Which mountain range is home to Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain?

The Southern Alps are home to Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain.

The range runs for about 500 kilometres along New Zealand’s South Island, broadly following the island’s Alpine Fault. Aoraki / Mount Cook rises to 3,724 metres and is the country’s highest summit. Its Māori name, Aoraki, is commonly used alongside the English name.

The Southern Alps contain many glaciers, including the Tasman Glacier, New Zealand’s largest glacier by area. The range divides the wetter west coast from the comparatively drier Canterbury Plains, creating a major climatic contrast across the South Island.

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park protects the mountain and surrounding alpine landscapes. The Southern Alps should not be confused with Australia’s Australian Alps; the two ranges are separated by the Tasman Sea and have different geological settings.