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The Hooker Valley Track in Mount Cook National Park is one of the most popular short walks in New Zealand. This easy 3 hour return trail takes you through the dramatic Southern Alps with some epic mountain, glacier, lake and river scenery, whilst crossing swinging suspension bridges and giving you plenty of amazing photo opportunities.
We have hiked this trail twice during the summer months over the past few years, and have put together this guide on everything you need to know before walking the Hooker Valley Track.
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Table of Contents
Our Hooker Valley track video
Hooker Valley track quick overview
- Distance: 11 km (5.5km in each direction)
- Time: 3-4 hours return
- Difficulty: Easy. The path is wide and relatively flat with only a few gentle gradients
- Elevation change: 124m
- Facilities: Carpark at the start and toilets at the White Horse Hill Campground and on the trail about 1 hour into walk.
How to get to the Hooker Valley Track
The walk begins at the Visitor Centre at the White Horse Hill campground which is located at the very end of Hooker Valley Road just off State Highway 80. Parking is available in front of the campground.
If you are staying in nearby Mount Cook Village then you can drive to the start of the Hooker Valley Track in just 5 minutes. If you don’t have you own transport, there is a walking path to the start of the trail that takes 30 minutes to walk.
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What to take with you on the Hooker Valley Track walk
- Comfortable and sturdy footwear such as running shoes or light boots
- Plenty of drinking water
- Water/windproof jacket (some parts of the walk are exposed and can be chilly)
- Hat/sunscreen in summer (there is no shade along the track)
- Head torch if walking before sunrise/after sunset
- Layered clothing incase the weather changes
- Bathing suit and towel in summer (if you fancy a dip!)
- Snacks
- Spare batteries for camera
Highlights of the Hooker Valley Track
From the White Horse Hill Campsite you need to follow the signs toward Mueller Point and the Hooker Valley. Here are the main highlights of the walk:
Lake Mueller
Your first stop is the Mueller Point lookout with views of the cream-coloured lake below the Mueller Glacier to the left, and a view of the first swing bridge and the Hooker River emerging from the lake to the right.
Swing bridges and the Hooker River
The trail then makes its way into the Hooker Valley with amazing scenery in all directions. There are three beautiful suspension bridges that criss cross over the Hooker River – the first bridge is named Lower Hooker Suspension Bridge, the second Hooker Bluff Bridge and the last one is Upper Hooker Bridge.
The second suspension bridge (Hooker Bluff Bridge) is the longest and has the best view of the massive Mount Sefton.
After you cross the second suspension bridge the landscape opens and the track changes from a gravel path to a wooden boardwalk. The boardwalk leads you through a lush green valley with stunning panoramic views.
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Hooker Lake – the view at the end of the track
Shortly after the third swinging bridge, the official trail ends at a lookout over Hooker Lake with a few picnic tables. A small path leads to the shore of the lake with an unobstructed view of Mount Cook. The creamy, brown water of the Hooker Lake is filled with floating icebergs that have set adrift from the Hooker Glacier. On a still day you should get a nice reflection of the mountain in the water.
The water is ice-cold, so take a beer along to chill and enjoy at the end (but remember to take all your rubbish back with you). Beer chilled in glacier fed water and sipped in mountain air always tastes better – fact!
Once you’re done taking in the beautiful scenery, head back along the track the way you came.
Best time of day to hike the Hooker Valley walk
If you want to enjoy the Hooker Valley walk with smaller crowds then we recommend you start first thing in the morning, or at the end of the day at sunset (try and time the walk so you can spend sunset at Hooker Lake). The peak period for crowds of day trippers is from 9am to 5pm. It is also worth starting the walk early to make sure you get a parking space in the car park too!
If you are unable to start the walk early, it is still totally worth doing and there is plenty of space so it never feels too busy.
Be aware that the weather in Mount Cook National Park can change very quickly and dramatically. When we walked the trail early one morning the weather was incredibly misty, but after half an hour the low clouds had completely lifted and we were treated to sunny blue skies.
Best time of year to hike the Hooker Valley trail
The Hooker Valley Track is open all year round but the most popular time of year to visit is during the warm summer months (December-February). Winter is also a beautiful time to visit with fewer crowds and lovely snowy landscapes.
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Where to stay in Mount Cook:
Accommodation is very limited in Mount Cook Village and we would recommend booking as far in advance as possible. We stayed in Mount Cook Village the night before we started the walk, so that we could arrive at the start of the track nice and early before the day trippers arrived.
We booked a private room at the YHA Aoraki Mt Cook which was one of the nicest hostels we have stayed in during our backpacking trip in New Zealand. They also have dorm rooms, a large shared kitchen/dining room and picnic area.
Other accommodation options in Mount Cook Village
BUDGET – Glentanner Park Centre
Holiday park and activity centre set on the shores of Lake Pukaki with panoramic views of Mount Cook. Accommodation options range from self-contained cabins to dormitory rooms, plus powered sites for campervans.
BUDGET – MID RANGE – Mt Cook Lodge and Motel
A range of accommodation including motel rooms, lodge rooms and shared rooms with onsite bar and restaurant.
MID RANGE – Aoraki Court Aoraki
Modern units featuring great views of mountains with kitchenette and patio.
LUXURY – The Hermitage Hotel
Hotel featuring a range of on-site dining and bars and rooms /suites all offering mountain views.
CAMPING – Located right at the start of the Hooker Valley Track. The site has 60 non-powered sites for tents and campervans and is first-come first-serve (the site does not take reservations). Facilities include toilets, a large public shelter with tables, sinks, and counters where food can be prepared and stoves can be used. There is a fee of $13 per adult person per night to camp here.
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