Glaciers
Park geography
Regional boundaries, alpine elevation data, and major natural features within the landscape
Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park: geography
Location: Canterbury Region, New Zealand. Recorded area: 707 km².
New Zealand's Alpine Heartland: Glaciers, Peaks, and World Heritage
Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park is New Zealand's premier alpine protected area, encompassing the highest mountain in the country and one of the most dramatic landscapes in the Southern Alps. Located in the Canterbury Region of the South Island, the park covers approximately 707 square kilometers along the Main Divide of the Southern Alps, sharing its western border with Westland Tai Poutini National Park. The park is centered on Aoraki / Mount Cook, which rises to 3,724 meters and represents the focal point of New Zealand's most spectacular mountain environment. Glaciers cover roughly 40 percent of the park's terrain, including the Tasman Glacier, the country's largest. The area holds profound cultural significance for Ngāi Tahu, the iwi who hold mana whenua over the region, and was recognized as part of the Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Site in 1990, becoming New Zealand's first natural World Heritage designation.
- Location
- New Zealand
- Park type
- National park
- Established
- 1953
- Area
- 707 km²
- Highest point
- 3,724 m
Location overview
Regional placement and administrative status in New Zealand
Geographic Setting of Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park is located within the Canterbury Region of New Zealand. Administered as an inland protected area, its geographic profile excludes marine and coastal zones.
- Countries
- New Zealand
- Regions
- Canterbury Region
- Primary location
- Canterbury Region
- Geographic setting
- Inland
Boundary and coordinates
Analyzing the 707 square kilometer spatial footprint and regional extent
Geographic Boundary Map for Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
Visualizing the mapped outline of Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park establishes clear spatial context for its alpine terrain. Derived measurements clarify the 707 square kilometer area alongside calculated center points and coordinate spans.
- Boundary area
- 723.3 km²
- Boundary perimeter
- 179.6 km
- Northernmost point
- 43.4099° S
- Southernmost point
- 43.8001° S
- Easternmost point
- 170.6156° E
- Westernmost point
- 169.9765° E
- Geographic centre
- 43.5995° S, 170.2851° E
- North–south span
- 43.4 km
- East–west span
- 51.6 km
Elevation and terrain
Mountain relief metrics and recorded natural features across the protected landscape
Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park Elevation Profile and Terrain Geography
Recorded elevation data establishes the peak summit benchmark at 3724 meters within the mountain terrain. Associated feature records document glaciers, ridges, peaks, and streams located inside the protected area.
- Maximum elevation
- 3,724 m
- Highest point
- 3,724 m
Selected named natural features
Ridges
Ben Ohau Range
Glaciers
Butcher Glacier
Peaks
Mount Hamilton
3,025 m
Mountain saddles
Porter Col
3,546 m
Peaks
Mount Sutton-Turner
2,437 m
Environmental setting
Alpine relief, glacial hydrology, and sparse forest cover classifications
Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park Environmental Setting and Landscape Classifications
Recorded landscape features, habitat types, and climate zones offer complementary ways to read the physical setting of Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park. Stored environmental classifications connect directly to relevant atlas destinations across the protected area.
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Alpine
- Water
- Major water bodies
- Forest cover
- Sparse forest
- Seasonality
- Seasonal
Landscape features
Mountains · Valleys · Forest · Lakes · Rivers · Glacier
Habitat types
Montane forest · Alpine meadow · Grassland · Riverine habitat · Lacustrine habitat · Glacial habitat
Park atlas
Trace the broader geographic context and interconnected protected landscapes across New Zealand's South Island.
Discover Other National Parks and Protected Areas Surrounding Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
Explore additional national parks and protected areas located in the wider region surrounding Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, including its adjacent World Heritage site landscapes. This allows you to compare diverse alpine environments, glacial systems, and conservation efforts across the Southern Alps of New Zealand's South Island.
