Hooker Valley Track
Aoraki/Mount / Mt Cook Village
Your Nature Guide
Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
Nau mai, haere mai
Nau mai, haere mai
I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.
I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
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Information
Hooker Valley Track
10 km return | 3 hours return
The most popular day walk in the park. And with good reason. Roaring rivers, glaciers draping of the highest peaks and superlative views of Aoraki / Mount Cook.
Walking Track
Timing
Early and late are the best times to avoid the masses. 70,000 per year walk the track.
Access
The start of the walk is signposted from White Horse Hill Campground at the end of Hooker Valley Road.
Track
Pass the memorial to those who have died in these high mountains. Another memorial shortly after celebrates Freda du Faur, the first female to summit Aoraki.
The well-maintained track recently underwent a $1.7 million upgrade, so is in great nick. Metalled all the way, boardwalks over the soft stuff and 3 of the most magnificent suspension bridges in the country.
Traversing the moraine wall damming Mueller Lake, the track then crosses the roaring river on the first of the swing bridges. Huge boulders disrupt the flow and froth the debris laden river a sombre grey.
A safe distance from the scree walls at the base of the Kirikirikatata / Mount Cook Range, the track then makes its first crossing of the Hooker River.
Boardwalks over the tussock and swamps protect the fragile vegetation. Some memorable views up to Aoraki with the rocky river in the foreground, are the photographers’ chosen spots.
Another crossing of the Hooker River, then a short side trip to an alpine tarn, before the track ends beside Hooker Lake.
You can see the terminal face of the glacier, all smothered in rock debris at the far end. Icebergs are blown down-lake by the katabatic winds and funneled westerlies. A short side track descends to the lake edge.
Return via the same track.
Geology
Previous to glacial action, many valleys were characterised by a system of interlocking spurs protruding into the valley floor – the legacy of water’s erosion carving V’s into the land. Glaciers worked differently and having no regard for these obstructions, simply bulldozed through the rock, truncating spurs to leave a triangular face bisecting the former ridgeline.
Glaciers filled the valleys and joined in the upland areas to form ice caps. The last Ice Age was known as the Otiran and occurred between 80,000 and 10,000 years ago. Ice was up to 2 km deep. Sea levels were up to 120 metres lower and ice reached over 10 km off today’s shoreline. At least 5 glacial advances and retreats are evident. At the conclusion of the last glacial between 35,000 and 14,000 years ago, a Glacial Maximum occurred, a short but intense episode of global cooling. This spurred on the glaciers in a final pulsing advance, which built up the vast terminal moraines, filling the MacKenzie basin and extending glaciers 10 km past the current southern shores of Lake Pukaki. These details give some fuel for thought on the rapidity of climate change that occurs without the influence of humankind.
Hooker Glacier sweeps down it namesake valley. Observe the side walls of moraine - lateral moraines - deposited during a time of relative quiescence in the retreat.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC CanterburyCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Mount Cook |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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5.0/5
8 April 24.
We had a warm dry walk although somewhat breezy at times. The swing bridges were moving a bit.
Well worth the effort getting there. Not a hard walk and easily done within the time suggested.
The end of the track has a lake and the end of a glacier. A seating area and access to the lake with icebergs!
Very windy there in exposed areas.
Very busy but that was ok. Would definitely do the walk again if we revisit NZ.
-
5.0/5
The best 5k walk I’ve ever done.
Flat, breathtakingly beautiful. 3 swing bridges. Doesn’t get any more epic. An absolute must. One of the highlights of our holiday
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4.0/5
Nice wee little walk that can be completed in a few hours.
Good idea to carry gloves during winter. Note that the direction coordinates given on the app would take you to Mt. Cook Village carpark, not the actual Hooker Valley Track cp. Refer to Google
-
5.0/5
Awesome, well marked walking track.
10km/3hrs return to the end. 3x swing bridges. Lots of good spots to take photos. Gets colder the further along the track you go - wishing we had taken gloves with us! There were icebergs in the hooked lake at the end of the walk - was freezing! So worth the trek though, and would imagine would have been even nicer with warmer weather. Small fuel stop in the local town also to top up.
-
5.0/5
Stunning scenery around every bend and every rise of the track.
Easy hike but there is no shade so if its sunny make sure you have a hat and sunscreen. Track was very well maintained. Always busy but if you start before 10am you should beat most of the tour buses. Make sure your memory card has plenty of space as you will take SO many pictures. One of the best hikes every
-
3.5/5
A lovely easy walk with stunning scenery but wow does it get busy!!
There’s a toilet on the path. Big beautiful bridges and immediate mountain views. Lovely! But You must start it before 10am to avoid the mega busy crowds. We started at 10am and it was busy but tolerable. On our return watching the masses walk past us was crazy. There’s no shade either so bring a hat.
-
5.0/5
It was great.
Light drizzle and very cold but we saw BEAUTIFUL scenaries. One of the highlights of my trip!
-
4.5/5
Was very windy and a bit rainy when we went and couldn't see Mt.
Cook but it was still a great and fun 3-hour track.
-
4.5/5
We came up to Mount Cook area to see the scenery along the way, with the intention we'd turn back and find somewhere to camp up further along at Lake Takepo.
We landed up staying as we realised there were several good walks here. We set off in late afternoon along the path.
