Hooker Valley Track

About the walk

• Awe-inspiring views of Aoraki/Mount Cook
• New Zealand’s longest swing bridge
• Glacier lakes and alpine meadows

Hooker Valley Track begins at White Horse Hill car park. It leads through the Hooker Valley to Hooker Lake, at the foot of Aoraki/Mount Cook.

The area is sacred to Ngāi Tahu. It has Tōpuni status – a symbolic cloak of protection reflecting its significance.

The track is gravel with some steps.

Car park to first swing bridge

15 min / 1 km

From White Horse Hill car park, the track passes signposted side tracks to Freda’s Rock, named for mountaineer Freda Du Faur, and the Alpine Memorial. Both provide excellent photo opportunities.

Mueller Lookout is just before the first swing bridge over the Hooker River.

First swing bridge to second swing bridge

30 min / 1.5 km

Cross the swing bridge and follow the track through rocky humps of glacial debris (called ‘moraine’) to Kakīroa/Mount Sefton View Lookout.

From here, enjoy views of Mueller Lake, Mueller Glacier and Kakīroa/Mount Sefton.

A new second swing bridge over the Hooker River opened in July 2026. At 189 metres, it’s the longest suspension bridge in New Zealand.

Second swing bridge to Hooker Lake

45 min / 2.5 km

After the second swing bridge, the valley floor widens and tussocks are the dominant plant. Toilets are available 15 min after the second swing bridge.

Cross a third and final swing bridge. The track ends at Hooker Lake, where you’ll enjoy majestic views of Aoraki/Mount Cook and the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana. Icebergs speckle the lake in summer.

Return to the car park the same way you came.

Directions

From Aoraki/Mount Cook Village, take SH80 towards Twizel. Hooker Valley Road is first on your left as you drive out of the village.

White Horse Hill car park is at the end of Hooker Valley Road.

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Travel times (by car)

• Aoraki/Mount Cook Village (5 min)
• Twizel (50 min)
• Tekapo (1 hr 30 min)

Road conditions

Snow can close SH80. Check highway conditions before you travel.

Check highway conditions

Car parking fees

The track to Mueller Hut starts near the White Horse Hill car park. DOC charges fees for car parking at White Horse Hill.

The fees are $2.50 per half hour or $25 a day. If you arrive and leave within 20 minutes, parking is free. If you plan to stay for longer than 20 minutes you must pay on arrival.

Payment machines that accept debit and credit cards are highly visible at each site. Cash payments are not accepted.

Locals and other car park users can purchase an annual permit. Permits cannot be purchased at the payment machines and need to be purchased online.

Note: If you arrive one day and leave the next you will pay car parking fees for two days ($50). If you plan to stay for multiple days ($50 or more) it may be more affordable for you to purchase an annual permit.

How to pay fees or buy an annual permit.

Weather

The Aoraki/Mount Cook region experiences very fast changes in weather. In this alpine environment it’s common to experience strong wind, high rainfall, heavy snowfall and rapid changes in temperature at any time of the year. Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park weather forecast – NIWA website.

Hooker Valley Track can become very icy in shaded areas and extremely slippery. We recommend microspikes and hiking poles for this track in winter.

Do not go in the water or on the ice

Stay out of the lakes in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. They are very cold (typically about 3 degrees celsius) and can quickly cause hypothermia.

Stay off the lakes when they are frozen over, as the ice can be thin and could give way at any time. Do not climb icebergs in the lakes as these are unstable and can tip unexpectedly.

You could put your life at risk by walking on the ice. If it gave way, you could drown or develop hypothermia.

Avalanche risk

The track is designed to avoid the risk of avalanche – keep to the tracks.

Amenities

• Wheelchair accessible toilets at White Horse Hill Campground at the start.
• A public shelter with tables/seating and potable (treated) drinking water at White Horse Hill Campground.

What to take

Short walks gear list

How to pack for a day walk

Many different wildflowers grow in this area, including celmisia and the Mount Cook buttercup/kōpukupuku, the world’s biggest buttercup.

Kea and kārearea (New Zealand falcon) can sometimes be heard and seen along the track.