The best hikes in Mount Cook National Park

Welcome to page with the best hikes in Mount Cook National Park. As an avid hiker I went to Mt Cook National Park no less than five times over the past couple of years and despite the number of tourists increasing and the glaciers receding, to me this will always be a magical place. In this article I’ll first share the best Mt Cook hikes with you, followed by my favorite Mount Cook camping sites, other places to stay in Mount Cook Village and basically anything else you need to know before you go.

 Note that this post was first published in 2019 and updated in 2024 after my most recent visit to New Zealand in 2023.

Hooker Valley Track

My favorite Mount Cook hike is definitely the Hooker Valley Track. I’ve done this hike four times and I just can’t believe how gorgeous it is. Don’t let the crowds disturb you as even though it may seem busy, I found a way to avoid the crowds – how to do this you can read in my Hooker Valley track blog. The Hooker Valley hike starts at the White Horse Hill Campsite so if you want to make an early start, make sure to pitch your tent up right over there, just like I did!
 
The Hooker Valley Track is a wide gravel trail, leading you through an alpine valley and across swing bridges. Your final destination is Hooker Lake at the bottom of Mount Cook – the highest mountain in New Zealand. By foot you cannot get any closer than this if you don’t plan on climbing Mount Cook. The return trip will take some 3-4 hours, depending on how fast you walk and how many photos you take. I sure took my time and spent several hours on the trail every single time I hiked it.

Kea Point Track

If you have little time but still would like a taste of what to do in Mount Cook, then you will definitely enjoy the Kea Point Track. This short hike is on a well maintained trail and you can either walk it from White Horse Hill camp site (1 hr return) or Mount Cook Village (2 hrs return). Eventually you will arrive to a viewing deck which was made for your convenience, looking out over Mount Sefton, The Footstool, Hooker Valley, Mueller Glacier Lake and Aoraki / Mount Cook.

Sealy Tarns Track

The Sealy Tarns track is also called the ‘Stairway to Heaven’ as it has numerous steps and will make your legs burn without a doubt. You can hike this trail as a part of the hike to Mueller Hut (more on that one below) or as a half day hike up into the mountains.
 
The trail leaves from White Horse Hill Camp site and at first you’ll follow the Kea Point Track, when you will eventually find a sign towards Sealy Tarns and Mueller Hut. As mentioned, the majority of the trail is made of stairs, sometimes even and sometimes uneven. Those who easily have painful knees will definitely need a pair of trekking poles!
 
You gain some 600 meters in altitude and the way up will take you about two hours. Just when you are wondering if the effort is worth it, do continue going up, up and even more up! Eventually you’ll reach the beautiful Sealy Tarns and with a bit of luck you can see the glaciers in the back ground reflecting in them. If you’ll look behind you, you’ll see the Hooker Valley and Mount Cook in the distance.

Mueller Hut Track

My oh my – it’s a hard choice between the Mueller Hut hike and the Tongariro Crossing which is the most beautiful in the country and I honestly cannot pick one. My Mueller Hut adventure went a little different than planned because for this hike, you are quite dependent on the weather. In poor weather don’t even attempt this hike as it will be dangerous and foolish to head into the alpine part of this hike in foul weather. The Mount Cook weather can be horrendous (trust me!) and so always check with DOC before setting off. In winter you’ll need an ice axe and crampons in order to make this hike!
 
Having said that, I planned on staying overnight (must book ahead!) but the weather was about to change and so I decided to head out one day early and make it a day hike – a FULL day hike that is. The Mueller Hut Track is a long way up through alpine terrain and is not for those with a fear of heights nor for untrained ones. You’ll need to scramble in some points, will cross various steep scree slopes and need to be extremely careful.
 
Do you still want to do this now? If yes, then you will be rewarded. In 2023 I stayed overnight and it made my stay in Mount Cook even more memorable. You can read my complete article about the Mueller Hut hike here.

Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier View

The Tasman walks depart from the parking lot at the end of the road into Tasman Valley – another scenic valley a bit further away from Mount Cook Village. Before you get very excited about the name Blue Lakes – don’t be! The Blue Lakes are anything but blue, they used to be in the past though and the name remained even though they are far from blue at this time.
 
There are various small lakes to check out and eventually you’ll climb up to a moraine wall from where you’ll have stunning views of Tasman Glacier in the distance. Tasman Glacier is the longest glacier in New Zealand but is receding fast, it already seemed a whole lot shorter than my last visit in 2011. The way back is on the same trail.

Tasman Glacier Lake

If you want to see icebergs then make this hike a priority. It’s not guaranteed you can see icebergs from nearby however there is a fair chance. The track veers off the Tasman Glacier View at some point and will add about an hour to your hike. If you want to hike the whole bit here at Tasman Glacier and Tasman Lake, plan some 2-3 hours including time for pictures.

Mount Cook Village walks

As I haven’t stayed in Mt Cook Village personally, I haven’t done all the village walks since most of them are quite short. I’ve done the Kea Point Track from here though which connects Mt Cook Village with White Horse Hill Camp Ground (30 minutes one way) and the short 10 minute Bowen Bush Walk. Alternatively, there are the Red Tarns Track, the Governors Bush Track and the Glen Coe walk that can be done from the village.

Where to stay in Mount Cook

If you want to camp in the national park, then the best option is White Horse Hill Camp Ground. I camped here and it’s a first come, first serve campground maintained by Department of Conservation. The fee per night is NZD 18 and there are spaces for campervans as well as grassy spots for tents. Other than a shelter with running water and toilets, there are no facilities at this camp site. Reservations are required and can be made on the DOC website.
 
If you’d like to stay in a bit more civilized camp site then I can recommend staying at Glentanner. I also stayed here a couple of times and this camp site has amazing views of Mount Cook. It offers all facilities you will need, from hot showers to a cooking area and slow wifi. Make sure to book ahead as it’s usually quite full in summer season, we got the last spot upon arrival. We actually wanted to stay in nearby Twizel but all campsites were fully booked. You can check rates and book your spot online here.
 
If you are not camping, you can stay in a hotel or motel in Mt Cook Village but prices can be quite high as accommodation is limited. Alternatively, you’ll find cheaper options in nearby Twizel or Lake Tekapo. Note that these are quite popular spots too and when I stayed here (March) everything was fully booked well in advance, so make sure to book well ahead!

Other things to know about Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park

Mount Cook is quite isolated so it’s smart to bring all you need before you drive off to Mount Cook Village and beyond. This includes gas, groceries and cash. The White Horse Hill Campsite does not have electricity but you can leave your electronics at the DOC office and charge them there for a small fee.

The DOC office can provide you with all necessary information regarding the hikes, campsites and more. Their visitors center is one of the best in New Zealand and on a rainy day you can easily spend a few hours there looking around. Looking for a hiking map of Mount Cook? You can download the online Mount Cook hikes brochure here.

If you’ve found this article useful, I hope you make use of the following links to book your trip to New Zealand:

• Planetickets can be booked via Skyscanner.
• Rental car rates and availability can be found here.
• Buy your New Zealand guidebook here.
• Book your accommodations on Booking.
• Find tours and excursions here.
• Book your Spaceship vehicle here.
• Search for group tours here.
• Book your bus tickets here.
• Find prices and book your ferry here.

I hope you’ve found this article useful and that you’ve enjoyed reading about the best Mount Cook hikes useful. Always make sure to check the DOC website for the latest information regarding track closures and updates. 

Want to continue reading? You may also like the following posts:

• The best hikes in New Zealand
• Things to do in Mount Cook National Park
• Omarama Clay Cliffs – a must see on the South Island

Alternatively, visit my New Zealand homepage here, where you’ll find more than 50 articles about active travel in New Zealand!

_{This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase and/or reservation via such a link, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for considering!}