With its snow capped peaks, untamed, rugged alpine landscape, and some of the most beautiful blue lakes you’ll ever see - Mount Cook is a hikers paradise and the starting point for some of the world's greatest hikes. Mount Cook lies in the magical South Island of New Zealand. Mount Cook is a historically significant landscape, made famous by Sir Edmond Hillary who was the first to summit Mount Cook, and the first to conquer Mount Everest, along with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.

The name of Aoraki (Mt Cook) originates from an old Maori legend about Aoraki and his three brothers, who were the suns of Rakinui (the Sky Father). You can read the full story at the hermitage.co.nz.

In this blog, we’ll cover an in-depth guide on the best hiking trails in Mount Cook National Park. Whether you’re a seasoned trekker or just want to take in breathtaking views, this guide has you covered. Keep reading for insider tips and tricks to make the most of your visit to Mount Cook.

Best time to visit Mount Cook

October - April (Spring, Summer, Autumn) - The best hiking season runs from October to April, this is when all the trails are accessible and the weather is ideal.

December - February (Peak Summer) - December through until February marks peak summer time, so trails can get extremely busy at this time.

June - August (Winter) - Whilst it will be cold and certain trails are inaccessible during the winter, Mount Cook is a perfect location for winter photography. Trails are also extremely quiet during the winter. Many of the trails that are mentioned in this blog are still open during the winter, however, you may need additional gear such as crampons, ice picks etc. We’ll talk about this topic later in the blog.

Top Hikes in Mount Cook

Hooker Valley Track

Difficulty: Easy

Distance & Duration: 10km round trip, 3-4 hours

Highlights: Swing bridges, Boardwalk, Glaciers, Incredible views of the Hooker River and Breathtaking views of Mount Cook.

Best Time to Hike: All year round. To avoid crowds, start the hike early morning (before 10am) and for the best photography lighting. This trail can get extremely busy due to its popularity and its accessibility to all levels of hikers.

Clothing for different seasons:

Winter: Ensure you wear lots of layers and thermals, we’d also recommend waterproof trousers/jackets. Avoid wearing cotton, if this gets wet, it draws heat away from the body. Make sure you can take layers off to avoid overheating. For footwear, we’d recommend some type of gore-tex hiking boots or trail shoes. We found that the best and most affordable brand for us was Salomon.

Spring: Ensure you have a waterproof raincoat and trousers. It rains a lot during spring, and can even snow, so it's best to bring extra layers with you. Again, gore-tex boots or trail shoes are best for this kind of weather.

Summer to Autumn: It’s best to wear trousers that can zip off into shorts, wear high UPF rated clothing and wear accessories such as hats and sunglasses. Carry insect repellent and always wear sunscreen.

Tasman Glacier

Difficulty: Easy

Distance & Duration: 1.5km return via same track, 30 minutes

Highlights: New Zealand’s longest glacier, stunning views of Tasman Glacier, a perfect spot for photography

Best time to hike: All year round. To avoid large crowds, hiking in the winter or spring is best. Start your hike early in the morning for the best photography lighting and to avoid crowds.

Pro Tips: If hiking in the winter or spring, always check the Met Service for up to date weather alerts and check the NZ Avalanche Advisory for any avalanche warnings.

Kea point

Difficulty: Easy

Distance & duration: 2 hour return from Mount Cook village, 3km

Highlights: stunning views of Mount Sefton, The Footstool, Hooker valley, Mueller Glacier lake and Aoraki/Mount Cook.

Best time to hike: all year round

Pro tips: If you’re wanting a more challenging hike with an amazing view, you can head up to Sealy Tarns from Kea point

Sealy Tarns

Difficulty: Challenging (Nickname: ‘staircase to heaven’)

Distance & duration: 2-3 hours, 5.3km return

Highlights: Quiet route compared to easier hiking tracks. Staircase up to the viewpoint (be prepared to hike up a lot of stairs!). Spectacular 360 views of Aoraki peaks, including Mount Cook itself.

Best time to hike: Summer - Autumn. This track is open during winter and spring, but ice and snow can make it more challenging and pretty sketchy if you don't have the right equipment!

Pro tips: If you decide to take on the challenge during winter/spring months, it is recommended to take crampons and walking poles. You can almost guarantee there will be snow and ice the higher you go up, making the track slippery and sometimes even losing the track due to snowfall.

Sealy Tarns is the half-way point to Mueller hut. Some people do this track there and back in one day, but most people prefer to book a night at Mueller hut.

Mueller Hut

Difficulty: Challenging

Distance & duration: 5.2km one way, 4-5 hours

Highlights: Breathtaking 360-degree panorama encompassing glaciers, ice cliffs, vertical rock faces and New Zealand’s highest peaks. Camp out at Mueller hut.

Best time to hike: December-February. Mueller Hut is considered a highly challenging route. Using crampons and ice picks is a must during the winter and into the spring. Hiking this track during these seasons is only advised for experienced mountaineers due to Mount Cook's increased avalanche risk.

Essential Hiking Tips for Mount Cook

Weather preparedness:

Mount Cook’s weather is very unpredictable, so always check weather conditions before heading out on a hike. As mentioned previously, the main websites you’ll need to check are Met Service and NZ Avalanche Advisory. It is recommended that you dress in layers, even in the summer. The weather may be warm on ground level, but be prepared for temperatures to drop the higher the elevation is.

What to bring:

It’s best to bring layers of clothing when hiking in Mount Cook, even throughout the summer.

Here is a list of clothing to consider bringing for your hikes:

Waterproof raincoat
Waterproof trousers
Quick dry t-shirt/long sleeve (synthetic/merino wool)
Gore-tex hiking boots or trail shoes (with good support around the ankle and sturdy at the bottom)
Hats & gloves (winter)
Sun hat (summer & autumn)
Merino wool underwear & socks
Thermals (winter)
Down jacket (winter)
Zip off trousers (summer & autumn)
Windproof jacket (summer & autumn)

Additional gear to consider:

Comfortable backpack
Crampons & icepicks (winter)
Walking poles
Category 3 sunglasses
Sunblock

Essential items:

Water
Food - bring snacks such as nuts, granola bars, trail bars, dried fruits, dark chocolate, bananas etc. These types of snacks are high in energy and will keep you going through the hike

Safety considerations:

It’s essential that you stay safe whilst hiking. Here are some tips to keep you safe:

Stay on marked trails
Carry a map or download an app such as AllTrails
Set out your intentions at the Mount Cook National Park visitor centre - This is a form you fill out and sign before heading out on a hike, if you do not return and don’t sign out, this can lead to a formal search
Tell friends and family about your intentions
Carry or hire an avalanche transceiver if you’re hiking through avalanche terrain
Carry a travel friendly first aid kit
Carry a lifeStraw or filter that can purify water from running streams, rivers etc

Leave no trace:

Respecting Aoraki/Mount Cook is crucial, and you can do your part to protect its stunning natural environment by doing the following:

Dispose of all waste, do not leave any litter behind
Leave what you find
Respect wildlife - do not touch or feed wildlife
Be considerate of others

By following these simple steps you can help protect natural environments all around.

From the stunning Hooker Valley Track to the challenging Mueller Hut track, Mount Cook has something to offer to everyone. If this blog has inspired you and now that you know the best hikes, it's time to pack your bags and lace up your hiking boots to experience the beauty Mount Cook has to offer for yourself.

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Thank you for reading, and happy tramping!

The Best Hikes in Mount Cook: Explore New Zealand’s Alpine Wonderland