Discover the Breathtaking Beauty of Mount Cook in New Zealand 🏔️

“Because it is there!” This iconic response, given by the legendary British mountaineer George Mallory when asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest, perfectly encapsulates my own passion and yearning for the snow-capped peaks.

In the far reaches of the South Pacific, in New Zealand, stands a mountain that captures both the heart and the imagination: Mount Cook.

The full name of this majestic peak is Aoraki/Mount Cook. Aoraki, a name bestowed by the indigenous Māori people, means “cloud piercer,” while Mount Cook was named in honor of Captain James Cook, one of the first British explorers to chart the eastern coasts of New Zealand and Australia in the Southern Hemisphere.

Rising to an impressive 3,764 meters, Mount Cook is nestled within the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, established in 1953. It stands as the highest peak in New Zealand, dominating the Southern Alps on the South Island, with its summit perpetually draped in ice and snow.

This rugged mountain range boasts 15 peaks soaring above 3,000 meters and an additional 140 peaks exceeding 2,000 meters, with one-third of them cloaked in perpetual snow. Hidden among these towering giants are numerous glaciers. Over 150 million years ago, this land lay submerged beneath the sea. Through countless orogenic movements over millions of years, it gradually emerged, forming the breathtaking landscape of continuous mountain ranges we marvel at today.

Visiting the South Island of New Zealand is to immerse oneself in the grandeur of Mount Cook and the Southern Alps.

To fully experience this wonder, I booked a four-day, three-night stay at The Hermitage Hotel, situated right at the foot of the snowy mountains inside the park. Anticipating unpredictable weather and the fickle nature of the mountains, I even added an extra night to my stay.

It turned out to be a wise decision!

During those four days, there were indeed three days of either torrential rain or thick fog, with the mountains shrouded in clouds, teasing us with fleeting glimpses. Knowing the mountain was right there but unable to see it was incredibly frustrating.

But finally, after a night of heavy rain, the mountain lifted its mysterious veil for a moment, revealing its awe-inspiring majesty…

Blue skies, white clouds, snow-capped peaks, glaciers, streams, azure lakes, and fields and forests in varying shades of green—this is the magnificent Mount Cook we had traveled so far to see!

Just like this pristine and vast land, it did not disappoint at all!

And in the final three photos, the unique Mount Cook lilies are blooming, as if just for us, who have come from afar!