally established as a national park in 1953 and is a harsh land of ice and rock. The park follows the Southern Alps for about 37 miles (60 km) with the park occupying the southeastern side of the range. Over 300 species of plants are found in the park. Rodolph Wigley's Mount Cook Motor Co was formed in 1906 to provide services to the area from the railhead at Fairlie. Climbers are encouraged to pack out their waste. This is one of my favorite photo locations on the South Island! [6][7], Of New Zealand's 20 peaks over 3,000 metres, all except Mount Aspiring / Tititea lie in the park. Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is in the South Island of New Zealand, near the town of Twizel. Snow falls on about 21 days per year.[16]. [1], Even though most of the park is alpine terrain, it is easily accessible. We offer a range of accommodation options to suit everyone. The Mount Cook National Park, or the Aoraki National Park, is home to New Zealand’s highest peak, Mount Cook and is populated by 23 other peaks measuring over 3000m. Park Policies", "Deadly Mt Cook lures Australian climbers", "Mueller Hut Route: Walking and tramping in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park", "Government sees dollars in national parks", "Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park visitor centre", Aoraki/Mount Cook Expedition | Summer 2014/15, "NZ study pinpoints the final cold snap of the last ice age", "2. [2] The village is situated within the park, however, it consists only of a hotel and motels, as well as housing and amenities for the staff of the hotel and motels and other support personnel.[3]. However kea, falcons/karearea and black-backed gulls/karoro can be found soaring in higher areas. [9], The park borders Westland Tai Poutini National Park along the Main Divide. The jewelled gecko lives in the park but is rarely seen. The combination of heavy glaciation, tremendous vertical scale and unpredictable weather means that they are not readily won. Some of these tracks also offer guided walking tours, and the nearby Tasman Lake hosts boat trips for tourists. From unbelievably blue lakes and wide open skies, to jagged mountain ranges piercing the clouds, exploring Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park offers an off-the-beaten-track adventure that will leave you amazed. This relatively flat hike takes you along the Hooker River between mighty peaks, over 3 picturesque suspension bridges until climaxing at the Hooker Glacial Lake showcasing the sheer rawness of New Zealand’s tallest mountain, Mount Cook.. [13] It is unrelated to the rock wren of North America. Tasman Lake and Hooker Lake are easily accessible via walking tracks and are the only two of these lakes that have official names. Mount Cook airport is down the road from the village. [18], A visitor centre in the village features interpretation exhibits about the area's natural environment and history as well as an artwork collection. Glaciers cover 40% of the park area, notably the Tasman Glacier in the Tasman Valley east of Aoraki / Mount Cook. [22], The spectacular peaks of the Aoraki / Mount Cook region have attracted climbers from all over the world for the last 100 years. The only road access into Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is via State Highway 80, which starts near Twizel, at 65 kilometres (40 mi) distance the closest town to the park, and leads directly to Mount Cook Village, where the road ends. It is alpine in the purest sense - with skyscraping peaks, glaciers and permanent snow fields, all set under a star-studded sky. [21] The park contains close to twenty huts, mostly in alpine terrain. [1], The park is home to many invertebrates, including large dragonflies, crickets, grasshoppers, 223 recorded moth species and 7 native butterflies. As a result, the only pockets of forest and native bush in the park are along the southern edge of the Hooker Valley and the lower slopes of Sealy Range. At an area of 7 km², Tasman Lake is the largest of the proglacial lakes and hosts boat trips for tourists. Mount Cook National Park will leave a lasting impression but capturing these moments to share is the best way to keep the experience with you forever! The landslide carried with it another 40 million cubic metres of rock and ice.The impact caused an earth quake of 3.9 on the Richter scale. They should only be attempted by experienced climbers/mountaineers. Among the most spectacular of these are many varieties of mountain buttercup (Ranunculus) and daisy/tikumu (Celmisia). This park is located in the central part of the South Island, deep in the heart of the Southern Alps. Mt Cook: Does reaching summit outweigh risks? If you want to see Aoraki Mount Cook at its very best, then there is no better a view than from up the Hooker Valley. The national park is studded with stunning mountains on every side, grand glaciers surrounded by everpresent snowfields. … Find what to do today, this weekend, or in December. Set in Mount Cook National Park, The Hermitage Hotel features a range of rooms and suites all offering majestic mountain views, and most with views of Mount Cook. Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is one of the best places in New Zealand to view the night sky, either by yourself or with a guide. According to Ngāi Tahu legend, Aoraki and his … There are 19 peaks over 3,000 m including New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki/Mount Cook. [18], The park is popular for mountaineering, hunting, tramping/hiking, skiing and ski touring. The view from the room was spectacular. Read more about 'Pack it out'. At the highest rocks of Aoraki / Mount Cook, around 14 species of lichen have been found. The black stilt or kakī, rarest wading bird in the world, lives in the braided riverbed of the Tasman. Another mountain popular for mountaineers of intermediate skills is Sebastopol, the closest mountain to Mount Cook Village. The park is renowned for its natural environment. The national park boundaries encompass an area of 278.6 square miles (721.6 sq km). Glaciers cover 40% of it. The park is rich with invertebrate fauna, including large dragonflies, grasshoppers, distinctive moths and butterflies. [1] Eight of the twelve largest glaciers in New Zealand lie within Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, all of which terminate at proglacial lakes formed in recent decades due to a sustained period of shrinking. Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is in the South Island of New Zealand, near the town of Twizel. Situated in the southern alps, the park is home to New Zealand’s tallest mountain– yup you guessed it, Mount Cook. Other mountaineering routes include crossing the Aroarokaehe Range via the Copland Pass, the Mount Cook Range via the Ball Pass, and routes crossing the Tasman Saddle further north. At the end of the most recent ice age, around 13,000 years ago,[25] the Mueller Glacier, Hooker Glacier, and Tasman Glacier were all tributaries to a much larger glacier covering all of Hooker Valley and Tasman Valley in hundreds of metres of ice and reaching as far as the extent of today's Lake Pukaki,[26] up to 40 km (25 mi) south of Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park.
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