National parkWest Coast
Park boundaries overlap#1 closest
North
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
National parkOtago
41 km away#2 closest
Southwest
Mount Aspiring National Park
Explore the U-shaped valleys and mapped boundaries of this iconic national park.
Mount Aspiring National Park, in Otago, New Zealand. Landscapes: mountains, valleys, and glaciers.
- Area
- 3,562 km²
- Established
- 1964
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Mountain
Nature reserveNew Zealand
About 68 km away#3 closest
East
Peel Forest Park Nature Reserve: Mapped Geography and Protected Forest Landscapes
Canterbury Foothills and Southern Alps transition zone
Located in the foothills of New Zealand, Peel Forest Park preserves a significant fragment of native podocarp forest. This reserve features a diverse landscape of river valleys and forested slopes, offering a clear view of the transition from the Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps massif.
- Area
- 7.686 km²
- Established
- 1909
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Temperate
National parkNew Zealand
78 km away#4 closest
Northeast
Arthur's Pass National Park
Explore the unique geography and mapped boundaries of this South Island national park.
Arthur's Pass National Park, in New Zealand. Landscapes: mountains, valleys, and forests.
- Area
- 1,184.7 km²
- Established
- 1929
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Mountain
Protected landscapeSouth Island
About 96 km away#5 closest
Northeast
Craigieburn Forest Park: Protected Alpine Landscape and Southern Alps Geography
High country terrain from beech forests to alpine ridges.
Situated along the eastern flanks of the Southern Alps, Craigieburn Forest Park offers a complex mountain geography that serves as both a recreational hub and an ecological restoration zone. The area features a clear transition from beech-clad valley floors and glacial terraces to wide tussock basins and craggy summits, providing a detailed look at the diverse natural terrain of the Canterbury region.
- Area
- 446.948 km²
- Established
- 1967
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Alpine
National parkWest Coast Region
147 km away#6 closest
Northeast
Paparoa National Park: Detailed Geographic Atlas of Karst Formations and Coastal Terrain
Discover protected landscape boundaries and unique New Zealand geology.
Paparoa National Park, located in the West Coast Region of New Zealand, offers a unique window into complex karst geology and dynamic coastal landscapes. This national park is characterized by extensive limestone cave systems, underground rivers, and the famous Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. The park's geography includes dramatic mountain terrain within the Paparoa Range and a striking coastline, providing a rich dataset for mapping protected area context and understanding regional natural features. It stands apart for its subterranean wonders and eroded limestone formations.
- Area
- 429.7 km²
- Established
- 1987
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Mountain
Marine protected areaWest Coast
About 157 km away#7 closest
Northeast
Punakaiki Marine Reserve: Mapped Protected Waters and West Coast Geographic Context
Exploring marine habitats and coastal land-sea corridors
Punakaiki Marine Reserve provides a critical look at marine conservation geography in New Zealand. Located along the West Coast, the reserve encompasses a variety of seafloor substrates and coastal formations that define the boundary between the Tasman Sea and the rugged limestone landscapes of the region. This atlas entry provides essential context for understanding the reserve's role in linking terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
- Area
- 35.2 km²
- Established
- 2014
- Relief
- Lowland
- Climate
- Temperate
Regional parkCanterbury Region
About 159 km away#8 closest
East
Waimakariri River Regional Park: Geography and Protected Landscape Atlas for Canterbury
Braided river corridors and wetland habitats in the Canterbury Region
Waimakariri River Regional Park encompasses a significant managed corridor along the Waimakariri River, featuring an intricate mix of braided riverbeds, saltmarshes, and reforested land. This profile details the park topography, highlighting its role in regional flood management and its varied natural terrain across the Canterbury Plains, providing a clear geographic view of its multi-use protected boundaries.
- Area
- 150 km²
- Relief
- Lowland
- Access
- Easy access
- Scope
- Terrestrial
MoriAtlas Explorer
Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
Explore the map, landscapes, and protection details for Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park.
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