This short film begins with a title featuring the Dominion Reviews NZ logo.
Opens with shots of trampers climbing on a glacier, views of mountains such as Aorangi Mount Cook, lakes and waterfalls above the snowline. Narrator: “Along almost the entire length of New Zealand’s South Islands runs the mighty chain of the Southern Alps. No fewer than 16 peaks attain a height of more than ten thousand feet.”
A shot of Mount Sebastopol and one of its frozen lakes is followed by scenes of warmly dressed holidaymakers throwing snowballs. “In winter, many a cheery snowball fight is merrily waged at the Mount Cook Hermitage Hotel, more than two thousand feet above sea level.”
Multiple people on skis are shown being towed by horses and riders. A team of huskies pulling a sled are in training for an expedition to the South Pole. “Skiing is the joy supreme of winter sports, and speed limits have no place above the snowline.”
A group of men carrying guns are shown climbing through the snow to hunt chamois. A close shot shows the fitting of crampons to boots to enable climbing on the frozen snow. “With the successful introduction of the European chamois, hunting has become another attraction of the Southern Alps.”
Hunters examine the head of a chamois that has just been shot. “Chamois and tahr were presented to the New Zealand government by the late Emperor of Austria, and the herds have increased greatly, providing thrilling sport and yielding heads unsurpassed by any taken in their natural habitat.”
A snow plough clears thick snow from the road, and a large bus is shown driving towards the Tasman Chalet. “Snow ploughs clear the road from the Hermitage to the Tasman Chalet, and comfortable motor buses carry participants and sightseers to the Chalet when the Alpine Clubs gather for the winter sports.”
Shots of skiers in action on snowfields above the Tasman Glacier are followed by footage of a group of kea gathered in the snow and foraging for food. “… these inquisitive mountain parrots are very numerous around the alpine huts.”
“There are always some people who like to break new ground, so off they go to have their fun a little further afield.” More adventurous skiers are shown carrying their skis up to higher slopes. Footage includes close ups of skis in action, high speed skiing, tricks and slalom races. At the end of the day, people head home on skis and also by plane over the mountains. Views from the plane as it circles over the Franz Josef Glacier and shots showing the plane taking off and landing.
“On a summertime visit to Mount Cook, we find the snow all gone from the lower levels, but there is always plenty to see and to do at the Hermitage… the beauty of the scenery never departs, it only changes.” Visitors are shown arriving outside the Hermitage and observing the scenery from a table on the [lawn]. Others are shown rock climbing in the mountains and sightseeing and picnicking in the open air. A woman in a light summer dress crosses a river to take photographs of Aorangi Mount Cook and picks Mount Cook lilies from an alpine field.
At the end of the film, a [second] woman climbs to the top of a rocky peak carrying her hat and an armful of Mount Cook lilies. Narrator: “Now from the vantage point of Outlook Rock we take a last, lingering view of the majestic peaks of New Zealand’s Southern Alps.”