Mount Cook/Aoraki

Mount Cook is New Zealand's highest mountain at over 12,000 feet and is named after Captain James Cook.  It is located somewhere in the middle of South Island on the leeward (east) side of the Southern Alps. It is an iconic New Zealand landmark and one of the most popular tourist destinations.  The whole area was carved out by glaciers many, many years ago.  Mount Cook is one of many tall mountains in the area as you will be able to see from the pictures below.  It is also known by its Maori name, Aoraki.
There is a small village that was specially built for tourists visiting the Mount Cook area.  It is dominated by the Hermitage Hotel and I think the hotel runs all the motels and chalets.  They have a backpackers wing where we stayed.  There are 2 bunk beds (4 beds total) where we slept.  It was very comfortable accommodation and the restaurant is very nice too.  Not much else for me to say other than showing you some of the pictures that I took.
If you are wondering if some of the scenes from the Lord of the Rings trilogy were shot here, the answer is yes.  I think the 3 movies were shot in different parts of the North and South Islands.

Mount Cook

Surrounding area and mountains

Lots of beautiful landscape

Glacier Lake - water fed by melting glacier

More beautiful mountains

Lots of water from melting snow

These mountains are big!

Another view of Mt Cook from near the hotel

Hermitage Hotel near Mt Cook

Morning View of Mt Cook by Lake Pukaki