The Mt Cook National Park encompasses 70, 000 hectares, of which 1/3 is snow covered all year round. The rugged mountains rise steeply into the sky giving the engrossed visitor a sore neck. 19 Peaks stretch above 3000 metres with Aoraki Mt Cook (New Zealand's tallest mountain) at 3755m (12800 feet). Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore the park because there is simply so much to do.
Situated in the unique alpine village of Hanmer Springs 90 minutes drive north of Christchurch, the major gateway to the South Island of New Zealand. Hanmer Springs is a year round holiday destination offering a variety of outdoor activities, great cafes and accommodation. In fact, the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa are so popular that they were voted BEST VISITOR ATTRACTION at the 2004, 2005 and 2006 New Zealand Tourism Awards and also received the coveted Distinction Award in 2006.
Internationally famed 'The Garden City', Christchurch's well-established expansive parks and public gardens owe much to the planning and foresight of the city's founding fathers. The centrally-located 161 hectare Hagley Park, the Botanic Gardens, the four leafy inner-city avenues, Victoria Square and spectacular gardens such as Mona Vale on the banks of the River Avon bear testimony to this legacy. It is a vision which is embraced and perpetuated today by proud residents right throughout the city. The Floral Festival held in February each year is certainly one of the most popular festivals on the annual calendar...a time when the city is a blaze of colour. In 1996, Christchurch was acknowledged as the outstanding garden city from 620 international entries and in 1997, was judged Overall Winner of Major Cities in the Nations in Bloom International Competition to become ‘Garden City of the World‘!