Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre — Attraction in South Island

This world-class visitor centre is a 'must-do' activity during your visit to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Entry is free. The visitor centre building is an attraction in itself, featuring a large picture window looking out to the mountain Aoraki. You can easily spend half a day exploring the artwork collection, interpretation exhibits and watching DVDs about the area.

Getting there Drive into Mount Cook village on SH80 then turn right at the T intersection. The visitor centre is located in the heart of the village and is well signposted Visitor centres are staffed by DOC rangers who have firsthand, in-depth local knowledge about: •Walks and hiking - short walks, multi-day hikes, Great Walks •Track conditions, weather, and safety •Hut and Campsite bookings •Heritage sites •Cycleways •Maps •Marine reserves •Conservation projects •Local stories, legends and history - our nature, our people •Gateway to Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park

Whether you are looking for a relaxing walk in native forest, a more demanding hike or trek into alpine wilderness, or a quiet place to sit and enjoy the view, the Mackenzie Region has it all. Naturalists the world over come to view the wondrous variety of flowering native plants ad the unique insect and bird life in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Glorious mountain walks to suit every degree of fitness show off the national park’s rich flora, including the Mount Cook lily, the largest buttercup...

You'll find the Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre in the middle of the Village snuggled up next to the iconic Hermitage Hotel. This is one of the better Visitor Centres we have visited on South Island. Opening hours are 8.30-4.30pm daily.

In short, this is an essential stop to make before attempting longer and overnight hikes within the National Park. It is important to find out latest information on trail and weather conditions and this is the place you do that. This is also where you register for overnight hut use and pick up general trail information and maps. You'll also find and expected range of souvenir and gift shop items here.

The Visitor Centre also serves as something of a museum on the history of local mountaineering and other facets of early life, local weather patterns, fauna and flora around Mount Cook. This makes for a good way to spend 30-45 minutes of your time if weather conditions are poor and preventing you from doing hikes you may want. Displays are spaced out over two floors.

In the end, this is a very good DOC Visitor Centre, a first stop for anyone planning on hiking in the Mount Cook...

Beautiful park with well marked and perfectly maintained trails for hikers of all ages and abilities. The visitors center is a great resource for hikers.

The Mt Cook village (i.e. Mt Cook Hotel & Lodge) is your only option for food and water refills. The latter can be done for free at the visitors center, but the former is very expensive. There are limited food options for the trail, but they do have a couple of cafes and a high-end restaurant at their Hermitage Hotel. There are no towns nearby, so plan accordingly.

The stargazing tours are good, but do NOT book one anytime on or near a full moon, as the bright night sky will result in an expensive waste of...