Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1990 and covering 26,000 square kilometres (10,000 sq mi), the site incorporates four national parks: It is thought to contain some of the best modern representations of the original flora and fauna of Gondwana, one of the reasons for its listing as a World Heritage site.

[1] Te Wahipounamu stretches 450 kilometres (280 mi) along the western coastline of the South Island of New Zealand.

The elevation of this land area ranges from sea level to 3,724 metres (12,218 ft) at Aoraki / Mount Cook.

Within Te Wahipounamu there is a multitude of natural features including snow-capped peaks, sapphire lakes, waterfalls, fiords, and valleys.

Te Wahipounamu is home to many indigenous animals and contains the largest and most significant population of forest birds in the country.

Sheep and cattle grazing is permitted under license or lease, although designation of Te Wahipounamu as a World Heritage site has limited the lands available for these practices.

Even with the low density of settlements and transport corridors, there is the potential occurrence of landslides in the vicinity of tourist infrastructure in the Southern Alps.

[4] The entire region of Te Wahipounamu is of deep significance to Māori, in particular the Ngāi Tahu iwi, whose rohe (traditional area of control) covers the majority of the South Island.

Te Wahipounamu was formed when the four sons of Rakinui, the Sky Father, descended from the heavens and set out on a voyage around Papatūānuku, the Earth Mother.

An icy wind from the Tasman Sea froze them into stone and their canoe became the South Island of New Zealand.

And finally, there is an extensive range of New Zealand's unusual flora and fauna, which demonstrate its evolutionary isolation.

Most of the land in Te Wahipounamu is owned by the Crown (government and the people of New Zealand) and administered by the Department of Conservation.

There is a legislative mandate for the preservation and protection of natural and historic resources to maintain their intrinsic value, provide for their appreciation and recreational enjoyment by the public, and safeguard options of future generations.

[2] The Treaty of Waitangi grants the Ngāi Tahu people prestige and authority over the land.

[2] The treaty was not always honoured though, but a settlement was made around the time Te Wahipounamu was declared a World Heritage Area.

Secondly, the title for Aoraki was returned to the Ngāi Tahu Tribe who then in turn gifted it to the people of New Zealand.

And finally the Tribe was given rights of access and temporary occupancy for the gathering of traditional foods and materials.

There are four main planning entities for developing the management framework for the wilderness resources of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area.

This strategy divides visitors into seven groups based on the length of their stay and the type of activities they seek.

A study found that key motivating factors for visitors to Te Wahipounamu are the scenery and recreational activities.

Then there are activities such as tramping or trekking, which contain adventure components like crossing rivers or mountain passes while enjoying the natural scenery.

Even the adventure activities like glacier walks, rafting, and climbing take place in the natural environment.

In her definition of ecotourism, it must have genuine social benefits and serve as a tool for sustainable community development.

So many people may refer to ecotourism in Te Wahipounamu but whether it truly deserves that title is open to interpretation.

This policy defines wilderness areas as “wildlands that appear to have been affected only by the forces of nature, with any imprint of human interference substantially unnoticeable.

[13] The New Zealand Wilderness Policy mirrors these ideas with criteria about having this protected land for enjoyment but keeping it virtually untouched by humans.