Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park

Maori folk legend has it that Aoraki, a celestial being and favorite son of Rakinui, the Sky Father, embarked on a boat ride with his brothers. They hit rough waters and their canoe tipped over. When the brothers climbed on top of it, the raw, bitterly cold south wind turned them to stone. Their canoe became the South Island, while the peaks of the Southern Alps were each named for the brothers, including the mighty Aoraki, the tallest mountain in New Zealand.

The first Europeans to see that mountain were presumed to be members of Captain James Cook’s crew during his 1770 voyage. Captain Cook, with his renowned ego, immediately named the mountain after himself. Aoraki’s title wasn’t officially restored until 1998, when the mountain was given its double moniker.

Names aside, the mountain has always been a focal point for global climbers and explorers. Visiting it helped Sir Edmund Hillary develop his skills while preparing for his conquest of Mount Everest. In other words, it’s no joke. But Aoraki/ Mount Cook also appeals to more sedentary travelers, as it’s well-known as a brilliant spot for stargazing. Such visitors will find plenty of satisfaction with the smaller trails and encounters with kea—playful mountain parrots—among other winged alpine socialites.

This van seems headed for mountaineering purposes. And who knows? Considering their boat and the prevalence of the mountain’s origin legend, this heartstring-puller of a vehicle may also be on a mission to turn their canoe into an island.

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