Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
History
The first European to mention Aoraki/Mt Cook was Charles Heaphy. Travelling with Tho-
mas Brunner along the West Coast in 1846, Heaphy made sketches of the mountain after
learning about it from his Maori guides. In 1862 Julius von Haast and Arthur Dobson spent
four months exploring the rivers, valleys and glaciers of what is now the park. Haast pre-
pared a colourful account of their findings for the Canterbury Provincial Government.
'Nothing can be compared with the scenery, which certainly has not its equal in the
European Alps,' he wrote.
In the early 1890s exploration of the area began in earnest when the Canterbury Provin-
cial Government sent surveyors to explore passages through the Main Divide. In 1892 sur-
veyor Charles Douglas ventured from the West Coast up the Copland Valley and explored
several passes, finally deciding that Copland Pass offered the best possibilities.
Two years later, climbers Tom Fyfe, George Graham and Jack Clarke had their day in the
sun when they finally summited Aoraki/Mt Cook in 1894. In doing so they pipped English
climber Edward Fitzgerald and his Italian guide Mattias Zurbriggen at the post. As a consol-
ation, however, the Euro-duo recorded the first east-west crossing in 1895, when they
climbed what is now Fitzgerald Pass. They then spent three arduous days without supplies
trying to find a way down the Copland Valley. Construction of the existing Copland Track
began in 1910, and by 1913 the first Welcome Flat Hut was built. Its hot springs quickly
made it a popular spot.
Environment
With only small patches of silver beech/tawhai left after early burnoffs, most of the native
flora is found in the alpine shrublands and tussock grasslands. Over 300 species of plants
are found in the park. Among the most spectacular are the daisy/tikumu (Celmisia), and the
famed Mt Cook lily, the largest buttercup in the world. About 40 species of birds are found
in the park, including the kea, the mischievous mountain parrot. Lucky bird-spotters may
spy the native falcon (karearea). There are plenty of invertebrates, including large dragon-
flies, grasshoppers and butterflies. The rare jewelled gecko lives in the region but is very se-
cretive. You may also see introduced mammals such as thar, chamois and red deer.
