Hooker Valley Track, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park NZ

Spectacular scenery for moderate effort on this classic walk in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. Take your camera!

Hooker Valley Walk, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park

One of New Zealand’s classic walks, the Hooker Valley Track takes you over the Hooker River and some of its tributaries on swingbridges as far as the glacial Hooker Lake. There’s dramatic alpine scenery all the way, and particularly good views of Aoraki/Mt Cook framed by mountains along the Hooker Valley, and then across Hooker Lake, which will be frozen in winter, and might have icebergs floating in it in spring/summer. And you can fit it easily into a half day.

Track Notes

Aoraki Mt Cook Day Walks 2015: Route Map
The Hooker Valley and Sealy Tarns Tracks start at either the White Horse Hill Campsite (shorter) or Mt Cook Village (longer). The Tasman Glacier Walk starts at the end of the Tasman Valley Road. All are on obvious tracks except above Sealy Tarns it’s a poled route.

You can do a longer version from the Visitor Centre (taking the Kea Point Track at first), or start from White Horse Hill Campground (see the map below). The track is constructed and well graded, so it’s at the easy end of moderate. Info on the DOC website.

Hooker Valley Track: The Scenery

Hooker Valley Walk, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
Spear Grass. I think this may have been my first time to really notice these. Best admired from a safe distance.
Hooker Valley Walk, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
Mueller Glacier Lake and Mt Sefton (3151m) in Cloud.
Hooker Valley Walk, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
A bridge over the Hooker River.
Hooker Valley Walk, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
The Hooker Valley.
Hooker Valley Walk, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
The Hooker River and Mueller Glacier Lake.
Hooker Valley Walk, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
The Hooker River
Hooker Valley Walk, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
Sophia walking towards Mt Sefton (I think).
Hooker Valley Walk, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
Aoraki/Mt Cook to the right.
Hooker Valley Walk, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
A classic view of Aoraki/Mt Cook (3755m), with the Hooker River in the foreground.
Hooker Valley Walk, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
Sophia walking towards Mt Cook.
Hooker Valley Walk, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
Aoraki Mt Cook (3755m) with Hooker Lake in the foreground.
Hooker Valley Walk, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
Walking back from Mt Cook. (A bit disappointed there’s lens flare / glare in this photo).

Author: Edward Hathway

I'm a clinical psychologist and keen hiker.

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