New Zealand Southern Alps
 

If you are interested in finding somewhere a little different for your next vacation you should think about spending it among the Southern Alps of New Zealand. This mountain range on New Zealand's South Island runs the full length of the island and is well known for its breathtaking glaciers and glacier carved mountains as well as the numerous fiords and skiing opportunities. While the South Island is the larger of the two main islands that comprise New Zealand it is only home to about a quarter of the population. At the southern end of the Southern Alps of New Zealand is Queenstown which is the perfect place to spend your vacation. You cannot visit Queenstown without taking your heart in your hands and trying out Bungee Jumping. It is here that AJ Hackett took the age old sport of Land Diving as practiced by the natives in Vanuatu and created this modern daredevil sport.

There are four different jumps in Queensland all owned and operated by AJ Hackett ranging from 43 meters to 134 meters in drop. This town at the foot of the Southern Alps of New Zealand is also the place to be if you are looking for night life. With several bars, clubs and restaurants there is plenty of nighttime activity to keep you going late into the night. Here in town you will also find what has been called the steepest lift in the southern half of the world with an incline of approximately 37 degrees. The ride takes you to the top of Bob's Peak 450 meters above town a ten minute ride to the restaurant at the top with a fantastic view of the town below. The highlight of the Southern Alps of New Zealand is the two glaciers that sit next to Mount Cook, Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier. According to scientists these two glaciers are still measurable moving each year.

You can enjoy a helicopter trip up to landing areas in the snow during the summer or in the winter when the weather cooperates. You can also hike in the rainforest around the base of these glaciers which makes them among the most unusual glaciers in the world. Mount Cook in the Southern Alps of New Zealand is a favorite of mountain climbers around the world who enjoy the challenge of scaling to the peak of this 3,754 meter high mountain that is call Aoraki by the native Maori, which translates to "Cloud Piercer" in English. There are several hiking trails as well horseback trails and glacier lakes to go boating on all packed into this lush wonderland. One of the best ways to see the Southern Alps of New Zealand is by air so that you can take in these majestic mountains from a bird's eye view. Air West Coast offers several different scenic flights through these majestic mountains of varying durations. They are the only company on the west coast of New Zealand to feature aircraft with pressurized cabins for your comfort while you enjoy the scenery and are headquartered in Greymouth on the west coast.