Do leave 4 hours, you spend longer at the end than you intend and as experienced walkers we knew the likelihood was that we'd get back just as dusk was setting in. Although it's a well worn track we took plenty water, some food, torches and layers, just in case. A few people were heading in as we were heading out and didn't know how long it would take them - they did turn back when we told them it wasn't just round the corner.
Late afternoon is a lovely time to go, far less people around and a very pleasant walk. Good view of the glacier. From reviews of Franz Josef and Fox I'd say this is easily up there as just a stunning and enjoyable but just less well known.
-
5.0/5
Pleasant three hour walk over three swingbridges to the Hooker Lake/Hooker Glacier.
When we visited it on March 8 it was a little bit overcrowded.
-
-
-
5.0/5
8 April 24.
We had a warm dry walk although somewhat breezy at times. The swing bridges were moving a bit.
Well worth the effort getting there. Not a hard walk and easily done within the time suggested.
The end of the track has a lake and the end of a glacier. A seating area and access to the lake with icebergs!
Very windy there in exposed areas.
Very busy but that was ok. Would definitely do the walk again if we revisit NZ.
-
5.0/5
The best 5k walk I’ve ever done.
Flat, breathtakingly beautiful. 3 swing bridges. Doesn’t get any more epic. An absolute must. One of the highlights of our holiday
-
4.0/5
Nice wee little walk that can be completed in a few hours.
Good idea to carry gloves during winter. Note that the direction coordinates given on the app would take you to Mt. Cook Village carpark, not the actual Hooker Valley Track cp. Refer to Google
-
5.0/5
Awesome, well marked walking track.
10km/3hrs return to the end. 3x swing bridges. Lots of good spots to take photos. Gets colder the further along the track you go - wishing we had taken gloves with us! There were icebergs in the hooked lake at the end of the walk - was freezing! So worth the trek though, and would imagine would have been even nicer with warmer weather. Small fuel stop in the local town also to top up.
-
5.0/5
Stunning scenery around every bend and every rise of the track.
Easy hike but there is no shade so if its sunny make sure you have a hat and sunscreen. Track was very well maintained. Always busy but if you start before 10am you should beat most of the tour buses. Make sure your memory card has plenty of space as you will take SO many pictures. One of the best hikes every
-
3.5/5
A lovely easy walk with stunning scenery but wow does it get busy!!
There’s a toilet on the path. Big beautiful bridges and immediate mountain views. Lovely! But You must start it before 10am to avoid the mega busy crowds. We started at 10am and it was busy but tolerable. On our return watching the masses walk past us was crazy. There’s no shade either so bring a hat.
-
5.0/5
It was great.
Light drizzle and very cold but we saw BEAUTIFUL scenaries. One of the highlights of my trip!
-
4.5/5
Was very windy and a bit rainy when we went and couldn't see Mt.
Cook but it was still a great and fun 3-hour track.
-
4.5/5
We came up to Mount Cook area to see the scenery along the way, with the intention we'd turn back and find somewhere to camp up further along at Lake Takepo.
We landed up staying as we realised there were several good walks here. We set off in late afternoon along the path.
Do leave 4 hours, you spend longer at the end than you intend and as experienced walkers we knew the likelihood was that we'd get back just as dusk was setting in. Although it's a well worn track we took plenty water, some food, torches and layers, just in case. A few people were heading in as we were heading out and didn't know how long it would take them - they did turn back when we told them it wasn't just round the corner.
Late afternoon is a lovely time to go, far less people around and a very pleasant walk. Good view of the glacier. From reviews of Franz Josef and Fox I'd say this is easily up there as just a stunning and enjoyable but just less well known.
-
-
5.0/5
Pleasant three hour walk over three swingbridges to the Hooker Lake/Hooker Glacier.
When we visited it on March 8 it was a little bit overcrowded.
-
-
4.5/5
Amazing views.
Very easy to find the track and follow it. It was a really good and easy walk. I will recommend it to everyone!
-
-
5.0/5
Well maintained paths, great walk, easy walk, beautiful waterfalls all around on the way.
-
5.0/5
Plenty of parking, bathroom facilities are clean and accessible.
Beautiful scenery.
-
-
4.0/5
Stunning landscape with a view of the glaciers.
Track ends at the glacier lake. But you must be very careful when it is windy (we heard that it happens often) cause it can be unpredictable.
-
5.0/5
Very beautiful track!
We did this track in winter so amazing with snow everywhere but easy to access.
-
4.5/5
A nice walk through the Hooker Valley which ends at Hooker Lake.
The view of Aoraki from the lake is something special.
-
4.0/5
A very popular walk so always plenty of people around, but beautiful views along the entire walk through the valley.
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5.0/5
Well maintained track through amazing scenery.
The highlight is arriving at the Hooker Glacier Terminal lake to see the floating icebergs. And of course, Mt Cook! Worth waiting for a clear day to do this walk and visit Mt Cook Village.
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5.0/5
Do it at sunset if it is a clear evening.
Awesome view of Mt Cook and maybe icebergs of the glacier.
-
4.0/5
Comfortable to walk.
Awesome views. Maybe just too many tourists walking at the same time.
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-
5.0/5
Hike Hooker Valley track, super landscapes throughout the hike.
Good memories!! It is pretty easy and accessible to everyone. Beautiful view of Mt Cook at the end of the way!! I recommend.
