Mount Cook & Mount Cook National Park
There is no missing this mountain on your New Zealand tour of the South Island. Journey from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo to observe the largest mountain in New Zealand, measuring 3754 metres high. Located in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, an alpine park, 40% of it is made up of glaciers. There are 19 other peaks within the park but Mt Cook dwarfs them all in height.
Due to the harsh land and ice, hardly any forest exists here except for alpine plants and around 40 species of birds. The drive there is just as spectacular as you'll drive along Lake Tekapo to view the turquoise glacial lakes and here, you'll visit The Church of the Good Shepherd built in 1935 to the glory of God as a memorial to the pioneers of the Mackenzie Country.