Aoraki Mount Cook Adventures | The best mountain adventures in the Aoraki Mount Cook region - Tasman Glacier - crevasses 1

Aoraki Mount Cook

Adventures

The best mountain adventures in the Aoraki Mount Cook region

Aoraki Mt. Cook Adventures

Aoraki Mt. Cook Adventures

The best mountain adventures in the Aoraki Mount Cook region

There are many things to see and do in Aoraki Mount Cook. We've put together some lists of popular summer and winter activities, including our recommended hikes.

First time visiting Aoraki Mount Cook? Let us organise the perfect adventure for you!

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The Best Day Hikes & Walking Trails in Aoraki Mount Cook feature image - Mount Cook Lily and Aoraki Mount Cook, Hooker Valley Track, New Zealand

The Best Day Hikes & Walking Trails in Aoraki Mount Cook feature image - Mueller Hut, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand

The Best Day Hikes & Walking Trails in Aoraki Mount Cook

Explore Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and its spectacular alpine landscapes. Our recommendations of the top hiking trails and day walks in Aoraki Mount Cook.

Best Day Hikes in Aoraki Mount Cook

Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters feature image - Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters

Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters feature image - Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters

Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters

Experience spectacular views flying in both a Ski plane and Helicopter. Land on New Zealand’s longest glacier – the Tasman Glacier. Enjoy beautiful views of the Tasman Terminal Lake, Grand Plateau, Hochstetter Icefall and cloud-piercing Aoraki/Mt Cook.

Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters are our operator of choice for air access to our Aoraki Mount Cook based mountain adventures.

Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters

Let Alpine Recreation organize a great adventure for you!

Mountaineering Skills & Alpine Climbing Courses - Introductory Mountaineering Course - Aoraki Mount Cook Mountaineering Skills Course 1

Season: November - April

The ideal introduction to alpine and snowcraft skills

Introductory Mountaineering Course

Learn the skills to safely venture beyond tramping tracks and above the snow line!

1 - 4 per guide

4 - 5 days

from $2200 per person

Mountaineering Skills & Alpine Climbing Courses - Intensive Mountaineering Skills Course - Technical Mountaineering Skills Course - New Zealand Southern Alps 2

Season: November - April

Technical alpine skills instruction for those who want to get into serious mountaineering

Intensive Mountaineering Skills Course

Go beyond the basic skills of mountaineering and get into more serious alpine terrain!

1 - 4 per guide

5 - 7 days

from $2900 per person

New Zealand Alpine Treks & Hikes - Aoraki Mount Cook Trek - Trekker on Ball Ridge in front of Caroline Face 3

Season: November - April

A stunning 2 day trek among New Zealand's highest mountains

Aoraki Mount Cook Trek

Trek through amazing alpine terrain, surrounded by New Zealand's highest peaks and longest glaciers.

2 - 4 per guide

2 days

from $1165 per person

Mountaineering Skills & Alpine Climbing Courses - Specialized Alpine Climbing Course - Front-pointing on crampons, Hochstetter Dome, Southern Alps 4

Season: November - April

Private instruction for experienced mountaineers

Specialized Alpine Climbing Course

Take your climbing further and learn advanced mountaineering skills under expert tuition from…

1 - 3 per guide

5 - 7 days

from $3545 per person

New Zealand Alpine Treks & Hikes - Ball Pass Summit Trek - Trekkers crossing the Ball Glacier 5

Season: November - April

A spectacular 3 day adventure in the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park

Ball Pass Summit Trek

Trek through amazing alpine terrain, surrounded by New Zealand's highest peaks and longest glaciers.

2 - 4 per guide

3 days

from $1575 per person

Mountaineering Skills & Alpine Climbing Courses - Winter Mountaineering Course - Climber near Ball Pass in winter conditions, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park 6

Season: May - October

Learn essential skills for alpine travel in winter conditions

Winter Mountaineering Course

Take your mountaineering skills to the next level with our winter mountaineering courses in New…

2 - 4 per guide

4 - 5 days

from $2375 per person

New Zealand Alpine Treks & Hikes - Hooker Valley Day Hike - Mount Cook Lily - Aoraki Mount Cook National Park 7

Season: January - January

New Zealand's most popular alpine hike

Hooker Valley Day Hike

2 - 6 per guide

1 day

from $400 per person

Guided Alpine Ascents in New Zealand - Aoraki Mount Cook - Aoraki Mount Cook - sunrise over the Southern Alps 8

Season: October - January

Guided ascent of New Zealand's highest peak

Aoraki Mount Cook

Mount Cook is New Zealand's highest mountain at 3724m/12218ft.

1 per guide

4 - 6 days

from $8650 per person

The Best Trans-Alpine Crossings & Traverses - Ball Pass Crossing - Ball Pass Crossing, Aoraki South Face 9

Season: December - March

A mountaineering adventure traversing the Mount Cook Range

Ball Pass Crossing

Trek across a high mountain pass surrounded by New Zealand's highest peaks and longest glacier!

