Aoraki Mount Cook: Top Classes & Workshops (Te Wahipounamu)
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, also a part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage area, is just a seriously wonderful place, isn’t it? Like, it gives people, like your very self, a whole heap of opportunities to learn and experience this amazing landscape in some truly unique ways. So, are you into thrilling guided hikes, hoping to, in a way, grab that, sort of, perfect photo, or keen to get up close and personal with some colossal glaciers? I’m talking really personal here. Well, there’s a class or workshop with your name on it, like, pretty much! So, it’s almost like we’re checking out the top five ways to, I mean, see what’s available that will, well, seriously make your visit just unforgettable. Read our full review: Aoraki Mount Cook Full Review and Details
1. Guided Hiking Tours: Ascend with Experts
Exploring Aoraki Mount Cook National Park really does become a whole different, should I say better, story with, say, experienced guides, right? That, is that they know the area inside and out, they also bring an extra dimension of safety and some pretty in-depth information to your hike. Anyway, depending on your fitness levels and just what views are you looking for, there’s, you know, something for literally everyone, so it may come to your requirements, alright?
So, the Hooker Valley Track, for example, tends to be a pretty, just slightly popular choice, is it not? It’s rather flat and gives stunning views of Aoraki Mount Cook and, too, the Hooker River, if you can catch it that is. Very suitable for most fitness levels, like your own! I think it is. That, you see, there’s the Mueller Hut Route which is very challenging that has stunning alpine vistas for those that want more. Actually, it is an overnight trek where reservations are pretty well required, so that’s something to, like, have in mind. Like your brain! Book the Mueller Hut hike: Find out more.
Local guides can offer so much information about the park’s plants, animals, and geological story as they walk, as I was saying. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Guided Tours)
“A guide really doesn’t just show you the path. As a matter of fact, they also unlock stories of the land that you would completely miss otherwise. First, that, I can say! It’s almost like gaining a friend with serious mountain credentials”
2. Photography Workshops: Capture the Majestic Scenery
If capturing the crazy beauty of Aoraki Mount Cook in stills is very what you are into, photography workshops just help tons, you know. Like your capturing in photos! So, these sessions tends to be lead by photographers who happen to be professionals who are experienced at showing others some ways to nail those shots. In some respects, that you will then hang up on the wall!
So, too, they may cover everything from how to set up your camera for mountain photography all the way down to how to put it all together, right? The thing is, they teach you how to compose the photos. Still, it’s getting hands-on and they teach you all through being out there doing photos in all kinds of lighting that could be changing so much! The other option is post-processing. Learn photography: Book it today.
Imagine having a professional teach you how to get photos that very reflect the true glory of the Southern Alps! Clearly, your Instagram would never quite be the same again! Anyway, the feedback they give is going to seriously advance the photography game right away! Like immediately and, also, as I was saying before. As a matter of fact that is something you can count on. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Capture the Views)
“A photography workshop provides the skills and insights so that, that will definitely take you, and your images from simple snapshots, to something that tells stories and triggers very powerful feelings.”
3. Glacier Explorations: Walk on Ancient Ice
Getting super close to glaciers is a must do if you are visiting Aoraki Mount Cook. Right? So, Glacier exploration excursions happen to give you, so, some unbelievably direct access to these natural giants. As a matter of fact, these don’t just involve sightseeing, instead they immerse you in an ice field, it’s almost other-worldly.
Lake Tekapo and, like, Tasman Glacier tend to be just slightly popular locations, very! Now the tour typically does happen to start with, you know, a short boat ride. Finally, from there it goes on over to the ice. The boats that they utilize are literally meant to deal with glacier lakes and will bring everyone, just about, very near the bottom of the glaciers. Explore Glaciers: Get up close
I can tell you the guides provide all sorts of safe gear as you stroll right beside icebergs drifting slowly across glacier lakes. Seemingly, it also lets you observe and learn how, slowly but surely, the glaciers create those landforms we look up to and just really dig! Seriously one of the craziest life experiences if you’ve never set foot near, but mostly *on* one. Check out pricing for Glacier Excursions. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Explore Glaciers)
“The opportunity to walk on the Tasman Glacier and feel the enormity and also feel the rawness of nature under your feet, literally and figuratively, it’s not to be skipped.”
4. Stargazing Adventures: Discover the Southern Skies
As the night sky, that’s pitch-black, wraps around Aoraki Mount Cook, and like the park gets transformed to an amazing, crazy, should I say magical observatory. It does bring out, I should point out, the best location for getting up close and more personal with the stars. Usually, excursions in stargazing provide just some good telescopes plus informed guides so you can figure stuff out way up there.
In short you, may actually even get educated about how to identify several constellations, just how to find them as well! Still, there are the stories. Like stories from Maori people of New Zealand or those from old astrology which adds something that the whole experience is enhanced by, very naturally so! Stargaze Tonight: Book today.
Being literally a Gold Dark Sky Reserve that area will be completely away from any artificial lights which really is meant to offer the most mind-blowing views, especially on like a good, super-clear night. Usually a guided tour with an astronomer literally unlocks parts of the universe you are just able to see just right there from the ground under you! Very right and very, really clear so. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (See the Stars)
“Stargazing right from the heart of the Southern Alps puts you personally, as I was saying, amongst, not just some awesome landscapes, so, but so much wonder and appreciation for all that infinite splendor going right past our pretty-small planet.”
5. Helicopter and Fixed-Wing Flights: Aerial Views of the Park
For anyone into completely unbelievable scenes and never witnessed before, a chopper or airplane is likely the solution for this park! To clarify, aerial tours bring unparalleled panoramic visions from the mountains plus the glaciers along the totally turquoise rivers streaming way through the landscape. Too, there is no place I forgot. Almost! Then it became clear as I write these words so!
For the money it may cost it gets a new meaning in sight and new perspectives which allows viewers a feeling that can never be achieved walking, is it not. Typically that includes very specialized scenic routes right by very tall Mt Cook itself plus flights near the rugged coastlines for this national park to explore what others cannot see. Fly Above: Soar the Skies.
These scenic tours may combine ski landings to remote regions when in winter which I suggest to serious adventurists. Yet you like what you prefer, actually I don’t know. Anyway you can find those photo moments by helicopter excursions around Aoraki can almost change perspective on mountain ranges like, so never ever, will never quite disappear completely off the memory reels again, or never be taken from mind by those involved so well. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Book your Flight)
“A flight literally grants the sensation like never before of what Aoraki represents. Literally, so you may view all its massive grandeur laid before everyone there! As a matter of fact a bird view allows us such new and great opportunities for new ways to view nature from high up so well too!”
