The magnificent Southern Alps stretch from Nelson in the north down to Fiordland in the south. In this maze of mountains, Mount Cook stands highest, situated in the Mount Cook National Park. Awarded 'World Heritage' status in recognition of its qualities and rare beauty, the Park covers an area of nearly 7,000 hectares of majestic alpine scenery with more than one third being in permanent snow and glacial ice. The park contains 22 of the 27 peaks over 10,000 feet (3,000 metres) in New Zealand and provides a wonderland for walkers, skiers and mountaineers. A popular way to experience the grandeur of this mountain area is with a helicopter or a fixed wing flightseeing trip. When the Polynesians arrived fresh from the tropical Pacific they risked frostbite and lethal mountain rivers to gaze upon the mountain in awe, naming it Aoraki. Mount Cook was first conquered on Christmas Day in 1894 by Tom Fyfe, George Graham and Jack Clarke, all New Zealanders. The Mount Cook Information Centre provides a fascinating array of historical and contemporary facts about the region. A special feature of this area is the mountain buttercup or Mount Cook Lily with its multitude of white blossoms that grace the land through spring and summer. The Park is also home to the mountain parrot, the kea, and also the yellow-breasted tomtit, tiny rifleman and the native pigeon.