Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park

Bike Mountaining

Mountain biking is a great way to feel the bumps and dips of this dramatic landscape. Rent a bike and follow the Tasman Glacier Road from Mt. Cook Village. If you want something more adrenaline surging, sign up for a heli-bike trip and get dropped into the foothills of the Southern Alps.

Pat Icebergs With Your Paddle

Some activities are cool because they're genuinely enjoyable thrills; some activities are cool because they're unique and rare life experiences; and some things are literally cool. Glacial kayaking amongst icebergs falls into all of these categories, and this triumvirate of coolness is an intimate and beautiful way to see a glacial environment. It's available October through April.

Take to the Air

Spectacular as the mountains are, focusing on them means missing out on the enormity of the whole park. Touring the peaks in a fixed-wing airplane or helicopter is an excellent way to experience it. We highly recommend taking a ski-plane to one or all of the park's glaciers. In winter you can ski the Tasman Glacier, but just standing on this 27-km (17-mi) tongue of dazzling ice is exhilarating. Many visitors consider flightseeing here to be their best New Zealand adventure.

Walk, Don't Climb

Sir Edmund Hillary used Mt. Cook as practicing grounds for his famous ascent of Mt. Everest; for some serious climbers Aoraki is their Everest. But there's no shame in just ambling along one of the park's 10 walks, all of which offer stunning panoramic views. Keep an eye out for alpine sundew, a glistening insect-eating plant, and the lovely Mt. Cook lily, which is the world's biggest type of buttercup. If you are climbing-curious there are plenty of courses available for every skill level.

Eco-Stays

The Hermitage is committed to conservation initiatives when it comes to many aspects of the facility: they recycle and compost everything when possible, use recycled paper products, biodegradable bins and bag liners, and low-energy lighting. Exotic plant species are removed from the property, and they are nearing the completion of a 20-year, native gene-stock planting program. Many items on the Hermitage restaurant menus such as cheese, wine, salmon, and venison are sourced locally.

If you want to travel responsibly in the park adhere to the alpine code: Pack it Out. Don't leave any of your waste in the backcountry. Poo Pots are available at the visitor center, and using them will keep this pristine country giardia free. Do your part before doing your business and put a poo pot in your pack.