Peter Hillary is the son of Sir Edmund Hillary (q.v.), who made the first ascent of Mount Everest in 1953. In 1990, Peter Hillary and his father reached the summit of Everest becoming the first father and son to accomplish this feat. He is the author of many books depicting his adventures and challenges in the Himalayas including A Sunny Day in the Himalayas (1980), First Across the Roof of the World (1982) and a joint autobiography with his father Two Generations (1984).
In 1998-99 Hillary skied to the South Pole with Australian adventurers Eric Philips and Jon Muir. This expedition is the subject of several works including an autobiography by Philips IceTrek : The Bitter Journey to the South Pole by Peter Hillary, Jon Muir and Eric Philips (2000).