Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park

NewZealandAirport.com  »  New Zealand Tourism  »  Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park is in the South Island of New Zealand, near the town of Twizel. Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain, and Aoraki / Mount Cook Village lie within the park. 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.

Even though most of the park is alpine terrain, it is easily accessible. 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. 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.

Getting There

Mount Cook Aerodrome is an airport near Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Regular commercial flights originally ceased in 2002, however from the 23rd of December 2012 to the 27th of January 2013, Air New Zealand subsidiary Mount Cook Airline operated thrice weekly services from Mount Cook Aerodrome to Christchurch Airport and Queenstown Airport.

Air New Zealand decided not to resume the services for the 2013/2014 summer due to a lack of demand.