Climbing in the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is a popular activity and hundreds of climbers enjoy the Southern Alps each year.  

Participants need to be extremely fit and experienced in snow travel and the use of mountain climbing equipment such as ice axes and crampons and techniques such as fixed rope belaying.  If you are unsure about any of these things, it is wise to hire a guide. 

One of the most popular alpine adventures in the National Park is the Ball Pass Crossing, which is a demanding two to three day route, which crosses the Mount Cook range between the Hooker and Tasman Valleys. 

Please contact DOC for further information about climbing in the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, or contact one of the guiding companies listed in our Mountaineering section.