How do you get to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park?
How do you get to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park? Aoraki Mt Cook is right in the middle of the Southern Alps (Tiritiri o te Moana), deep down in the heart of the South Island. There's only one way to get to Mt Cook and that is to drive on State Highway 80. From the turn off at the southern end of Lake Pukaki you drive 30 miles (50km) on Highway 80 to Mt.
How to get to Mount Cook New Zealand?
How Do You Get to Mt Cook? Mt Cook is connected to the rest of the South Island via State Highway 80 and State Highway 8. The closest international airport is Queenstown Airport (3 hours drive), which also has frequent domestic flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
How long does it take to climb Mount Aoraki?
The Aoraki Mount Cook climb is typically a 12 to 16 hour day, although it's common for parties taking 20 or 24 hours. A huge day, 1700 m vertical. People often underestimate the difficulty if they come from the Alps, because it's not a 4000 m peak. But 1700 m vertical is a big summit day anywhere in the world.