What is the highest peak in the Southern Alps of New Zealand?

The highest peak in the Southern Alps of New Zealand is Aoraki / Mount Cook.

Aoraki / Mount Cook reaches 3,724 meters (12,218 feet) on New Zealand’s South Island. It is the highest point in both the Southern Alps and the country, whose long mountain chain runs along much of the South Island. The mountain has three named summits: Low Peak, Middle Peak, and High Peak, with High Peak forming the summit.

The mountain is culturally significant to Ngāi Tahu Māori, who regard Aoraki as a sacred ancestor. In Māori tradition, Aoraki and his brothers were turned to stone after their canoe became stranded and they were frozen by the south wind; the canoe became the South Island and the brothers became the Southern Alps.

The official name recognizes both traditions and histories: Aoraki/Mount Cook was formalized through the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998. The first recorded European ascent took place in 1894, by Tom Fyfe, George Graham, and Jack Clarke. Mount Tasman is another major Southern Alps peak, but it is lower.