Welcome to Aoraki (or better known as Mt. Cook)! At 3724m, this towering mountain is the highest peak in New Zealand. Kickstart your tour of Aotearoa, starting from a cozy local village just 750m above sea level, where you can make your way through the stunning Kawarau Gorge, Cromwell and the quaint township of Omarama, where you'll have the option to taste one of the best creamy chicken pies! You'll get the chance to hike up through Lindis Pass, one of the only three alpine roads which cut through the otherwise impassable Southern Alps. Next-up, you'll see one of the bluest lakes ever: Lake Pukaki! Watch out for some of the several location scenes from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy! Arriving at the alpine village of Aoraki/Mt Cook and The Hermitage (home of the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre) you then have 4 hours to explore many of the village’s popular activities and attractions.