Mt Cook Aoraki New Zealand

Mt Cook known to Māori as Aoraki or Cloud Piercer.  Located in the heart of the Mackenzie region, Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park is part of UNESCO’s Te Wāhipounamu (The Place of Greenstone) World Heritage. Australasia’s highest mountain Aoraki / Mount Cook (3,724m) nestled in the splendid Southern Alps.

Several years ago I did a seven-day bus tour around the South Island. One of the stops on this tour was Mt Cook driving from Christchurch to Queenstown.  It was a long day as its 4 hours to Mt Cook and 3 hours to Queenstown. It is advisable to stay over night to break the journey.

There is a variety of accommodation – hostels, holiday parks, lodges and motels.

Activities

• Tasman Glacier, take a tour on a Argo 8 wheel all terrain vehicle or cruise on the Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake
• Visit Sir Edmond Hillary Alpine Centre, he was the first climber to reach the summit of Mt Everest
• Take a break/photo stop at Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki
• Scenic Flights – By helicopter or fixed wing plane
• Stargazing – You can explore the southern sky every clear evening from the Hillary Deck with expert astronomy guides. with Big Sky Stargazing
• Walking & Hiking – Long or short walks from Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

Māori Myth

The Ngāi Tahu (local Māori people) legend of Aoraki / Mount Cook is the story of Aoraki and his 3 brothers. They were the sons of Rakinui (the Sky Father) and they were on a voyage around Papa-tū-ā-nuku (the Earth Mother) when disaster struck and they became stranded upon a reef.

The voyagers climbed on to the top side of the canoe and after a time the south wind froze them and turned them into stone. Their canoe became the South Island (Te Waka o Aoraki is the oldest name for the South Isand) and Aoraki who stood tallest of the brothers is now seen as the majestic Aoraki / Mount Cook with the Southern Alps as his brothers and other members of his crew.

 

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Hiking a Volcano Rangitoto Auckland

Rangitoto is the youngest volcano of the 50 volcano’s in Auckland, It last erupted 600 years ago.  Situated in the Hauraki Gulf it is one of the most photographed icons in Auckland.

How to Get There – There are regular ferries from Downtown Auckland with Fullers Cruises.

What to Take It’s advisable to take a packed lunch and plenty of water. The heat radiates from the volcanic rock. Wear sturdy walking shoes or boots.

The walk takes about three hours,  hike in the morning, have lunch at the summit and walk back down in the afternoon to catch the ferry back to Auckland.

The Crator – Rangitoto Island Auckland

Hiking a Volcano – I did this hike a few year’s ago, although it’s not a very scenic walk the views from the top looking over the Hauraki Gulf are amazing.  I couldn’t believe how big the crater was and I was expecting a big gaping hole it is covered in dense bush.  There is also a track that circles the rim.

Original NZ Iconic Bach (Beach House)

The bach (bach is the name for New Zealand holiday homes) communities on Rangitoto Island built in the 1920’s and 1930’s, and consist of private holiday homes and boatsheds.

Māori myths

There are several Māori myths associated with Rangitoto. One tells of the children of the fire deities, who lived in the Auckland area.

One night a husband and wife argued and cursed the fire deity Mahuika. She complained to Mataoho, the deity of earthquakes and eruptions, who sent an eruption to destroy the couple’s mountain home. It was swallowed up by the earth and became Lake Pupuke on Auckland’s North Shore, and Rangitoto rose out of the sea. When mist surrounds Rangitoto, it is the tears of the couple as they weep over their lost home.

My Picks on ‘Things to do in Auckland’

For culture and history you may wish to visit the Auckland Museum where there is an excellent Maori concert/cultural performance.

Visit the New Zealand Maritime Museum my favourite part of this museum is the 1950’s vintage NZ beach house (Bach).  There is also activities for children and daily sailings on a historic vessel ‘Breeze’.

Climb Auckland Harbour Bridge or Jump off the world’s first harbour bridge bungy with Auckland Bridge Bungy

Hike Rangitoto Volcano in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, a regular ferry service with Fuller’s.

Rangitoto Volcano, Hauraki Gulf, Auckland

Explore Auckland’s West Coast Beaches, Lush Rain Forest or join a Vineyard Tour with Bush and Beach

Piha West Coast Black Sand Beach. Source www.flickr/chrisgin/

Auckland Hop on, Hop Off Explorer – There are two different bus routes where you can combine them in one day. The bus stops at fourteen attractions with full commentary and departs every 30 minutes.

Spend a day on Waiheke Island, only 35mins by ferry from downtown Auckland.  Waiheke is popular for its stunning beach’s, vineyards & wineries, art scene and watersports.

Mudbrick Restaurant & Vineyard, Waiheke Island

Background
Auckland City the largest city in New Zealand with a population of 1.4 million people.  Auckland’s nickname ‘City of Sails’ as one in three Auckland households own a boat.  Much of Auckland is built on the Auckland Volcanic Field and has 50 volcanoes. The last volcano to erupt was Rangitoto Island 600 years ago.