New Zealand is an Antipodean land which attracts lovers of vast spaces and wild nature. Though it is mostly mountainous, the country has a diverse range of landscapes and environments: icy summits, plains with mirror-like lakes, wild coastline licked by the Pacific waters... The nature here is absolutely majestic. And fortunately ecology takes pride of place here.

New Zealand, an intense natural paradise

A lively town, surrounded by dozens of volcanoes and black sand beaches.

Oceania

Welcome to the New Zealand travel pages. In this faraway country, you can expect a harmonious mixture of lakes, mountainous and volcanic landscapes, and tropical vegetation... New Zealand is isolated in the middle of the ocean and is located halfway between the South Pole and the Equator. Even though it’s small in area (about the size of the UK), it has extremely diverse flora and fauna. Nature lovers are in paradise here. But this paradise is earned: you’ll have to spend long hours on an airplane to get here, and you can count on having 10 to 12 hours of jet lag once you arrive, depending on the season... But this land, which the Maori first called “Aotearoa,” the land of the long white cloud, is really worth the trip: abundant and diverse nature, beautiful landscapes, and outdoor activities… It’s all convenient for travellers: one of the advantages of this destination is the small size of the country, which makes all this beauty accessible, starting from your first trip to New Zealand. Your hunger for the great outdoors and desire for peace and serenity will be satisfied.

New Zealand

Auckland

Sitting by a lake in a region steeped in Maori culture, this town is a hive of geothermal activity.

Rotorua

Taupo is a small, lively town best known for its lake, which bears the same name and is the largest in New Zealand.

Taupo

With three active volcanoes, the Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park is a must for any hiking fan or visitors interested in exploring a volcanic landscape.

Tongariro National Park

In the heart of the New Zealand Alps, the Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park is a must for hiking fans. 

Aoraki / Mount Cook

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At 3,724 meters high, Aoraki/Mount Cook (the former being its Maori name), is the highest peak in the country and dominates New Zealand's Alps. Around it are 27 other summits of over 3,000 meters that form the Southern Alps. A landscape waiting to be discovered by foot. Based at a DOC campsite, the starting point of several trails with amazing views, I was ideally placed to explore the Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park. I spent four days winding my way along its tracks. I highly recommend the trail along Hooker Valley. It's easy to do and leads to the glacial Hooker Lake, with amazing mountian views all along the way. I equally enjoyed the Sealy Tarn Track - harder to do but just as magnificent. Be warned that the ascent is a tough one! The end point isn't as breathtaking but the climb is beautiful - as is often the case in New Zealand. For me, it's the same every time; I know I'm going to suffer. But it's a great way to tighten those legs muscles and work the lungs! And, of course, the amazing views compensate for the pain - panoramic vistas across glaciers, mountain peaks and Aoraki / Mount Cook.

My <a href="/new-zealand/">adventures in New Zealand</a> led me to visit Mount Cook twice, and the mountain isn't always easy to see. In fact, each time, the giant mountain was camouflaged by fog, only partially visible depending on the thickness of the fog. Organized hiking trips that depart from Mount Cook Village, provide viewpoints over Aoraki (the Maori name for Mount Cook). The walk from the Hooker Valley guided me to the glacier of the same name, with a view over the Southern Alps in the background (if the weather allows you to see anything, that is - which was sadly not the case for me!) Upon returning to the village, I would suggest that you visit the little museum and information center, which showcases the development of high-altitude climbing equipment, as well as giving the history of the first attempts at climbing the mountain. When leaving the village, I took the route toward the Tasman Glacier, where other hiking trips start. There too, the panoramic view over the mountain range and the valley is exceptional, and it is possible to view the opposite face of Mount Cook. The journey between Twizel and Mount Cook Village takes you along the shores of Lake Pukaki, which is well worth a stop to experience the changing blue hues of the water as the weather changes.

The highest peak in the country, Mount Cook dominates the Southern Alps in the Westland Tai Poutini National Park, a UNESCO Heritage Site.

Aoraki / Mount Cook Vacations

Aoraki / Mount Cook: How to get there?

Aoraki / Mount Cook: See when to go ?

Aoraki / Mount Cook: For how long?

Aoraki / Mount Cook: What to see nearby?

New Zealand: our articles for your vacations