Aoraki / Mt Cook is New Zealand’s highest mountain (3750 meters) and the park contains NZ’s largest glaciers. 40% of the park is covered in glaciers and it is part of the only international dark sky reserve in the country making it the best star gazing I’ve ever seen. “The name of Aoraki (Mt Cook) originates from an old Maori legend about Aoraki and his three brothers, who were the suns of Rakinui (the Sky Father). According to legend, the brothers were on a trip around Papatauanuku (the Earth Mother), when their canoe hit a reef, and they became stranded. The brothers climbed on to the top of the overturned canoe, and waited for the arrival of their rescuers. Whilst they waited the freezing southerly wind turned their bodies to stone, and their hair white. Legend states that the canoe became the South Island of New Zealand. The tallest mountain was named after the tallest brother, who was “Aoraki”. The rest of the brothers and the crew of the canoe became the other mountains of the...