Lexi Webster
Australia and New Zealand are both countries in Oceania, known for their mountain ranges. Australia's most notable mountain range is the Great Dividing Range, which is the third longest land-based range in the world. The country's highest mountain is Mount Kosciusko, which stands at 7,310 ft. New Zealand, on the other hand, boasts the Southern Alps mountain range on its South Island, with Mount Cook or Aoraki being its highest peak at 12,218 ft. So, which country is more mountainous?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Highest mountain | Australia: Mount Kosciusko (2,228m / 7,310ft) |
| New Zealand: Aoraki/Mount Cook (3,724m / 12,218ft) | |
| Number of peaks above 9,800 ft (3,000 m) | Australia: Not specified |
| New Zealand: 23 | |
| Mountain ranges | Australia: Australian Alps, Great Dividing Range |
| New Zealand: Southern Alps | |
| Length of longest range | Australia: Great Dividing Range (3,500 km / 2,175 miles) |
| New Zealand: Southern Alps (extends almost the full length of New Zealand's South Island) |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's highest mountain
Australia and New Zealand are both mountainous countries, with mountain ranges extending across each country. Australia's highest mountain is Mount Kosciuszko, which rises 2,228 metres (7,310 feet) above sea level. Mount Kosciuszko is located in the state of New South Wales, in the southeastern part of the country. It is part of the Snowy Mountains range within the Australian Alps National Parks and Reserves. The mountain was named by Polish explorer Paweł Edmund Strzelecki in 1840, after Polish-Lithuanian military leader and hero Tadeusz Kościuszko.
While Mount Kosciuszko is the tallest mountain on the Australian mainland, it is not the nation's tallest peak. That distinction belongs to Mawson Peak, an active volcano on Heard Island, an Australian-owned external territory in the southern Indian Ocean. Mawson Peak rises to a height of 2,745 metres (9,003 feet), making it significantly taller than Mount Kosciuszko.
The Australian Alps, of which Mount Kosciuszko is a part, are a relatively new mountain range. They are the result of ongoing mountain-building activity in New Zealand, which has caused uplift in the rocks of southeast Australia. This uplift has led to the formation of new mountain ranges, including the Australian Alps, which continue to grow taller over time.
Mount Kosciuszko is a popular destination for hikers, with around 100,000 people climbing the mountain each year. The summit can be reached via several routes, including the challenging Hannel's Spur Track, which is the only route that passes through the Western Fall Wilderness Zone. The mountain is also included in the Seven Summits mountaineering challenge, which involves climbing the tallest mountain on each continent.
In comparison, New Zealand's highest mountain is Aoraki/Mount Cook, located in the Southern Alps range on the South Island. Aoraki rises to a height of 3,724 metres (12,218 feet), making it significantly taller than Mount Kosciuszko. The Southern Alps are a popular tourist destination, known for their picturesque landscapes of glaciated peaks, freshwater lakes, and diverse flora and fauna.
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New Zealand's highest mountain
New Zealand is a more mountainous country compared to Australia. While Australia is not a geologically dead zone, New Zealand's mountains are taller. The Australian Alps, for instance, are a dynamic new mountain range that is still growing. However, New Zealand's Southern Alps, which extend almost the full length of New Zealand's South Island, are home to the country's highest mountain, Aoraki, also known as Mount Cook.
Aoraki/Mount Cook stands at 3,724 metres (12,218 feet) above sea level. It is located in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, which covers more than 700 km2 (270 sq mi) of land. The national park is known for its rugged terrain, with over 40% of its land surface covered by glaciers. This includes the Tasman Glacier, New Zealand's largest glacier at 27 kilometres (17 miles) long.
The area surrounding Aoraki/Mount Cook is also home to an abundance of alpine plants, including the spectacular mountain buttercup (Ranunculus lyallii), also known as the Mount Cook Lily. The region is further characterised by its rich variety of fauna, including the kea, an inquisitive native alpine parrot, and the jewelled gecko, a small and secretive creature rarely seen.
Aoraki/Mount Cook is New Zealand's deadliest mountain, with around 80 people having died while attempting to reach its summit. Nevertheless, the mountain and the national park offer a range of hiking opportunities, from half-day hikes suitable for all ages to more challenging routes like the Ball Pass Crossing and the Mueller Hut hike. The Mueller Hut sits at 1,800 metres (5,900 feet) and offers a 360-degree panorama encompassing glaciers, ice cliffs, and vertical rock faces.
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The Australian Alps
Australia and New Zealand are both countries with notable mountainous features. New Zealand's Southern Alps extend almost the full length of the country's South Island, with its highest mountain, Aoraki/Mount Cook, reaching 3,724 m (12,218 ft).
