 It is the highest altitude observatory in the Southern Hemisphere outside of Antarctica and the Andes of South America.The NZ Department of Conservation acquired 12 km2 (1,200 hectares / 2,965 acres) of land between The Cairn and Sutherlands Peak from Glenbrook Station and it has been officially designated a public Conservation Area.It incorporates an area of wetlands as well as much drier elevated areas.