Tracking Mount Cook Hooker Valley, the #1 Track You Shouldn't Miss (2024)

Just a 3-4 hour drive from Queenstown, Mount Cook is home to a number of different bushwalks, but one of the most accessible is the Mount Cook Hooker Valley Bushwalk, which is great for all ages. We've put together a full itinerary from Queenstown, which we hope will help you plan your trip.


Tracking Mount Cook Hooker Valley

Mount Cook

Tracking Mount Cook Hooker Valley

While there are plenty of activities to do within Queenstown, there's even more to do outside of the city to truly experience the natural beauty of New Zealand's South Island. One of them is Mount Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand.

Mount Cook is the name of the signature mountain in Mount Cook National Park, located on the South Island of New Zealand. Mount means mountain, and Cook comes from the British explorer James Cook. James Cook is famous for his exploration of all of New Zealand between 1769 and 1770.

Mount Cook is also known as Aoraki in Maori, which means cloud piercer.


Directions from Queenstown to Mount Cook

Directions to Mount Cook

It takes about three and a half hours to drive from Queenstown to Mount Cook. On the way, you'll pass through Omarama and Twizle. After passing through Twizle, you'll see beautiful Lake Pukaki on your right as you make your way to Mount Cook.

It's basically a 7-hour round-trip drive, with 3-4 hours of tracking in the Mount Cook Hooker Valley, so it's best to think of it as a day trip. There are generally fewer people in the morning hours (before 12 noon), so if you're looking for a quieter track, we recommend starting early in Queenstown.


Twizel, a restful village on the way to Mount Cook

There are no places to buy food in Mount Cook. It's a good idea to stock up on food along the way, and I recommend Twitzel. Especially if you're leaving Queenstown early in the morning, Twitzel is a great place to grab a quick bite to eat and stock up on supplies.

When I was in Twezel a few days ago, you could see snowflakes on the trees and it was so pretty. If you need to use the restroom beforehand, you can do so here.


After the Twizel, it seemed like it would be a short drive to Mount Cook, but Lake Pukaki was bigger than I thought it would be, and I drove for quite a while with the lake on my right and Mount Cook in front of me.

Mountcook

The closer we got to Mount Cook, the more clearly we could see the snow-capped mountains. We left Queenstown early in the morning, so there was very little traffic along the way.


Mount Cook Hooker Valley tracking precautions

I thought I'd share some of my thoughts on the day's tracking, and some things you might want to know beforehand.

  • There are no supermarkets in Mount Cook, so stock up on water and food (Twizzels, etc.)
  • Public restrooms at Hooker Valley trailhead, but very dirty (flush)
  • Mt cook village public shelter restrooms available 5 minutes drive away
  • After the second leg of the Hooker Valley trek, public restrooms are available, but still dirty
  • Bring water and tissues or toilet paper with you when tracking
  • The trail is mostly flat, so sneakers are fine, but hiking boots are safer in winter for icy conditions.
  • Mostly flat terrain, but some stairs, so pushing a stroller is a challenge
  • The course is 3 hours long, but you should be prepared to spend a generous 4 hours round-trip.
Mt cook village public shelter location

Address : Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park 59 Bowen Drive, Canterbury 7999


Mount Cook Hooker Valley Tracking Review

Mount Cook Hooker Valley tracking map

The Mount Cook Hooker Valley trek is mostly flat and takes between three and four hours to complete. Along the way, you'll cross three bridges and return to Hooker Lake. In winter, you'll see the lake completely frozen over, and you can even walk on it.


Start tracking Hooker Valley

I traveled to New Zealand in July, the middle of the winter season. The photo above is the start of Hooker Valley, and I loved being able to do some tracking while seeing the beautiful Mount Cook covered in snow.

I set off at 9:30, and it was surprisingly quiet with no people, just the sound of the water and the wind.


Hooker Valley First Leg

There are three main bridges that the Hooker Valley track crosses. The photo above is the first bridge. The bridge is labeled to allow up to 20 people to cross at the same time.

It's not a steady bridge, but a slightly wobbly bridge. I found the first bridge after about 20 minutes of walking.

First leg

The first and second bridges are higher than you think. There were a lot of people standing in the middle of the bridge and looking down, but I just walked through.

You'll cross the first bridge, and if you keep walking, the second bridge will come soon enough.

Personally, I was more scared of the second bridge because it felt longer and higher. I was impressed that there was a thin wire wrapped around the wooden planks of the second bridge, which was not present on the first bridge, to prevent slipping. Soon enough, I made it through the second bridge.


Background across the second bridge

After crossing the second bridge, the clouds surrounding Mount Cook slowly began to lift. The view was stunning with the sunlight shining through. By the way, don't forget that there are public restrooms halfway between the 2nd and 3rd bridges.


Wooden plank across the second bridge

This is the place I had the best impression of while tracking. It's the deck path between the 2nd and 3rd bridges. I love the feeling of walking alone, just listening to the sounds of nature, and it's not hard at all, even though it's flat.


Third leg

Now it's the third and final bridge. The 3rd bridge is low, so I looked down and took a photo from above. I think the sunlight now makes the view even prettier.

After this third bridge, it's about a 20-minute walk to reach your final destination, Hooker Lake, which you can see in the photo below.

Arrive at Lake Hooker

I started walking at 9:30am, and even though I took breaks along the way, I reached my final destination at 11:30am. Last time I was here the lake was slightly frozen, this time it was completely frozen.

At the destination, there are benches where you can do a quick yogi. We saw a lot of people bringing their own food, so it's a good idea to bring warm water, coffee or tea to warm you up.

Now that you've gotten your breath back, it's time to head down to the frozen lake.

The lake was already frozen solid enough for people to walk around. I could see that it was also the most photographed. I went down and walked on it, and it was really icy.

We walked around like that for a while, because walking on a frozen lake is an experience you don't get to do very often. After about an hour of this break, it was 12:30pm when we started heading back.

The snow has melted a lot, but there was still some unmelted ice on the trail, so I was more nervous going down than I was going up. I wore sneakers, and I slipped twice. I think hiking boots are better for safety in winter.

In particular, there is a slight downhill between the destination and the 3rd leg, so be careful on that section. It took me almost an hour and a half to get down.

If you are interested in learning more about the Mount Cook Hooker Valley course, you may find the following websites helpful.


Finalize

Today we've talked about tracking in the Mount Cook Hooker Valley and what to expect. If you're visiting Queenstown, you'll want to check out the More activities but it's also a great way to experience the natural beauty of the South Island.

There are a number of other trails in Mount Cook that you can choose from, so you can pick and choose which one you'd like to do. The Hooker Valley trail is the easiest of the bunch.

So far, I've been to Hooker Valley twice, both times in the winter, and I'm looking forward to visiting in other seasons. I hope this post is helpful to anyone planning a trip to Mount Cook Hooker Valley. Thank you for reading this article.

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