Hooker Valley Track

Hooker Valley Track is the king pin for tourists coming to Mount Cook National Park. Highly regarded as one of New Zealand’s ‘Must Dos’ the trail draws in the crowds year-round from sunrise to sunset to see the breath-taking views of Mount Cook and the surrounding mountains.  On a fine day, the Hooker Valley is a gentle stroll in the national park that caters to people of all abilities and experiences.  It’s an immersive experience sharing with everyone a taste Mount Cook National Park.  If you’re planning on walking the Hooker Valley Track at sunrise of sunset, the trail begins at a campsite, Whitehorse Hill Campsite.  Whitehorse Hill caters for campervans & tenting with a dedicated indoor cooking facilities and flushing toilets all at the trailhead.  These facilities are open to the public during the day for use.

In Detail

Walking the Hooker Valley Track is quite literally a ‘walk in the park’.  The Department of Conservation have put a lot of infrastructure and care into the track over the many years. It continues to improve with the enormous number of visitors the National Park receives on annual.  Before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019  the number of tourists who visited Mount Cook National Park within a calendar year exceeded one million. Many of those tourists who would come to Mount Cook National Park would walk the Hooker Valley Track during their time to marvel at Aoraki (Mount Cook) and to immerse themselves in its surroundings.  At Whitehorse Hill, it’s possible to see Kea (New Zealand’s native mountain parrot) squawking and flying about.

Getting to the Hooker Valley Track

From Christchurch you must follow State Highway One down to Rangitata. There is a clear turn-off sign with the road sign pointing towards Aoraki (Mount Cook) and Geraldine which marks the beginning of State Highway Seventy Nine into Mount Cook National Park. Follow the road signs as you stay on State Highway Seventy Nine until Fairlie. Take a hard right when you reach the or take a quick stop at the Fairlie Bakery (one of the best pie shops in New Zealand). From Fairlie follow the road through Burke’s Pass, Lake Tekapo and past Lake Pukaki. As you make your way around the large bend towards Twizel the turn off comes to State Highway Eighty leading right the way into Mount Cook.

Hooker Valley Track

The Hooker Valley track begins from White Horse Hill Campsite, the beginning of several popular trails in Mount Cook National Park, including Sealy Tarns, Mueller Hut and the beginning/ending for the Ball Pass traverse. It is extremely easy to follow, needing only a pair of shoes to accomplish. The entire way is a blissful path, featuring lookouts and information boards along the trail.  Four swingbridges are crossed before the trail ends at Hooker Lake. 

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GPX file download for Hooker Valley Track

Mount Cook National Park Weather

If you’re planning on walking the Hooker Valley Track, it’s important that you keep an eye on the wind speeds in the area.  If the wind is in excess of 80 km/hr or there have been significant flooding events within the area the second swingbridge along the track will be closed. Weather in Mount Cook National Park can often be variable. Within the time we spent in the National Park it was completely snowing, overcast the day that we arrived at Mount Cook Village. The next morning when we headed out to tackle Sealy Tarns Track and later the Hooker Valley Track the weather had completely cleared up entirely. 

Whitehorse Hill Campsite

Arriving at White Horse Hill Campsite it’s not difficult to determine how to reach the beginning of the Hooker Valley Track.  Follow the trail of people going along the track, into and out along the trail and out of the bush. You’ll soon be trotting along the gravelled trail through low scrub and bush.  Early along your hike there is a small memorial for climbers who have attempted Mount Cook but have never returned.  The Alpine Memorial.

Top: Looking through the scrub to the photographer and editor of the blog Nathan | Ed Fairclough
Bottom Left: Looking up towards the Sealy Range as the day sets in | Ed Fairclough
Bottom Right: A fresh snow dusting on the Kirikiritaka/Mount Cook Range looking down the initial section of the Hooker Valley Track

Mueller Lake

Mueller Lake is the first milestone along the Hooker Valley Track.  The turquoise-coloured lake can be admired from the dedicated Mueller Lake look-out and along the Hooker Valley track as you make your way around the perimeter before following an inlet to Hooker Lake.  If you have young children this can be the perfect spot to aim for a short walk to a viewpoint.

Top: Mount Sefton and the footstool bombarded by fierce winds and cloud
Middle Left: One of many DOC signs that points along the track pointing out small lookouts a long the Hooker Valley Track
Middle Right: Looking further down the Hooker Valley track to the Mueller Lake embankment
Bottom Left: A tourist boulder hopping off track to get a better look at the turquoise colour of Mueller Lake
Bottom Right: Looking back down the valley towards Lake Pukaki

Hooker Valley

Along the track across an outlet from the Hooker Lake to Mueller Lake (the second swingbridge along the track) can be closed if there are high winds, or recent flooding. During a storm in March 2019 the structural integrity of the second swingbridge was compromised. Engineers have deemed the bridge safe when not affected by strong winds and flood events. If you’re unsure if the swingbridge is open, talk to the staff at the Department of Conservation visitor’s centre.

Top: Looking across to the second major swing bridge along the track at the Mueller Lake inlet
Bottom: Nathan walking across the second bridge along the Hooker Valley Track

Stocking Stream

At the half-way point toilets are found for those in need of a bathroom stop partway through the hike.  Due to the number of visitors that walk the track, please resist going off the track to do your business.  If every visitor who visited the park did this along the track it would soon not look nearly as pristine as it does now.  If you have visited Hooker Valley Track from a while back, you may remember visiting Stocking Shelter.  Unfortunately, due to storms in the area, Stocking Shelter has been removed.  From Stocking Stream you’ll find the location of the classic photo used to market New Zealand worldwide.  Boardwalk through the tussock with the mighty Aoraki (Mount Cook) dominating the background.

Hooker Lake

Hooker Lake is the cornerstone of the walk where you’ll often find icebergs floating in the winter months and get the best views of Mount Cook without strenuous climbing in Mount Cook National Park.  A picnic table is located above the lake alongside the caution signs erected by DOC. If you’re about cold immersion therapy, there’s no better place to feel the chill of the water.  Ensure you are well prepared.  If the winds rise it can be the ultimate formula for hypothermia, bringing your core body temperature down rapidly.

Top Left: Looking down amongst the crowds of people filling the shores of Hooker Lake
Top Right: A candid photo of a man that took Ed, Zach and my photo at Hooker Lake
Middle: A danger sign erected detailing the dangers of Hooker Valley, much like a hazard board at a construction sight
Bottom Left: Zach getting amongst some cold water immersion therapy at Hooker Lake
Bottom Right: Getting dressed again and slipping on a pair of socks with Mount Cook in the background

Return Journey along the Hooker Valley Track

The return journey is marginally faster back to the car.  It’s easier to pick up the pace on the way back to the car.  Missing off many of the lookouts along the way and with Aoraki (Mount Cook) behind you and walking against the masses posing and taking photos. All up a round trip should take around three to four hours in total.

The Boulder Problem

Towards Hooker Lake there are a range of large boulders near Hooker Lake that can be climbed with some effort.  Many are offtrack visible which make for an interesting challenge.  For further reading on bouldering in the Mount Cook region, in 2015 an article was written for Vertical Life detailing a bouldering problems about Mount Cook National Park.

Hooker Valley Track Crew

A 5am wake-up call, a hefty night on the Southern Comfort and L&P combo, along with a speedy hike up Sealy Tarns for sunrise.  Shout out to the crew of Zach and Ed for making our first of many appearances in Mount Cook National Park in the coming months. Certainly, was a worthwhile change of plans after a night in at Camp Stream Hut followed by a day of sour weather.