2 - 4 per guide

3 days

from $1645 per person

The Best Trans-Alpine Crossings & Traverses - Copland Pass Crossing - Copland Pass 10

Season: December - April

The classic Southern Alps crossing from Mount Cook Village to the West Coast

Copland Pass Crossing

The Copland Pass was once one of New Zealand's greatest alpine crossings, linking the grandeur of…

2 per guide

3.5 days

from $2525 per person

The Best Trans-Alpine Crossings & Traverses - Fitzgerald Pass Crossing - Fitzgerald Pass - the "modern" Copland Pass route 11

Season: December - February

The "modern" Copland Pass route - a spectacular crossing of the Southern Alps

Fitzgerald Pass Crossing

Fitzgerald Pass links the grandeur of Mount Cook with the untouched wilderness of West Coast bush.

2 per guide

3.5 days

from $2525 per person

The Best Trans-Alpine Crossings & Traverses - Sealy Range Traverse - Sealy Range Traverse - multi-day guided alpine hike, New Zealand 12

Season: December - March

A stunning alpine trek amongst New Zealand's highest peaks

Sealy Range Traverse

Experience the wonderful contrast from jagged ice covered peaks and vast glacial plateaus, to…

2 - 4 per guide

4 days

from $2270 per person

Guided Alpine Ascents in New Zealand - Mount Sefton - Takiroa Mount Sefton 13

Season: November - February

A wilderness climb from sea level to summit

Mount Sefton

Mount Sefton is a stunning peak which towers high over Mount Cook Village and according to Maori…

1 per guide

5 - 6 days

from $6520 per person

Guided Alpine Ascents in New Zealand - Dixon Peak - Mount Dixon, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand 14

Season: November - January

Climb one of New Zealand's most iconic peaks

Dixon Peak

Mount Dixon (3004m) is a beautiful pyramid shaped peak located on the edge of the Grand Plateau…

1 per guide

6 days

from $6500 per person

Guided Alpine Ascents in New Zealand - Turner Peak - Turner Peak, Aoraki Mount Cook, Tasman Glacier 15

Season: October - January

Turner Peak Guided Ascent

Turner Peak

Turner Peak (2338m) is an ideal 3-4 day ascent which doesn't require air access.

2 per guide

3 - 4 days

from $1995 per person

New Zealand Glacier Hikes & Treks - Mount Cook Glaciers Trek - Tasman Glacier - crevasses 16

Season: November - April

The ultimate glacier experience

Mount Cook Glaciers Trek

Experience the vast upper nevés of New Zealand's longest glacier, the Tasman Glacier.

2 - 4 per guide

4 days

from $2070 per person

New Zealand's Best Glacier Touring & Ski Mountaineering - Ski Mount Cook Range - Ski Mountaineering - skinning up Ball Ridge 17

Season: July - October

A backcountry ski touring adventure based at Caroline Hut

Ski Mount Cook Range

The Mount Cook Range is a spectacular ski / split-board mountaineering destination.

2 - 4 per guide

3 - 5 days

from $1645 per person

New Zealand's Best Glacier Touring & Ski Mountaineering - Ski Mount Cook & Westland Glaciers - Backcountry Ski Touring & Split-boarding, Tasman Glacier, New Zealand 18

Season: July - October

New Zealand's best hut-based glacier ski & split-board touring destinations

Ski Mount Cook & Westland Glaciers

Backcountry Ski & Split-board Touring amongst the glaciers of the Mount Cook and Westland National…

2 - 4 per guide

5 - 7 days

from $2720 per person

New Zealand Ski Traverses & Backcountry Expeditions - Sealy Range Ski Traverse - Sealy Range Ski Traverse - Williams Glacier 19

Season: July - September

A high level ski mountaineering traverse with stunning views and steep terrain

Sealy Range Ski Traverse

The Sealy Range above Aoraki Mount Cook village is a remote and exciting ski mountaineering venue…

2 - 4 per guide

4 - 5 days

from $2385 per person

New Zealand Snowshoe Hikes & Winter Treks - Aoraki Mount Cook Snowshoeing - Snowshoeing - Mount Cook 20

Season: July - September

A snowshoe expedition to Caroline Hut

Aoraki Mount Cook Snowshoeing

Trek through amazing winter terrain, surrounded by New Zealand's highest peaks and longest glacier.

2 - 4 per guide

2 - 3 days

from $1180 per person

Recent Adventures

Highlights from recent Explore Aoraki Mount Cook adventures

- Aoraki Mt. Cook Adventures - #295

19 Apr 2025

High above the Tasman Glacier, Caroline Hut isn’t just a haven for mountaineers — it’s also a…

- Aoraki Mt. Cook Adventures - #293

15 Apr 2025

❄️🏔️🧗🏽‍♀️ Snow.

- Aoraki Mt. Cook Adventures - #291

14 Apr 2025

Ball Pass Summit Trek: up Ball Ridge to Kaitiaki Peak, over Ball Glacier in fresh snow — no tracks…

- Aoraki Mt. Cook Adventures - #290

13 Apr 2025

🧗🏽‍♀️🏔️ Just finished a beginner mountaineering course at Caroline Hut in front of the spectacular…

- Aoraki Mt. Cook Adventures - #289

10 Apr 2025

The Caroline Hut visitor’s book collects many great stories and artworks - this one is from last…