Southern Alps

The Southern Alps (Maori: Kā Tiritiri-o-te-Moana) are a range of mountains that run the length of the South Island of New Zealand. This mountain range has been likened to the Alps of Europe. The highest peak is Aoraki Mount Cook at 3,724 metres (12,218 ft).

Many of the highest peaks are permanently covered with snow and ice and there are several glaciers, including the often visited Franz Josef and Fox on the West Coast.

Other destinations

National parks

Glaciers

Passes
  • Lewis Pass
  • Arthurs Pass
  • Haast Pass

Tunnels
  • Otira Tunnel (railway)
  • Homer Tunnel (road)

Understand

The Southern Alps play a significant part in determining New Zealand's weather. The high mountain ranges act like a dam to the wind, forcing weather systems to flow over or around the mountain ranges. The prevailing westerly winds mean the West Coast and mountains have a high rainfall, while the East Coast is baked by a hot dry nor'wester. When the wind blows from the south, the East Coast receives rain, and snow in winter, while the West Coast will have sunny skies.

Southwesterly storms become particularly hard to forecast as a few degrees difference in the storm path is all it takes to have a nor'wester or southerly storm. This leads to weather that can change rapidly and forecasts that may evolve during the day. While New Zealand weather forecasts are reasonably reliable they do change over the day. There are special mountain forecasts that should be monitored when travelling in the mountains. Travellers in New Zealand generally, but in the Southern Alps in particular, should be prepared for any type of weather as it is possible to experience four seasons in one day.

The Southern Alps also play a significant part in sizing the geography of New Zealand. What would be considered mountains in some other parts of the world are considered mere hills in New Zealand, compared to the Southern Alps.

See
  • Native rainforests
  • Fiords
  • Glaciers
  • Lakes, some with mirror-like reflections
  • Mountains
  • Rain
  • Waterfalls

Do

Go next
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