Most people fall in love with Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park as soon as they drive in – the road is famous for its stunning views of the Southern Alps and Lake Pukaki. Here are 6 awesome trails to check out while you’re there.
A great place to stay at Aoraki Mount Cook is right in the heart of Mount Cook village, waking up to some of the most breathtaking scenes imaginable from your hostel window.
Whilst it’s easy to pass a day just sitting on the balcony, reading your book and soaking up the atmosphere, I would highly recommend that you get out and experience one (or more) of the walking tracks. I’m a Mount Cook fanatic – having completed every single trail, so here are my top picks.
Hooker Valley Track: most popular trail at Mount Cook
Time: 3-hour return from White Horse Hill car park (4-hour return from the village)
Difficulty level: Easy/Medium
Track conditions: Exposed, but mostly flat
Undoubtedly the most popular trail in the area, and there’s a very good reason why! Hooker Valley provides the backdrop for those iconic Mt Cook photos you will see plastered all over social media. Come cloud or shine, the views are always phenomenal. You’ll cross not one, but THREE large swing bridges before reaching the gorgeous glacier lake, where you’ll be surrounded by the Southern Alps (it’s also an awesome place for a picnic).
I would recommend doing the Hooker Valley Track in the morning during the summer months. Here’s why.
- The sun will be shining directly onto the glacier lake and you might be lucky enough to see a reflection of Mt Cook in the water. That said, the glacier lake is a sight to behold at any time of day, so don’t worry if you can’t get started until the afternoon! During the winter it’s best to just follow the good weather (as it can change in a second) so keep an eye out for a clear sky and get out there!
- The Hooker Valley track is a very popular walk – there tend to be fewer people out and about in the morning than in the afternoon.
- It’s a very exposed track and during summer the sun can be very strong during the afternoon, making a mere 3-hour walk feel like a 7-hour hike.
Sealy Tarns Track
Time: 3-4 hour return from White Horse Hill car park
Difficulty level: Medium/Hard
Track conditions: Exposed and uphill
This track starts from the same car park as the Hooker Valley track, but it is important that you choose wisely between the two! Whilst you may be deceived by the first 15 minutes of flat terrain, you need to be prepared for a much tougher trail that is composed of 2200 steps and a 450m elevation gain. Don’t say we didn’t warn you! The views up there are pretty incredible though, so I’d say it’s well worth it if you’re in good shape.
One last tip: Don’t go up there unless it’s a clear day – you don’t want to invest all of that energy to see nothing but clouds!
Kea Point Track
Time: 30-minute return from White Horse Hill car park
Difficulty level: Very easy
Track conditions: Flat
If you’ve got some spare time after the Hooker Valley walk and want to see the magical Mount Cook from a different angle then this is the perfect track for you! It takes just 30 minutes return but don’t be fooled by the short time it takes – the views are still just as incredible:
Mueller Hut Track: multi-day hike at Mount Cook
Time: 7-8 hour return from White Horse Hill car park (most people split this between 2 days)
Difficulty level: Hard
For all the diehard hikers out there, this track is for you! It’s a continuation of the Sealy Tarns track up to the very top of the mountain. You’ll definitely need to hop off the Stray bus for this one as it’s not possible to complete in just one afternoon. A lot of people choose to split the walk between two days and camp overnight in Mueller Hut (bookings required), but you could choose to do a round trip in one day. I think it’s worth staying overnight if there are spaces available though – there’s nothing quite like watching the sunset and rise again over the valley.
Unless you are extremely experienced and carry crampons, avalanche gear and an ice axe with you on your travels (yes, it’s that hardcore), then you’ll need to do the Mueller Hut walk in summer. Make sure you are fully equipped with enough food, water and safety equipment with plenty of removable layers so that you can adjust to the constant temperature changes. Good luck!
Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier lookout tracks
Time: 1 hour from Tasman Valley car park
Difficulty level: Easy/Medium
Track conditions: Uphill, but not steep
I did this walk on a cloudy day and still thought everything looked majestic, so it’s definitely one to consider if the weather isn’t in your favour. Your first stop will be the Blue Lakes (they’re actually green) and then you’ll meander up the stairs to the lookout over the glacier lake. It’s a short track and has nowhere near as many steps as the Sealy Tarns, so it’s great for a quick morning/afternoon adventure.
Tasman Glacier river and jetty tracks
Time: 1 hour from Tasman Valley car park
Difficulty level: Easy
Track conditions: Exposed, but completely flat
Easily my favourite walk in the entire national park, which also happens to be one of the quickest/easiest. If you just plan on sticking to minimum time on the Stray bus and don’t fancy walking for hours on end, then this is the track for you! You won’t see Mt Cook as clearly here, but you will still see a beautiful glacier lake surrounded by snowcapped mountains.
Unlike the Hooker Valley, these walks are best experienced later on in the day as the sun shines on the Tasman Glacier lake during the afternoon. It also tends to be much quieter than the lake at Hooker Valley, which means you can take photos and eat your picnic in peace.
For anyone who wants a more glamorous experience of Mt Cook then you can always catch a scenic flight over the glaciers or hop on a boat to get up close and personal with the icebergs on the lakes. You can even explore the area on a 4WD tour and if you’re more of a night owl then there’s always stargazing to consider! Long story short, this is a Stray stop not to be missed.
For more info about the area, read Stray’s Mt Cook destination guide.
Which track at Aoraki Mount Cook will you choose?
As you can see there are lots of hiking options in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park? Which track will you go for? Or which one if your favourite hiking track? Let us know in the comment section.
