Mackenzie - Mount Cook

Mackenzie - Mount Cook

Nestled in the heart of New Zealand’s majestic South Island, you will find the Mackenzie Region. The region is renowned for its incredibly clear starry nights, brilliant sunny days, remarkable turquoise lakes, wide-open golden grasslands, valleys of emerald green and snow-capped mountains.

Shaped by extreme forces of nature, massive glaciers have scoured the land leaving a trail of lakes and rivers across the landscape. Today you will see awesome mountain ranges – the snow-capped Southern Alps stretching across the western horizon. Aoraki - Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain at 3,724 metres above sea level, towers over the expansive countryside.

Whether you are looking for a relaxing walk in native forest, a more demanding hike or trek into alpine wilderness, or a quiet place to sit and enjoy the view, the Mackenzie Region has it all.

Naturalists the world over come to view the wondrous variety of flowering native plants ad the unique insect and bird life in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.

Glorious mountain walks to suit every degree of fitness show off the national park’s rich flora, including the Mount Cook lily, the largest buttercup in the world.

Scenic flights from Lake Tekapo and Aoraki/Mount Cook afford breathtaking views over the Southern Alps and countryside, with ski-plane landings on the Tasman Glacier providing an unforgettable experience. Ski options are available, including heli-skiing and ski touring, and guides are available for climbing, mountaineering, tramping, trekking, snowboarding and glacier exploration.

The Mackenzie Region also offers a wide range of boating and water sport activities and is a popular venue with sports people from all over the world.