The Hooker Valley Track: New Zealand’s Best Short Hike?

New Zealand is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. Home to some of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful scenery in the world, you just can’t come the Land of the Long White Cloud and not spend the majority of your time outside. Otherwise, that would just defeat the purpose of coming!

For me, one of my favourite outdoor activities is to throw on my boots and head off on a hike. New Zealand is famous for its multi-day hikes including the Milford Track, the Routeburn Track, the Kepler Track and the Abel Tasman Coast Track. However, don’t let the prospect of camping and cooking put you off. Much of New Zealand’s pristine wilderness can actually be experienced on short day hikes which means that these incredible vistas are a lot more accessible than you’d think.

The Hooker Valley Track: New Zealand’s best short hike?

If you’re looking to experience some of New Zealand’s best alpine scenery but you’re only up for a short hike, the Hooker Valley Track in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is the hike for you my friends. I’m even willing to go so far to name it the BEST short hike in New Zealand. Yes indeedy.

I’ve been to New Zealand a few times now and have done quite a bit of hiking (both multi-day hikes as well as day hikes) and am still convinced that this hike offers the biggest bang for your buck. The Hooker Valley Track is not only short and relatively easy, but it also offers a visual feast of dramatic mountain views. It’s also the cheapest and easiest way to get the best views of Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain (3,724 m).

Getting there

You’ll find the Hooker Valley Track in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park in the central part of New Zealand’s South Island. It can be reached in 3 hrs from Queenstown or about 4 hrs from Christchurch. Hiring a car and travelling independently is the best way to experience this region, although there are many bus tours that include this destination in their itineraries. For more inspiration on planning a road trip through New Zealand’s South Island, check out our two-week itinerary.

The Hooker Valley Track begins at the White Horse Hill Camping Ground, which is located 2.5 km from Mt Cook Village. You can either walk there from the village or drive and park your car at the trailhead.

Essential information

To help you plan your trip and decide whether this is the right hike for you, here is some essential information about the Hooker Valley Track:

• The return hike is 13km long
• Depending on your pace and how many breaks you take, the track will take approximately 3-4 hours return
• It’s best to drive to the start of the track from Mt Cook Village. If you plan to walk from the village, it will add an extra hour to your return trip
• It’s an easy, mostly flat hike with a gentle elevation gain of only 80 m over 5 km
• The trail is a combination of gravel track, boardwalk, rocky steps and suspension bridges. It’s in excellent condition and is very well-maintained
• There are toilets, picnic tables and a shelter at the start of the trail at White Horse Hill Camping Ground

Highlights of the Hooker Valley Track

So what is all the fuss about? Why exactly is this the best short hike in New Zealand? We’ll let the highlights of the Hooker Valley track speak for themselves…

Four suspension bridges

Just one kilometre from the start of the track you’ll hit the first of four suspension bridges you’ll cross on the hike. They’re high, a little bouncy but very sturdy and safe. They offer amazing views of the surrounding Southern Alps and glaciers including Mount Sefton and the Mueller Glacier as well as the Hooker River gushing below.

Hooker Valley

Once you enter into the Hooker Valley, you’ll be treated to some spectacular views of Aoraki/Mount Cook looming before you. A boardwalk replaces the track for a section of the trail here too. For this section of the track, you make your way through a valley flanked by rocky, snow-capped mountains. The vegetation changes here to alpine tussock which covers much of the wide valley floor. Look out for alpine wildflowers on the way including the world’s largest buttercup, the Mount Cook lily.

Cute mountain huts

One of my favourite views of the whole trail is of Stocking Stream Shelter framed by ice-capped Aoraki/Mount Cook in the distance. I don’t think there’s a more beautiful scene in the whole hike! Could a cuter rest stop exist?

Hooker Lake

The hike ends at the spectacular Hooker Glacier terminal lake where you’ll be stunned at the scene in front of you. Relax at one of the picnic tables and take in the views of towering Aoraki/Mount Cook and the Hooker Glacier feeding into the greyish-blue lake. You’ll see icebergs bobbing up and down on the lake during most of the year – a spectacular sight against the backdrop of the mountains. This sure is an amazing reward for finishing the hike!

Shop the look:

Icebergs

Seeing icebergs bobbing up and down in the Hooker Lake is undoubtedly one of the coolest things you’ll see on the track. The Hooker Lake completely freezes over in winter but in summer it melts and you’ll see icebergs floating around, having broken off from the glacier. So cool!

Once you’re sick of the view (although how could you ever be?), turn around and head back the same way you came.

Tips

The Hooker Valley Track really is one of New Zealand’s best short hikes. After hiking the track twice, here are my best tips for ensuring you have a great experience on the track:

• This is a VERY popular walk (the most popular in the entire National Park) so start early to beat the crowds. We headed off around 7:30am and had the track almost entirely to ourselves for most of the way.
• For photographers, the best light is at early morning. Later in the day, the sun moves behind Aoraki/Mount Cook.
• If you’re not feeling up to hiking the full trail, that’s okay. Not everyone completes the entire track and many choose to turn back after the first or second swing bridge.
• Lather up with sunscreen before you set off. The sun in New Zealand is unforgiving and UV levels are very high as there is virtually no ozone layer. Slip, slop and slap and remember to reapply.
• Wear layers. This is an alpine environment and the weather can change suddenly. You will also get quite warm hiking so peel off your layers as you get moving.
• Be sure to wear comfortable, sturdy shoes with thick soles to keep your feet happy.
• Pack between 1-2 litres of water. Even if it’s cool, remember to rehydrate regularly.
• Stick to the trail so you don’t damage the surrounding environment. Many native birds and animals create nests in the vegetation on the ground which you don’t want to trample on.
• If you’re heading off by yourself, it’s always a smart idea to tell someone where you’re going. This can even be your hotel receptionist.

For more information about the Hooker Valley Track and other walks in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, check out the DOC website.

Looking for more New Zealand travel inspiration? Read these posts next:

• A Kickass Itinerary for a 2-Week Road Trip in New Zealand
• 20 Things I’m Glad I Packed for New Zealand (And 3 I Wish I Had!)
• The Most Scenic Roads in New Zealand You MUST Drive

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