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As soon as I arrived at Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park I was blown away by how absolutely stunning the scenery is! And, I promise hiking in Mt Cook NP will be the highlight of your trip. Plus, the views along the Hooker Valley Track are unbeatable!
Mount Cook is New Zealand’s highest mountain, at 3,724m, and these peaks are where Sir Edmond Hilary developed his mountaineering skills before he conquered Everest. This is my favorite area of New Zealand and hiking in Aoraki / Mount Cook is a must-do.
From start to finish the Hooker Valley Track is absolutely beautiful and being a very well-maintained track, with little incline, it is an easy hike for almost anyone. Below I’ll share all the information you’ll need before hiking in Mt Cook NP.
Hooker Valley Track Key Points
Distance: 10km
Time: 3 hours return
Difficulty: Easy
Altitude: 877 meters is the highest point at Hooker Lake
How to Get to the Beginning of Hooker Valley Track
The hike starts at White Horse Hill Campground, which is at the end of Hooker Valley Road. It’s only a few minutes out of Mount Cook village and is very well signed.
If you are coming from the Omarama it’ll take you around 1 hour to drive to White Horse Hill Campground. The drive is primarily on state Hwy 8 & Hwy 80. The views along these roads are amazing, you’re surrounded by mountains pretty much the whole way and you’ll also drive alongside Lake Pukaki.
When you arrive at White Horse Hill Campground, double-check the signs for the trail before you start, as there are a few trails that start from this car park. And, parking here is free.
Is Hooker Valley Track Open All Year?
Yes! It only closes in the case of extreme weather events.
Best Time of Year For Hiking in Mount Cook
Generally speaking, the best time of year to do any hiking in Mt Cook is October – April. These months are warmer, they’ll be less rain and many wildflowers will be in bloom.
Although, when I hiked the Hooker Valley Track it was right in the middle of July. Some would say winter is the worse time to do any hiking in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, but we managed to have the most perfect weather, minimal wind, and clear blue skies the whole day.
In the days leading up to this hike, the weather was pretty terrible, with low clouds and a lot of rain. But on our second last day in Mt Cook, the sky cleared up beautifully. There was so much sunshine I even started to get warm while walking.
The absolute best thing about doing this hike in the winter is the amount of snow that’ll be covering the peaks. All the mountains were completely covered in thick snow, and Hooker Lake had so much ice over it. But thankfully there wasn’t any snow on the track.
Also, the weather in Mt Cook (and New Zealand in general) can be very unpredictable at any time of year so always check the weather forecast the day before hiking.
Best Time of Day for Hooker Valley Track
I think this will mainly depend on the weather forecast for the day, you want the least amount of rain & cloud as possible. The morning and late evening will be the quietest time and will give you amazing lighting for photos. Although I hiked during the day and there were plenty of people around, I wouldn’t say it was too busy, and it was so beautiful spending the afternoon at Hooker Lake.
Overview of Mount Cook’s Hooker Valley Track
The Hooker Valley track is within the Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park on New Zealand’s South Island. Entry to the Park is free and this hike wasn’t overly strenuous.
Every section has the most incredible mountain views, with the path taking you between peaks & across three different suspensions bridges. Plus, the first bridge takes you over Mueller Lake, with stunning views in both directions.
Along with my family, we started hiking around 11 am and reached Hooker Lake at 12:40. Hooker Lake is at the end of the track & where you turn around to follow the same path back. On the opposite side of the lake is the mighty Mount Cook, from the shaw, there are uninterrupted views of New Zealand’s biggest mountain.
We spent the next 2 hours at Hooker Lake, taking photos, eating lunch & exploring the area. Being winter meant almost half of the Lake was covered in ice and in the distance there were multiple icebergs floating around, making the scenery even more striking.
This is one of the easiest hiking trails in Mount Cook NP. Plus, the majority of the track is flat and I can’t imagine there’s another free way to be able to get such stunning views of New Zealand’s Southern Alps.
We returned to the car park just before 4 pm, if you take out the 2 hours spent at Hooker Lake, the hike was done in under three hours.
The Hooker Valley Track is one of the best hikes I’ve ever done. I still can’t believe how close the trail is to the mountains. Also, during winter it’s quite possible you’ll witness multiple avalanches! This was pretty amazing, I heard it before I could see the snow crashing down. At first, I thought it sounds like a low-flying aircraft.
What to Take With You While Hiking in Mt Cook National Park
Comfortable shoes
Water
Snacks (and depending on the time of day you should take lunch)
Waterproof jacket
Hat or beanie
Camera
Mobile Phone
Power Bank
Hand Sanitizer
Wet Wipes or Tissues
Sunscreen
Insect Repellent
Can Kids Hike The Hooker Valley Track?
Yes, definitely! I did this walk with my three stepchildren, aged 10-16 and they never found it difficult. Plus, I saw even children younger children on the track as well. This is for sure a very family-friendly hike.
Other Things to do in Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park
Whenever I’m traveling I love to find hiking trails in the area. I think it’s a good opportunity to exercise and viewpoints are my favorite. And, usually, there’s just one viewpoint that’s the highlight of the hike. But with the Hooker Valley Track, the viewpoints are visible the whole way. I couldn’t believe that it literally only took a few minutes walking from the car before being surrounded by beautiful, snow-covered mountains.
The Hooker Valley Track is easily accessible, easy to complete, and offers some of the best mountains views in the world. What’s not to love?
If you’re planning to travel more of New Zealand’s south island, check out my 5 Day Itinerary to Queenstown.
Thanks for reading,
Happy Travels
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Elyse is the author & content creator behind A World To Live. After traveling to over 40 countries, she has a passion for discovering new places. Elyse is a money-conscious traveller who loves writing independent travel guides to help her readers get the most out of their travels.
This place looks beautiful. And only 10km – this is very doable for me! Thanks for the inspiration.
Wow this looks like an amazing place to hike!!! Hooker Lake looks stunning and the mountains are so pretty
What a beautiful hike! I can’t wait to have several months to explore New Zealand and will definitely add Mt. Cook to my itinerary.
Wow! This looks like a great hike and the views are stunning! Although, I would much likely do this hike when it’s not snowing since I don’t like either snow or cold weather. It would be amazing to hike this for sure!
It would still be such a beautiful hike in summer 🙂
Wow what a GORGEOUS hike! Really helpful tips too, thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome Natalie
An easy hike under three hours that provides these views?! Incredible, adding it to my list.
Mount Cook’s Hooker Valley Track looks amazing! This is such a great trip. Looking forward to one day seeing it!
Although I am a beginner I think I could do this! and I totally would! the hike looks incredible and takes you to see so many beautiful views! thanks for sharing!
I’m sure you could 🙂 And, you’re welcome
Looks like such a beautiful hike, and your photos of it were amazing! Short hike for such incredible views!
Yeah exactly, I think that’s what makes it so perfect
Wow!!! this looks gorgeous – I love hearing about shorter hikes you can do in a day to add to my travel list
Gorgeous. I LOVED all the hikes in this area, but we visited in the autumn, so the lake wasn’t anywhere near that frozen. It looks soooo fabulous covered in the ice-crystals! It looks like you were incredibly lucky with the weather!