In Australia, the most substantial mountain range is the Great Dividing Range, which runs 3,500 km (2,175 miles) along the country's eastern coastline. Within this range lies the Australian Alps, a mountain range in southeast Australia that includes the Snowy Mountains and the Victorian Alps. The Australian Alps are the highest mountain range in Australia, with peaks exceeding 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in elevation. Mount Kosciuszko, reaching 2,228 m (7,310 ft), is the highest peak in the Australian Alps and the highest mountain in Australia. The Australian Alps are also the only skiing areas on mainland Australia, with several ski resorts served by ski lifts. The Australian Alps are home to hundreds of species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have been classified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
The formation of the Australian Alps was largely complete by around 100 million years ago, with minor uplift episodes and volcanic activity occurring over the following tens of millions of years. The range is not as high or steep as the European Alps, the New Zealand Southern Alps, or the Andes Mountains, and most peaks can be reached without specialised mountaineering equipment. The Australian Alps are a popular tourist destination, with around 100,000 people climbing Mount Kosciuszko each year.
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The Southern Alps, New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand are both countries with mountainous regions. While Australia boasts mountain ranges such as the Australian Alps and the Great Dividing Range, New Zealand is particularly known for its Southern Alps.
The Southern Alps (Māori: Kā Tiritiri o te Moana) are a mountain range that extends along the length of New Zealand's South Island, spanning approximately 500 kilometres from northeast to southwest. The range includes the South Island's Main Divide, which separates the water catchments of the eastern and western coasts of the island. The name "Southern Alps" generally refers to the entire range, although individual names are given to the smaller ranges within it. The tallest peak in the Southern Alps is Aoraki/Mount Cook, standing at 3,724 metres (12,218 feet) and marking New Zealand's highest point.
The Southern Alps are characterised by their glaciated peaks, freshwater lakes, and diverse flora and fauna. The range is home to numerous glaciers, including the Tasman Glacier, which is the longest in New Zealand at 23.5 kilometres (14.6 miles) in length. The mountains are rich in plant species, with approximately 25% of New Zealand's plant life found above the treeline in alpine habitats. Beech forests at lower elevations provide important habitats for birds such as the great spotted kiwi and the South Island kākā.
The Southern Alps have cultural significance in both Maori and European history. Maori legend tells a story of Aoraki and his three brothers, whose canoe overturned, leaving them stranded. Their hair turned white, and they eventually froze and turned to stone, becoming the Southern Alps. The first recorded crossing of the Southern Alps by a Maori was made by a woman named Ruareka around 1700, opening up the Maori greenstone trails. Europeans began accessing the range in the 1800s, particularly during the gold rush years, when mining towns appeared and disappeared with the ebb and flow of gold.
The Southern Alps are a popular destination for nature lovers, environmentalists, climbers, and sportspeople. The range offers picturesque landscapes, including glaciated peaks, lakes, and rivers, as well as excellent conditions for glider pilots due to its orientation to the prevailing westerly winds.
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Oceania's highest mountain
Oceania is home to a wonderful selection of mountain ranges, from the Great Dividing Range in Australia to the Southern Alps in New Zealand. The highest mountains of Oceania are found in its largest island, New Guinea, with the highest peaks in Indonesian territory. The tallest mountain in Oceania is Puncak Jaya, or Carstensz Pyramid, which stands at 4,884 metres (16,024 feet) tall. This peak is located in the Sudirman Range in the Papua province of Indonesia.
Indonesia is mostly located in Asia, but even in Papua New Guinea, mountains exceed 4,500 metres in height. The only other island with an elevation above 4,000 metres is the largest of the Hawaiian archipelago, which is home to two of the largest shield volcanoes on Earth. The oceanic continental part, corresponding to Australia, does not reach prominent heights, with the highest peaks only slightly exceeding 2,000 metres.
If Indonesia is excluded from the list, Puncak Jaya would not be considered the first peak of Oceania. However, if measured from its base, 5,760 metres below sea level, it is the highest mountain on Earth. Unlike Mauna Kea, which is dormant, Puncak Jaya is a still-active volcano.
Within Australia, the highest mountain is Mount Kosciuszko, which stands at 2,228 metres (7,310 feet) tall. This mountain is situated in the Snowy Mountains of the Great Dividing Range, and around 100,000 people climb it every year. The Great Dividing Range is Australia's most substantial mountain range and the third longest land-based range in the world, stretching 3,500 kilometres (2,175 miles) from Dauan Island off the northeastern tip of Queensland to the central plains at the Grampians in western Victoria.
New Zealand's highest mountain is Aoraki, or Mount Cook, which stands at 3,724 metres (12,218 feet) tall. This mountain is located in the Southern Alps, a range that extends almost the full length of New Zealand's South Island. The Southern Alps are incredibly picturesque, featuring glaciated peaks, freshwater lakes and rivers, and a rich variety of fauna and flora.
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Frequently asked questions
New Zealand is considered more mountainous than Australia. The Southern Alps mountain range extends almost the full length of New Zealand's South Island, with 23 peaks that rise above 9,800 feet (3,000 meters). The highest peak in New Zealand is Mt Cook or Aoraki, which stands at 12,218 feet (3,724 meters). Australia, on the other hand, has fewer notable mountain ranges. Its highest mountain, Mount Kosciusko, reaches 7,310 feet (2,228 meters).
Some of the highest mountains in New Zealand are found in the Southern Alps range on the South Island, including Mt Cook or Aoraki (12,218 feet), and Coromandel Peak.
Australia's highest mountain is Mount Kosciuszo in the Snowy Mountains of the Great Dividing Range. Other notable mountains in Australia include Federation Peak, Mount Feathertop, and Bogong.
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