Mt Cook Alpine Trekking, New Zealand

The Aoraki Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo High Country region is home to some of the most spectacular alpine scenery in the world. So it is not surprising that Aoraki Mt Cook has some of the best high country walking, trekking and hiking conditions in the world.

There is something for everyone at Aoraki Mt Cook from easy day walks, to alpine hikes suitable for only the very experienced, and fit hikers on overnight trips that take you into the high peaks of the Southern Alps, with views of Aoraki Mt Cook, Mt Tasman and Taman Glacier. The region is dominated by Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain. Sir Edmund Hillary climbed here before undertaking the first successful climb of Mount Everest.

In the alpine reqions of Aoraki Mt Cook there is a huge variety of unique flora and fauna. The region is home to many small flowering plants including the Mount Cook Lily, Snow Marguerite, South Island Eidelweiss and Giant Spaniard. New Zealand's inquisitive mountain parrot, the Kea, is one to be watched. You may see a New Zealand Falcon, or even a small Rock Wren darting in the rocks.

The weather in the Southern Alps and Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is very changeable, and is subject to rapid changes as the weather patterns hit the Southern Alps. If hiking in the Southern Alps, always be prepared for the worst conditions.