Mount Cook Village and its surrounding ecology is unique and highly sensitive to change. Over the years, careful landscape planning and design has ensured that all buildings, roads and utilities are sited and designed to harmonise with the landscape, ensuring the integrity and context of the area are not compromised. As a result of minimising the visual and physical effects of development, there are no straight roads, fences or overhead services, and pedestrians are kept on separate routes from vehicles to maximise the experience of the location.