Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Nov 2004


The highest peak of New Zealand was named Mount Cook (after the British explorer Captain James Cook). This dazzling mountain soars to 3,754 metres, lies in the Southern Alps, within the 700 square kilometres of Mount Cook National Park. The Mount Cook National Park has alpine in the purest sense with skyscraping peaks, glaciers and permanent snow fields, located in the central part of the South Island. Aoraki/Mount Cook village lies within the park with Twizel the nearest town outside. Mountain walks, glacier viewing and skiing, and mountaineering are the key activities in the park.

Mount Cook is also called Aoraki (or Aorangi, ao meaning land, rangi meaning sky) by the Moari.