Mount Cook New Zealand

If you love to ski, snowboard, or simply enjoy time in the beautiful mountains, then Mount Cook in New Zealand is the perfect place to visit. Officially known as Aoraki Mount, you will be mesmerized by the unbelievably clear nights with stars so bright you could almost reach up and touch them. The lakes are a magnificent turquoise color and the valleys covered with the richest shade of green. No other place in the world provides such a breathtaking experience.

In addition to its unrivaled beauty, one of the things that make Mount Cook so interesting is the Maori legend. The name Aoraki comes from the story of Aoraki along with his three brothers, all the sons of Rakinui, or the Sky Father. They were taking a voyage around Papatuanku, which translates to the Earth Mother when they came face-to-face with disaster, finding they were stranded on a reef.

Climbing to the top side of their canoe and after spending hours in the freezing wind, all four men turned to stone. The canoe then became what is known as South Island or as it was once called, Te Waka o Aoraki. Since Aoraki was the tallest of the sons, he is now the magnificent Aoraki Mount Cook with the smaller Southern Alps being his brothers along with members of their crew. While obviously a tale, many Maori people still believe this legend.

Early European settlers first came to this area in the 1850s where their cattle and sheep could graze in the vast, open meadows. This country is called the MacKenzie, after James MacKenzie, a famous sheep rustler that along with his dog, named Friday were charged with stealing sheep. Captured in 1855, he was finally released a year later, whereby he disappeared. While the last 100 years has brought modernization to this country, it remains a mysterious and harsh area of New Zealand.

If you make your way to the pastures of the Fairlie area, you will open spaces with few people, making this region incredibly unspoiled and tranquil. In fact, many people have come over the years, artists, writers, and others to use this as a place of inspiration. To enjoy the mountains of Mount Cook, you can take a ride on the Ski Planes, which provides you with the most spectacular view of the world you have ever seen. In addition to flying over Aoraki Mount Cook, you will also fly over the Tasman Glacier, the longest in the world, and over the Southern Alps.

These small Cessna’s will provide you with an experience to be treasured for life. As the pilot shuts down the engine for quietness, you will land gently on the glacier. From there, you can span the mountain range with absolutely no noise. This natural quiet is only broken by the sounds of the glacier or on occasion, a distant avalanche. As you fly, the pilot will point out icefalls, peaks, ski tours, climbers, and other points of interest.

Just imagine venturing off in a plane with a professional pilot and four or five passengers to escape into the most incredible land you have ever laid eyes on. However, keep in mind that the landing experience is just as spectacular as the air experience. Most of these trips range from $250 to $400 for adults and for this, you will have between 25 and 40 minutes of flight time along with the 10 greatest minutes of your life on the glacier.


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

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