Te Wahipounamu, meaning “the place of greenstone” in Māori, is one of the most spectacular natural landscapes in the world. Located in the southwest corner of New Zealand’s South Island, this UNESCO World Heritage Site covers about 26,000 square kilometers and includes four major national parks: Aoraki / Mount Cook, Fiordland, Mount Aspiring, and Westland Tai Poutini.
Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990, Te Wahipounamu is internationally recognized for its outstanding biodiversity, dramatic scenery, and its representation of ancient ecosystems that date back to the supercontinent Gondwana.