Southern Alps in New Zealand
This mountain range runs north to south across the South Island and includes mountain peaks above 3,000 meters.
In the north, the alps run into hills around the famous Malborough wine region and the nature parks Abel Tasman National Park, Kahurangi National Park and Nelson Lakes National Park where you can take breathtaking hikes. Lake Takapo, a beautiful mountain lake where you can kayak, swim or fish.
Mount Cook National Park is one of the most beautiful parks in New Zealand with the Tasman Glacier with beautiful snow-capped peaks. On Lake Wakatipu is the lively city of Queenstown where many adventure activities can be done but also clubs and restaurants can be enjoyed.
Highlights of the Southern Alps
Arthurs Pass
Highway 73 is one of the fastest and most beautiful routes between Christchurch and the west coast. The road runs right through the Southern Alps, the New Zealand Alps. The section between Springfield and Kumara Junction is about 160 km and goes through Arthurs' Pass. Arthurs Pass is also the name of the village that lies in the middle of the Southern Alps. The village looks much like a village in the Swiss Alps and this is also where the entrance to the 8.5 km Otira train tunnel, the only train connection through the mountains, is located. Take time here for a stop to see the more than 130-meter-high Devils Punch Bowl waterfalls, reachable after a hike of about 3 quarters of an hour.
The road over Arthurs' Pass may be closed in winter due to heavy snowfall, so it is advisable to inquire in advance.
The road soon climbs steeply up to the 945-meter Porters' Pass, the highest pass on the route. Porters' Pass is a popular winter destination for day trips for Christchurch residents. There are many skiing opportunities here and ice skating is possible on nearby Lake Lyndon.
Fiordland
Te Anau lies on the 61-kilometer-long lake of the same name, making it the largest lake in the South Island. Te Anau is the "gateway" to Fiordland National Park. The village is the ideal place as a starting point for visits to some of the national park's highlights. You can start here for hikes on the Milford Track, guided tours that take you through a magnificent canyon, over high mountains and along raging rivers. During this 4-day hike, you will stay overnight in comfortable cabins located along the route. The tours are organized in the months of October to April and are very popular, so it is advisable to book early if you want to participate.
Queenstown
Queenstown is a lively town and is also called the "center of extreme sports". The city is located on Lake Wakatipu and has an atmosphere of a Swiss mountain town. The first inhabitants of Queenstown, as in many towns and villages of New Zealand, were gold seekers. After the gold deposits were depleted, many residents moved away and it became a sleepy town of little significance.
Since the 1970s, Queenstown developed into an international resort town. Queenstown has about 15,000 inhabitants and is the center of adventure sports. Tourism is therefore the main source of income and you will find many hotels, souvenir stores, clubs and bars, restaurants and tour operators.
Mount Cook
Mount Cook National Park is one of the most beautiful parks in New Zealand with spectacular views and 22 mountain peaks above 3000 meters. The park covers an area of 700 square kilometers. One of the 22 mountains also gives the park its name, Mount Cook. The majestic mountain whose summit rises 3,764 meters above sea level also makes it the highest mountain in New Zealand. The Mount Cook National Park, over a third of which is permanently covered with snow and ice, borders Westland National Park to the west and forms the backbone of the Southern Alps.
The Mount Cook National Park is home to the majestic Tasman Glacier. This is 29 kilometers long, making it New Zealand's longest glacier. It is 4 kilometers wide and 600 meters deep.