New Zealand's Southern Alps: Aoraki and the Great Walks¶

New Zealand's Southern Alps run 500 km along the South Island, crowned by Aoraki/Mount Cook at 3,724m. With glaciers reaching nearly to sea level, the world's best Great Walks, and a mountaineering history shaped by Edmund Hillary, the Southern Alps punch far above their modest elevation. This guide covers everything from tramping to technical climbing.

Introduction¶

The Alps of the Southern Hemisphere¶

Geography¶

The Alpine Fault and Tectonic Activity¶

Glaciers — Fox and Franz Josef¶

Aoraki/Mount Cook¶

New Zealand's Highest Peak¶

Hillary's Training Ground¶

Climbing Routes¶

Great Walks¶

Milford Track — "The Finest Walk in the World"¶

Routeburn Track¶

Kepler Track¶

Tramping Culture¶

DOC Hut System¶

Backcountry Ethics¶

Mountaineering¶

Technical Climbing on Cook and Tasman¶

Mountain Guiding Industry¶

Practical Planning¶

Best Months — November to March¶

Great Walk Bookings¶

Weather — Four Seasons in One Day¶

Key Statistics Table¶