Mount Cook Airport (NZMC)
Medium airport · Canterbury Region, New Zealand
Airport data
| Name | Mount Cook Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | NZMC |
| IATA | MON |
| Elevation | 2,153 ft (656 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | S 43°45'54" E 170°7'59" -43.76500, 170.13300 |
| Location | Canterbury Region, New Zealand |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13/31 | 5,157 ft (1572 m) | 98 ft | ASP | No |
Mount Cook Airport at a glance
Mount Cook Airport is a medium airport in Canterbury Region, New Zealand, known to airline systems as MON. The field elevation of 2,153 ft (656 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at NZMC are all figured from it. There is no scheduled airline service listed here — typical traffic is general aviation, training and local operations.
The single runway, 13/31, offers 5,157 ft (1572 m) of asp surface, without recorded lighting. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 13 points roughly 130° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for NZMC shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.
Nearest airports to Mount Cook Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Glentanner Airport | NZGT | 16 km (9 NM) |
| Pukaki Airport | NZUK | 52 km (28 NM) |
| Timaru Airport | NZTU | 106 km (57 NM) |
| Wanaka Airport | NZWF | 128 km (69 NM) |
| Hokitika Airfield | NZHK | 136 km (73 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Mount Cook Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 2,153 ft field elevation of Mount Cook Airport can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.
This entry is one of 39 airports and airfields we list for New Zealand — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.
Where this data comes from
The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.
Frequently asked questions about Mount Cook Airport
What is the ICAO code of Mount Cook Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Mount Cook Airport is NZMC, and its IATA code is MON. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Mount Cook Airport above sea level?
Mount Cook Airport sits at an elevation of 2,153 feet (656 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Mount Cook Airport located?
The airport lies at -43.7650, 170.1330 — in Canterbury Region, New Zealand, in the southern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Glentanner Airport, about 16 km away.
Does NZMC publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for NZMC appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.
How long is the runway at Mount Cook Airport?
Mount Cook Airport has one runway. The longest, 13/31, measures 5,157 ft (1572 m) with a ASP surface.