Geography of Aoraki / Mount Cook
Geography of Aoraki / Mount Cook: location, coordinates, elevation, terrain and the places around it.
Geography of Aoraki / Mount Cook
South Island is 31 mi to the south-east, Wanaka is 91 mi to the south-west, West Coast is 96 mi to the north-east and Queenstown Airport is 120 mi to the south-west.
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Coordinates: 43°35′42″S 170°8′30.5″E (-43.595, 170.1418)
Quick facts about Aoraki / Mount Cook
| Type | Mountain |
|---|---|
| Region | Canterbury |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Continent | Oceania |
| Coordinates | 43°35′42″S 170°8′30.5″E (-43.595, 170.1418) |
| Elevation | 12.218 ft |
| Known for | New Zealand's highest mountain |
| Local time | 1:26 AM (UTC+12:00) |
| Best months | January, February and August |
| Climate | Polar |
Summary
Aoraki / Mount Cook is a mountain in Canterbury. Aoraki / Mount Cook is a mountain known as New Zealand's highest mountain. It sits at 12.218 ft above sea level.
Right now it is 11°F (-12°C) in Aoraki / Mount Cook with light showers. It feels like 3°F. Today runs from 10°F to 12°F. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Sightseeing conditions score 2.3/10 - poor - consider another day.
The best time to visit Aoraki / Mount Cook is January, February and August. The climate is polar. May, June and July tend to be the least comfortable months. January is the warmest month with average highs near 27°F, while August is the coldest with lows near -1°F.
The closest major airport is Queenstown Airport (ZQN), about 120 mi away. Nearby highlights include South Island, Lake Wakatipu, Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand and Milford Sound.
In plain terms. Today is slightly warmer than average for August. The forecast high of 12°F is 3.8°F above the 8°F typical for this month. Visibility is down to 0,1 mi - use low beams and leave extra following distance. Gusts to 59 mph will push high-sided vehicles on exposed roads and bridges. Overnight lows near 10°F mean ice is possible on bridges before dawn. Wet roads are likely; braking distances roughly double in heavy rain.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Climate in Aoraki / Mount Cook month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27° | 15° | 16,3 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| February | 27° | 15° | 8,5 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| March | 24° | 13° | 10,4 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| April | 20° | 10° | 17,8 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| May | 15° | 5° | 12,9 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| June | 10° | 1° | 16,3 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| July | 9° | 0° | 13,4 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| August | 8° | -1° | 8,2 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| September | 10° | 1° | 29,6 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| October | 12° | 4° | 26,2 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| November | 16° | 7° | 15,6 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| December | 22° | 11° | 17,4 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Climate type: Polar. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Aoraki / Mount Cook?
Aoraki / Mount Cook is a mountain in Canterbury. Its coordinates are -43.595, 170.1418. It lies in Oceania.
What is the weather like in Aoraki / Mount Cook right now?
It is currently 11°F (-12°C) with light showers. Humidity is 96% and wind is 5 mph.
When is the best time to visit Aoraki / Mount Cook?
January, February and August offer the most comfortable conditions in Aoraki / Mount Cook, which has a polar climate. May, June and July are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Aoraki / Mount Cook in?
Aoraki / Mount Cook observes Pacific/Auckland (UTC+12:00). The local time is 1:26 AM.
What is the nearest airport to Aoraki / Mount Cook?
The closest airports are Queenstown Airport (ZQN), 120 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Aoraki / Mount Cook?
Popular options include South Island, Lake Wakatipu, Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand, Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (mountains) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Map tiles | OpenStreetMap contributors, CARTO and Esri. |
| Elevation | Open-Meteo digital elevation model where the dataset has no value. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 26, 2026 at 1:26 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
