Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park

Endless rolling hills, bungy jumps off high bridges, the glittering Skytower of Auckland … so you think you've experienced the grandeur of New Zealand. HA! Aoraki glowers severely at these puny sideshows as if to say try and bungy jump this, wee clown.

A couple things about Aoraki/Mt. Cook: Yes, it's dually named with Maori and Anglo titles, but no one's going to spit in your eye if you just run with one or alternate for fun. Second, you may never see New Zealand's tallest mountain, as weather can shroud the peaks for days. Plan to stay in the park overnight in case your arrival coincides with curtains of clouds. The ice cornices and granite faces are the realm of serious mountain climbers. Nonclimbers can still get a strong sense of the place with hikes, scenic flights, glacier ski trips, and a visit to the excellent Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre at the Hermitage Hotel. And finally, be prepared to be awed by these majestic peaks.

BEST TIME TO GO

For driving to and hiking in the park unhampered by bad weather, visit in the summer. Book accommodations and activities in advance between November and March. If your trip revolves around skiing or snowboarding, then winter is a wonderland here, albeit a somewhat inaccessible one during snow storms.

Fun Fact

In December 1991, Aoraki shrunk 10 meters when 10 million cubic meters of rock and ice tumbled off its peak, but it remains New Zealand's highest mountain (3754 meters [12,316 feet]).