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Driving out from the alpine village Aoraki/MtCook National Park. This is the area where Sir Edmund Hilary learned his climbing skills, before conquering Mt Everest. There are 19 peaks over 3000 metres, the highest being Aoraki/Mt Cook at 3764m. It has claimed more than 140 lives so is to be respected. For the less adventurous there are several short walks of about 2 hours from the village. Legend: According to Ngai Tahu legend, Aoraki and his three brothers were the sons of Rakanui, the Sky Father. While on a sea voyage, their canoe overturned on a reef. When the brothers climbed on top of their canoe, the freezing south wind turned them to stone. The canoe became the South Island (Te Waka o Aoraki); Aoraki and his brothers became the peaks of the Southern Alps.