The highest peak in New Zealand, Aoraki Mount Cook is truly Himalayan in size, protruding 3,000m from the valley floor. It is an impressive and massive peak with five sides, six faces and seven main ridges and the challenge it presents should not be underestimated.
Aoraki Mount Cook is a popular objective and we ascend via the classic Linda Glacier route. The climbing is strenuous and of moderate technical difficulty; the summit is one of the most satisfying and exhilarating in Australasia.
We fly into the new Plateau Hut, and base ourselves here for our summit attempt. We follow the Linda Glacier which steepens to moderately challenging ice-climbing, followed by a couple of pitches of steeper rock and mixed climbing through the summit rocks. The angle then eases a little as we focus on the summit ice cap for the final push to the highest point in New Zealand! The climb takes 16 to 22 hours and to get the best of the conditions we schedule our departure for around midnight.
There is no easy route to the top and gaining the summit is a significant achievement. When weather and time permit we may elect to climb over two days, with a bivouac halfway up the route to give ourselves a good start for the following morning and time to soak up the high-alpine ambiance.
What's included
Included
Flights
Accommodation
Experienced tour guides
Not included
Travel Insurance
Visas
Gratuities
Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrival and Meet the Team
Today is a preparation day for the climb. Meet your guide in Mount Cook Village or in Wanaka for the drive to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Check gear and fly into the mountains to Plateau Hut in the early afternoon.
Overnight at Plateau Hut
DAY 2
Acclimitisation Day
DAY 3
Summit Day
Where you'll stay
LODGE
Plateau Hut
About the location
Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. Its height, as of 2014, is listed as 3,724 metres (12,218 feet).
It lies in the Southern Alps, the mountain range which runs the length of the South Island. It is a favourite challenge for mountain climbers. Aoraki / Mount Cook consists of three summits, from South to North the Low Peak (3,593 m or 11,788 ft), Middle Peak (3,717 m or 12,195 ft) and High Peak. The summits lie slightly south and east of the main divide of the Southern Alps, with the Tasman Glacier to the east and the Hooker Glacier to the southwest.