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Park geography

A structured look at the mountain terrain, elevation, and regional boundary context

Mount Aspiring National Park: geography

Location: Otago, New Zealand. Recorded area: 3,562 km².

A stylized, flat-design illustration showing a winding river flowing through a green valley toward snow-capped mountains in the distance, framed by coniferous trees and rocky outcrops.

Southern Alpine wilderness with glaciers, U-shaped valleys, and World Heritage status

Mount Aspiring National Park

Mount Aspiring National Park is a vast protected wilderness area in the Southern Alps of New Zealand's South Island, spanning approximately 3,562 square kilometres across the Otago and West Coast regions. The park was established in 1964 as New Zealand's tenth national park and forms the northern neighbour of Fiordland National Park. It encompasses dramatic alpine scenery including glacial valleys, over 100 glaciers, and rugged mountain peaks, with Mount Aspiring / Tititea rising to 3,033 metres as the park's namesake summit. The landscape is characterized by U-shaped valleys carved during the Ōtira Ice Age between 16,000 and 18,000 years ago, creating the steep-sided valleys that define much of the park's terrain. As part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Site, the area is recognized internationally for its outstanding natural value and serves as a premier destination for tramping, mountaineering, and wilderness exploration.

Location
New Zealand
Park type
National park
Established
1964
Area
3,562 km²
Highest point
3,033 m
Mount Aspiring National Park protected area
Location overview

Regional land protection within the Otago region of New Zealand

Mount Aspiring National Park: Regional Geography and Location

Mount Aspiring National Park is located within the Otago region of New Zealand. Official records designate the terrestrial reserve as a domestic park with no coastal, marine, or transboundary zones.
Countries
New Zealand
Regions
Otago
Primary location
Otago
Geographic setting
Inland
Boundary and coordinates

Interactive boundary geometry spanning 3,562 square kilometers

Mount Aspiring National Park Boundary Map and Spatial Extent

Mapped park geometry provides spatial context for the protected area and its surrounding terrain. Accompanying measurements detail the total area, coordinate limits, and geographic span.
Boundary area
3,599.5 km²
Boundary perimeter
602.4 km
Northernmost point
43.9254° S
Southernmost point
44.7744° S
Easternmost point
169.5929° E
Westernmost point
168.1692° E
Geographic centre
44.2787° S, 168.7873° E
North–south span
94.3 km
East–west span
113.5 km
Mount Aspiring National Park
Elevation and terrain

Recorded vertical relief data and linked ridge formations within the protected terrain

Mount Aspiring National Park Elevation Profile and Mountain Terrain Geography

This elevation summary establishes a maximum peak height of 3033 meters across the mountain park landscape. Individual feature cards document named ridges and spatial relationships located within the protected boundary.
Maximum elevation
3,033 m
Highest point
3,033 m

Selected named natural features

Lakes

Lucidus Lake

Peaks

Bernard Peak

2,457 m

Peaks

Gerard Knob

1,686 m

Ridges

Ramsay Ridge

Peaks

Howe Knob

1,568 m

Glaciers

Toby Glacier

Environmental setting

Temperate climate zones, mountain relief, and recorded forest classifications

Mount Aspiring National Park Environmental Classifications and Physical Setting

Recorded landscape features, habitat types, and seasonal classifications combine to frame the physical setting across the terrain. Stored categories link directly to relevant atlas destinations for broader regional context.
Relief
Mountain
Climate
Temperate
Water
Major water bodies
Forest cover
Partial forest
Seasonality
Seasonal

Landscape features

Mountains · Valleys · Glacier · Rivers

Habitat types

Temperate coniferous forest · Montane forest · Alpine meadow · Riverine habitat

Park atlas

Explore New Zealand's Southern Alps: Compare Protected Landscapes Adjacent to Mount Aspiring National Park

Discover Nearby National Parks and Protected Areas Around Mount Aspiring National Park

Explore nearby national parks and protected areas sharing the remarkable glacial landscapes and alpine wilderness surrounding Mount Aspiring National Park. Trace the geographic spread of conservation across New Zealand's South Island, compare diverse alpine terrains, and discover new exploration opportunities within connected protected landscapes.
An illustration of a deep glacial valley with cascading waterfalls, a flowing river, and dense forest, characteristic of Fiordland National Park.
National parkSouthland Region
Park boundaries overlap#1 closest

Southwest

Fiordland National Park

Explore its vast boundaries and unique temperate rainforest.

Glacially carved fiords, including Milford Sound, meet alpine peaks and temperate rainforests in New Zealand's Southland region.

Area
12,607 km²
Established
1952
IUCN
II
Visitors
500K annual
A soft watercolor painting depicting a calm shoreline with rolling hills in the background under a pale sky.
Marine protected areaFiordland
20 km away#2 closest

Southwest

Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve: Mapped Protected Area and Fiord Geography

A signature marine landscape within New Zealand's Fiordland region.

Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve protects a distinct underwater environment characterized by dramatic vertical rock walls and deep basins. By examining the geographic boundaries and oceanographic layering of this Fiordland site, users can better understand the interplay between the steep forested cliffs above and the thriving coral and marine wildlife habitats below the surface.

Area
6.9 km²
Established
1993
Relief
Mountain
Climate
Temperate
An illustration showing a valley with a central glacier, surrounded by steep mountains and a foreground forest with a small lake.
National parkWest Coast
35 km away#3 closest

Northeast

Westland Tai Poutini National Park: A Protected Landscape of Glaciers and Temperate Rainforests

Explore its mapped terrain and unique glacial features in West Coast, NZ.

Westland Tai Poutini National Park represents a remarkable intersection of glacial power and lush temperate rainforests along New Zealand's West Coast. As a protected national park, it showcases dramatic alpine scenery and the unique characteristic of glaciers descending to low elevations. Users can explore the mapped boundaries and the distinct natural landscapes that define this significant protected area, offering a clear view of its place within the region's geography.

Area
1,319.8 km²
Established
1960
IUCN
II
Relief
Mountain
A stylized flat illustration of a snow-capped mountain range rising above a winding river valley with evergreen trees and alpine scrub.
National parkCanterbury Region
41 km away#4 closest

Northeast

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park

Mapped glacial terrain and mountain peaks in the Canterbury Region.

Aoraki / Mount Cook rises above the Southern Alps alongside extensive icefields and glaciers, including the Tasman Glacier.

Area
707 km²
Established
1953
IUCN
II
Visitors
1M annual
Marine protected areaFiordland
50 km away#5 closest

Southwest

Hawea (Clio Rocks) Marine Reserve: Protected Marine Geography in Fiordland, New Zealand

Mapping vertical rock walls and stratified fiord water ecosystems.

Hawea (Clio Rocks) Marine Reserve is an ecologically significant marine protected area situated within the deep waters of Hāwea / Bligh Sound. The reserve is defined by its dramatic vertical rock walls, tidal current channels, and the complex water stratification that sustains diverse black coral and reef communities. It offers a unique window into the geological and marine processes that have shaped the rugged coastal landscape of New Zealand's Fiordland.

Area
4.11 km²
Established
2005
IUCN
Ia
Relief
Mountain
Marine protected areaFiordland
91 km away#6 closest

Southwest

Kahukura (Gold Arm) Marine Reserve: Marine Protected Area and Fiordland Geographic Atlas

Submerged rocky reefs and vertical rock wall landscapes

Located in the heart of New Zealand, Kahukura (Gold Arm) Marine Reserve provides a vital map of protected coastal terrain. Its unique environment features freshwater caps, tannin-stained deep water, and diverse marine topography ranging from sheltered basin ecosystems to vertical cliff structures. This marine area offers deep insight into the complex geology and conservation dynamics of the Fiordland region.

Area
4.64 km²
Established
2005
Relief
Mixed relief
Climate
Temperate
Watercolor painting of a green, hilly landscape with a winding river or inlet and pale, misty mountains in the background.
Marine protected areaFiordland
100 km away#7 closest

Southwest

Kutu Parera (Gaer Arm) Marine Reserve: Fiordland Protected Marine Landscape Atlas

Mapped marine boundaries, stratified fiord ecology, and coastal terrain analysis

Explore the structured geography of Kutu Parera (Gaer Arm) Marine Reserve, a 433-hectare protected area located within the steep, mountain-flanked fjords of New Zealand. Gain insight into its complex underwater features, including vertical rock walls, estuarine basins, and stratified water columns that define this unique marine environment within the Fiordland region.

Area
4.33 km²
Established
2005
Relief
Mixed relief
Climate
Temperate
A soft watercolor painting showing a panoramic view of a pale, misty landscape with distant mountains and a calm, light-colored shoreline with patches of green vegetation in the foreground.
Marine protected areaFiordland
111 km away#8 closest

Southwest

Taipari Roa (Elizabeth Island) Marine Reserve: Fiordland Marine Landscape and Atlas Map

Protected marine terrain and glacial fjord geography

Taipari Roa (Elizabeth Island) Marine Reserve is a protected marine area situated within the complex fjord network of Doubtful Sound. The reserve is characterized by steep underwater rock walls, deep kelp forests, and a unique freshwater cap that allows rare corals and glass sponges to thrive at shallow depths. This geographic overview examines the reserve's protected status and its structural role within the broader Fiordland ecosystem, highlighting the vertical aquatic terrain and surrounding islet environments.

Area
6.13 km²
Established
2005
Relief
Lowland
Climate
Temperate
MoriAtlas Explorer

Mount Aspiring National Park

Explore the map, landscapes, and protection details for Mount Aspiring National Park.