All You Need to Know About The Hooker Valley Track
The Hooker Valley Track in New Zealand’s Mount Cook National Park offers some of the best views of the country’s tallest mountain. You will get amazing views of Mount Cook over fields of tussock grass, mirrored in still lakes, and perhaps glowing in the warm afternoon sunset.
Along The Hooker Valley track, you will cross a series of New Zealand’s iconic rope swing bridges. You will walk past glaciers high up in the mountains, and see icebergs floating in the Hooker Lake, which has broken off the glacier on Mount Cook itself. The whole length of the Hooker Valley Track is surrounded by views of majestic mountains right until the end where you come face to face with Mount Cook.
A 10KM walk (round trip) will take you about 3 hours. Allow an extra half hour to hour to relax at the end of the trail with a fantastic view of Mount Cook.
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How Difficult is the Hooker Valley Track?
The path is well graded and flat. Steeper inclines are stepped, so this is an easy trail to complete for people of all ages.
The Hooker Valley Track starts from the White Horse Hill Campground, located about kilometers from the Mount Cook Village. The trail makes its way into the Hooker Valley via a series of three suspension bridges, which cross back and forth over the Hooker River.
The Hooker Valley Track ends at the Hooker Valley. No surprises here. At the end of the trail, you will get an amazing view of Mount Cook towering over the lake. On a still day, you will also get a nice reflection of the mountain in the water.
It is common for Mount Cook to be hidden behind a thick layer of fog or cloud. If this is the case when you turn up to start the walk, do not fret. Give it a bit of time, perhaps even a few hours and the fog should clear up.
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10 Amazing Photos of the Hooker Valley Track
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When is the best time to walk the Hooker Valley Track?
The Hooker Valley Track is busy. It is probably one of the most popular walks in New Zealand. The peak period is from 9 am to 5 pm with many day trippers visiting the area.
I found the best time to walk the Hooker Valley Track was after 5 pm. This way you will get to the base of Mount Cook just before sunset (in summer).
Check when sunset is on the day you are visiting and plan to start the walk two 2.5hrs before that time. There will be far fewer people and the views will be even more stunning.
Staying near the Hooker Valley Track
There are a couple of lodges located two kilometers from the Hooker Valley Track in the Mount Cook Village such as:
- Mount Cook Alpine Lodge (luxury option from $250 per night)
- Mount Cook YHA (basic option from $40 per night)
Many of these are booked out in advance. If you intend to stay in the national park in one of these lodges, be prepared to book ahead.
A more flexible option for those with tents or campervans is to camp at the White Hose Hill campground.
The White Horse Hill campground is located right at the start of the Hooker Valley Track. Fees are 13 NZD per person per night. There are flushing toilets, drinking water, kitchens and phone reception. There are no showers or power available. Be prepared to rough it.
However, here’s a photo of the mountain that we camped right under…
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