Southern Alps – Kā Tiritiri-o-te-Moana

The Southern Alps (Kā Tiritiri-o-te-Moana) is the mountain range that extends along much of the length of New Zealand’s south island. Pretty much any trip to the south island you will be within a short drive to some part of the range. The highest peak in the Southern Alps, Aoraki or Mt Cook, which is near the centre of the range on the west side of the island. The name “Southern Alps” generally refers to the entire range, although separate names are given to many of the smaller ranges that form part of it.

I have visited the range several times, and along several points from the west coast, to Mt Cook all the way to the mountains around Queenstown and onto Fiordland. They really do define the South island landscape.