The Southern Alps are the highest range in Australasia and contain most of New Zealand’s highest peaks with the highest being Mount Cook at over 12,000 feet.

The Southern Alps are a mountain range extending nearly the entire length of New Zealand’s Southern Island. The range varies in elevation from 3,000 feet to peaks that are over 10,000 feet. There are a total of 2122 named peaks in the Southern Alps and Mount Cook is the highest at 12,218 feet.

The Southern Alps continue to grow higher from tectonic pressure and they are some of the fastest growing mountains in the world which are estimated to be uplifted approximately 7 millimeters per year. The highest peaks are permanently snow covered with many glaciers flowing down through the highest passes and slopes.

Lakes along the mountain range

There are many lakes along the base of the mountains that are created from the snow melt and rain runoff. My first views of the Southern Alps were across beautiful lakes with the Alps in the background. The scenery of the practically secluded lakes with snowcapped mountains in the distance was irresistible and I had to stop driving to take pictures many times along my journey.

Glaciers of the Southern Alps

There are over 3,000 glaciers in the Southern Alps. The largest in New Zealand is the Tasman Glacier which id 23 km (14.3 miles) long and between 1 and 2 km (0.6 and 1.2 miles) wide at different points. One of the easiest glaciers to see up close is Fox Glacier, pictured below. A link to more information about Glaciers of the Southern Alps is at the end of this post.

National Parks in the Southern Alps

In 1929, Arthur’s Pass National Park was the first area of the Southern Alps to be designated as a national park. Currently, there are eight national parks in the Southern Alps. These parks include the Kahurangi National Park, Nelson Lakes National Park, Arthur’s Pass National Park, Paparoa National Park, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, Mount Aspiring National Park, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, and Fiordland National Park. I have visited two of these national parks which I have include a brief description with a few photos.

Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park

Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is a rugged terrain of ice and barren rock. It includes 19 mountain peaks that tower over 3,000 meters (nearly 10,000 ft.) high. The photos below provide a glimpse of Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park.

Fiordland National Park

Fiordland National Park is the geographic region in the south-western corner of the south island of New Zealand. The majority of the national park is dominated by the steep sided snow-capped Southern Alps, deep lakes and glacier carved sea flooded western valleys (fiords). A link to more information about Fiordland National Park is at the end of this post.

Aerial View of the Southern Alps

Seeing the mountains from a distance is nice but I wanted to see what they looked like from above. Some parts of the mountain range green valleys that are filled with glacial lakes. These areas are shown in the photos below.

Other parts of the mountains are void from plant life and the only thing to see for miles is inhospitable barren rocks except in the higher elevations where the mountain tops are snow covered all year long.

Both areas are beautiful in their own ways but I prefer the lower elevations that are covered with temperate forests and are dotted with stunning lakes and waterfalls.

My final view of the Southern Alps

Sometimes I like to end my post with a final photo that will leave a lasting impression for the topic. In this case, the final photo of this post is actually my last impression because it was my last view of the Southern Alps in New Zealand.

The Dust on My Shoes

I grew up on the coast and when I visit mountains ranges, I feel like I am visiting another world. The mountains are so vast and gazing up at mountain tops that are over 10,000 feet in elevation is almost unfathomable but they truly are majestic.

When I visited New Zealand’s Southern Alps, I wanted to experience every aspect of them that I could. I wanted to experience the views from a distance, I wanted to see pristine lakes, I wanted to hike in temperate forests, I wanted to walk right up the base of a glacier and I wanted to view the Alps from above them.

One of the experiences that I choose was to fly over the Southern Alps in a small plane because I wanted to see the places that could not be seen from the highway or on short hikes but I also wanted to see then up close and not from 40,000 feet above them. I have flown in small plans several times and flying at lower altitudes is a completely different experience than the large commercial jets. The views are much better but it can be nerve wracking when flying just above the tree tops or in this case flying just over the mountain peaks.

There was actually a period of time that I did not think the airplane was going to clear the mountain peak. I still don’t think the airplane could have made it over the top and the pilot knew it also, that is why he went around the peak but he waited until the last minute to scare me and it worked, I was literally holding my breath hoping that we would get an updraft to lift us over the ridge. I have included a couple of photos from the co-pilots seat as we approached the mountain top and as we flew around the edge of the highest peak. I hope this helps understand the experience.

There are many ways to experience the places we travel to see. Try to choose a method that will give you an experience that will last a lifetime! I will always remember my flight over the Southern Alps!

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