The Best Rock Climbing Routes in Mount Cook

A full descent of the upper Fox and Explorer glacier between two spectacularly positioned huts. Best done in early season before the glaciers begin to open up and after a good overnight freeze....

This spectacular traverse between two high mountain huts provides a half-day journey, perfect as part of a multi day hut to hut trip - or a shorter rest day between high mountain objectives....

This is a journey into the heart of the Westland National Park. Both huts are alpine huts with 12 bunks available in each. Spaces are available on a first come, first served basis and in high season they can fill up....

This fine summit provides a great introductory peak in the Southern Alps. Although a relatively straightforward ascent, it requires all the skills needed for the higher summits in moderated doses and without the same levels of danger and commitment....

This popular circuit provides a short day of mountaineering from the Plateau hut, perfect for your first day based from the hut or after a morning helicopter journey in. The route has a bit of everything and is a great way of gearing up body and mind for more the more challenging objectives hereabouts....

This popular itinerary is the easiest 3,000m peak accessible from the Pioneer hut. It rises up to the spectacular dividing ridge line of the Southern Alps and in good conditions is a relatively fast journey....

A much sought after summit for those staying in the Pioneer hut, this mountain has a very remote feel with outstanding views of both Mt Tasman and Aoraki. It involves complicated glacial navigation as well as steep snow slopes and exposed ridges....

Minarets is a classic mountaineering itinerary from the Centennial hut. It has a very remote feel and spectacular views from its summit down to the Tasman Glacier. The route involves a glacial journey into a climb up steep snow slopes to bring you to the summit ridge....

Mt Dixon is one of the most popular summits gained from the Plateau hut - it's a perfect training and acclimatisation peak for Aoraki whilst providing aesthetic and engaging climbing along a knife edge ridge and up steep snow slopes....

The North Shoulder is the easiest and most popular way to ascend Mt Tasman. It still only receives a handful of ascents each year and despite its relatively easy climbing, its remoteness and sustained nature make an extremely challenging and committing outing....

Aoraki, at 3,724m, is the highest mountain in New Zealand and an imposing feature from the Plateau hut. The mountain used to look slightly different and be marginally higher but a huge rockfall from the East face in 1991 changed the peak forever....

Mt Sefton's position, high above the Mueller Glacier, makes it one of the most prominent peaks when viewed from Mt Cook village and the popular treks thereabouts. Most teams wishing to ascend it however, will need to make the long journey around the mountain range to the West Coast and the start of the stunning Copland Track....

Mt Wakefield, though small in comparison to the summits behind it, provides some of the best views of the Southern Alps. Guideless Buttress is one of the longest and most sustained rock ridges in the region with continuously interesting climbing and route finding....

The Grand Traverse of Aoraki is a mammoth undertaking and one of the finest and wildest alpine traverses one can undertake in the southern hemisphere. It is both committing and serious, with prolonged sections of sustained climbing, ridge traversing and an involved descent down the Linda Glacier route....