No trip to New Zealand is complete without visiting the incredible mountains in Canterbury. This is alpine country, with huge snow-capped peaks, glacial lakes, some of the best star gazing in the world and jaw-dropping views around every corner. Aoraki/Mount Cook is one of our favourite places in the world, and is always the first stop on any of our trips to New Zealand.
Quick Summary
Top Tip: Give yourself plenty of time in the mountains, as the weather is changeable. It’s pretty common for Aoraki/Mount Cook to disappear for days on end.
When to go: Christchurch and the lowlands are mild in the winter and warm in the summer. Winter is a great time to see seal pups in Kaikoura, but summer brings the potential for orcas.
The mountains can see snow even in the summer (we faced a blizzard trying to get to Mueller Hut in December). We loved winter in the mountains, but we were lucky with relatively mild conditions. Summer is the more reliable time to visit.
Peak Season: December - March.
Off Season: June - September.
The Best of Christchurch & Canterbury
Whale watching is a must-do in Kaikoura, but what’s the best way to see these incredible animals? We chose to go with Wings Over Whales, and in this guide we will tell you all about our experience - what we saw, how the flight was and most importantly, was it worth it?
The Hooker Valley Track is one of New Zealand’s best day walks, but few know the secret side trail or the best way to avoid the crowds. Our step-by-step guide will tell you all the top tips to enjoy this incredible walk like a pro.
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park offers some of the best walking trails in the country. The scenery is guaranteed to blow you away, with the incredible snow-capped mountains, milky blue glacial lakes and raging rivers. We’re sharing the best walks from firsthand experience, including some hidden gems that most people have never heard of.
The Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway is a fantastic walk which showcases the gorgeous coastline and visits Kaikoura’s best seal colony. However the main trail also spends a lot of time alongside the road. We’re sharing a better route which never follows the road and takes you along various bays and up to the cliff tops for the most beautiful views in the area.
The Red Tarns Track is one of the most underrated walks in all of the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. The views from this relatively short trail are nothing short of spectacular, especially if you head up for sunset! We’re sharing everything you need to know about the walk, including difficulty and the best time to do it.
Mt Fyffe is one of the best day hikes on the South Island, with incredible mountain views in one direction and coastal views in the other. If you want to extend the adventure you can even stay in the picturesque hut two thirds of the way up. It’s a great spot for sunset and stargazing! We’re sharing everything you need to know about the hike including difficulty and trail conditions.
The gorgeous town of Kaikoura is well known for its marine wildlife, with some of the best dolphin watching in the world and a year round sperm whale population. However, there is more to Kaikoura than just wildlife, you’ll also find one of the South Island’s best day hikes, beautiful secluded bays to explore, great sunrise and sunset spots and much more. We’re sharing all the best things to do in Kaikoura including lots beyond the marine tours.
Aoraki Mount Cook is one of the most magical destinations in New Zealand. The scenery is breathtaking and there are plenty of ways to enjoy it for hikers and non hikers alike. We sharing all the best things to do based on personal experience, from glacier hiking to stargazing, sunrise and sunset spots, to historic mountain huts and everything in-between.
Wandering in-between the towering Omarama Clay Cliffs feels like you’ve suddenly left New Zealand and been transported to Utah. It’s an easy walk to see the cliffs, but to walk amongst them is a little more of an adventure. We’re sharing everything you need to know about visiting.
Washpen Falls is a gorgeous waterfall set in an atmospheric gorge on private land just one hour from Christchurch. It’s a fairly easy loop track through some beautiful forest and you’ll also get good views on a clear day. We’re sharing exactly what to expect when visiting Washpen Falls.
The Sealy Tarns Track offers some of the most incredible views in the Aoraki-Mount Cook National Park. To say it has the wow factor is an understatement. We’re sharing everything you need to know about the hike including difficulty, track conditions and a great turn around viewpoint if you don’t want to walk the whole trail, but still want to see one of the best views in the park.
Tasman Lake is one of the most beautiful in New Zealand, milky blue and backed by mountains, it’s a must visit when in Aoraki-Mount Cook National Park. We’re sharing all the best viewpoints, including where to head for sunrise and lots of tips for making the most of your visit.
Our accounts of heli-hiking in Franz Josef Glacier and Mount Cook, one of the best experiences in New Zealand. We've hiked in quite a few places over the years, but it wasn't until New Zealand that we added glacier to the list. It's safe to say, that these were two of the most incredible experiences we've ever had, hiking on top of the world in the stunning Franz Josef Glacier and Mount Cook.
New Zealand's amazing hiking isn't just limited to 'The Great Walks' and the Banks Peninsula Track is one of the best. Here’s our hike around this stunning part of New Zealand.
Hooker Hut is one of Aoraki Mount Cook’s best accessible adventures. In fact it’s one of the best in the whole country. With sensational mountain views and an easy walk to get there, this hut is set to become one of the must do attractions. We’re sharing everything you need to know about the walk and the hut.