Mt Cook Tour / Hooker Valley Hike

Your day begins with a 7:00am pick up from or near your Queenstown accommodation. Travelling in a premium Mercedes Sprinter with a small group, the journey starts in comfort as you leave town behind and head north towards Aoraki Mt Cook National Park. Your guide hosts the day throughout, sharing commentary as the landscape changes around you.

The drive takes you through Central Otago, past Cromwell and into the wide, open country of Lindis Pass. This part of the journey is a big part of the experience, with changing scenery at every turn and plenty of time to take in the South Island’s alpine landscapes.

A short stop in Omarama gives you time to grab refreshments and purchase lunch before continuing into Mt Cook. This is a useful stop, especially if you are planning to spend most of your free time out on the trail. The live FAQ also recommends buying food here or bringing lunch from Queenstown.

From Omarama, the route continues along the bright turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki. This stretch of road is one of the visual highlights of the day, with Aoraki Mt Cook often appearing ahead in the distance as you approach the national park around midday.

Once in Mt Cook, your guide drops you at the start of the Hooker Valley Track for a self-guided walk along the valley floor, with alpine streams, glacier views, and Aoraki Mt Cook ahead. Guests can choose to walk a shorter section of the trail and return to enjoy more time in the village, or use their free time to complete as much of the track as conditions allow. The live page notes the full hike is normally around 3 hours return and suited to medium fitness, but access is currently limited to the Mount Sefton Viewpoint while bridge works are underway. Warm layers, hiking shoes, and a rain jacket are strongly recommended in all seasons.

During your time in Mt Cook, entry to the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre is included for all passengers on tour. It offers additional insight into the mountain environment and the history of one of New Zealand’s most significant alpine regions. The live page lists this as included for all passengers, though one icon block describes it as optional, so I would keep the wording consistent with the FAQ and main page copy.

At the set meeting time, rejoin your guide at the trail start and begin the return journey to Queenstown. The tour arrives back at approximately 7:30pm, rounding out a full day that combines scenic travel with time on one of New Zealand’s most iconic alpine walks.

The full-day trip takes approximately 12 hours from Queenstown. This allows us to make plenty of stops en route to ensure you enjoy the journey, with 3.5 hours in Mount Cook Village, you will have up to 3 hours to complete the track in that time.

The Hooker Valley Track is an self-guided walk, however our guide will transport you to the start of the trail and pick you up from the same point later that day.

For all passengers on tour, we also include access to the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre.

This is a DOC (Department of Conservation) hiking trail, and we recommend those with medium fitness complete the entire trail. We have a strict departure time from Mt Cook Village and all hikers must return by that time.

The track leads through the sacred Tōpuni area of the Hooker Valley, which has special significance and values to Ngāi Tahu iwi, towards Aoraki/Mount Cook. The track leads out to the Hooker Lake.

White Horse Hill carpark to first lookout and first swing bridge

Distance from White Horse Hill carpark to lookout: 1 km (about 15 minutes walking time one way.)

The first 700 m of the track passes close to the Alpine Memorial (a great viewpoint) and Freda’s Rock before coming to the viewing point of the Mueller Lake lookout and the first swing bridge.

The track surface to the first lookout is a firm clay/gravel surface with easy grades. It is suitable for wheelchairs and buggies.

Beyond the first lookout there are several sections of steps which make wheelchair/buggy access difficult.

First swing bridge to second swing bridge

Distance from White Horse Hill carpark to second swing bridge: 2.5 km (about 45 minutes walking time one way.)

From the first of three swing bridges along the way, enjoy the views over the Mueller Lake and listen for the rumbling of avalanches from the distant Mount Sefton. You may be able to spot them before they crash into the Mueller Glacier below.

After crossing the Hooker River, the track goes between old moraine ridges and humps to the second swing bridge.

During red weather warnings or when intense rainfall or high winds are forecast, the Hooker Valley Track will close at the gate at the first swing bridge. 

Second swing bridge to third swing bridge and Hooker Lake

Distance from second swing bridge to Hooker Lake: 2.5 km (about 45 minutes walking time one way.)

The second swing bridge may be closed during winds exceeding 80 k/hr and during significant flood events. The bridge was severely damaged during a storm in 2019. There is erosion on both sides which affects its structural integrity during high winds. Engineers have determined the bridge is completely safe when not affected by strong winds and flood events.

From here the vegetation changes to more open tussock and a wider valley floor. There are public toilets located 15 minutes walk further on from the second swing bridge.

A third and final swing bridge then leads to the Hooker Lake, the source of the Hooker River.

The track ends with an amazing view over the iceberg-speckled Hooker Lake and up to majestic Aoraki/Mount Cook and the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana.

Return the same way, enjoying more views down the valley and across to the Sealy Range.

Distance from Hooker Lake back to White Horse Hill carpark: 5 km (about 90 minutes walking time one way.)

• An extra warm layer of clothing
• Camera
• Sunblock & sunglasses
• Wet weather gear
• Hiking shoes

We recommend purchasing food in Omarama (a stop we make on the way) or bringing lunch from Queenstown at the start of the day. We arrive at 12pm, so you will likely be ready for lunch not long after arriving.

If you are only going to walk a short portion of the trail, you can choose to use the remainder of your free time in the village and buy food at a local cafe.

If you intend to do the full hike or spend more than 1 hour on the trail, we recommend purchasing food in Omarama or bringing this from Queenstown at the start of the day.

We don’t want to give too much away! The drive from Queenstown to Mt Cook is stunning and there are plenty of scenic stops enroute, your guide knows the best spots and will choose these on the day.

Yes! You will get up close to the icebergs on the Tasman Glacial Lake, with even the chance to touch them.

We pick up from select Queenstown hotels and the main bus stop routes in Queenstown town centre and along Frankton Road. When booking, type in your accommodation and it will suggest the closest bus stop. If it doesn’t come up just check in with us and we’ll let you know where is closest for you!

As this is a weather dependent tour, if there is risk of adverse weather conditions that will impact the operation of the tour, you will be contacted the day prior to your trip to explore alternative options.

The Hooker Valley Track is exposed, so if you are intending to hike this trail in any weather, you must be prepared and dress accordingly (leave your trendy clothes at home, trust us!).

Due to this being one of our most popular tours and wanting to be fair to all who join us we do not offer reserved seating. If you have a request we will do our best to accommodate but we cannot guarantee.

No, not at all! This option is the same cost as our standard day tour.

We just created this product to help us understand what you want to do in Mt Cook Village so that you come the best prepared as possible.