What to do in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, home to glaciers, grandeur & high mountain peaks
From hiking to see the Tasman glacier to getting a glimpse of New Zealand’s tallest mountain peak, here are the best things to do in this epic national park.
the tallest peak in new zealand, mighty aoraki
One of the questions people ask me the most is what destinations in New Zealand are the absolute ‘must sees’ — the most beautiful locations that visitors can’t miss.
This is a question I don’t love answering. Everywhere in New Zealand is beautiful to me, and choosing ‘must sees’ goes against my travel philosophy. But, if you press me, I will admit it. I think Aoraki/Mount Cook is the singularly most beautiful part of New Zealand.
hooker lake
the start of the hooker valley walk
I say that as someone from the North Island. For me, mountains are a rare sight, so driving toward the sheer, rocky peaks of Aoraki/Mount Cook is an experience that floors me, every single time.
Mt Cook — Aoraki in Māori — is the tallest mountain peak in New Zealand. This rocky spire 3,724 metres above sea level is where Sir Edmund Hillary famously honed his climbing skills before taking on Everest.
Mount Cook isn’t the only drawcard in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park; there are 19 peaks soaring over 3,000 metres and 178 glaciers covering more than a third of the park.
driving towards the mountains of aoraki/mount cook national park leaves me speechless every time
the park has a number of walking trails for all levels of experience and ability
The national park is fairly accessible, less than four hours driving to either Christchurch or Queenstown. There are excellent short walks in the park that almost anyone can do.
A QUICK ASIDE — SOUTH ISLAND ITINERARIES THAT PASS BY AORAKI/MOUNT COOK:
This accessibility is great, but it also means that visiting Aoraki/Mount Cook comes with a big caveat.
It’s busy.
Very, very busy (by New Zealand standards anyway — it’s worth noting that we think a handful of cars is a traffic jam. More than 20 people on a beach at one time is ‘Europe level busy’ for us. So, you might not find it crowded, but I definitely do).
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links, so I may make a commission at no extra cost to you if you book through those links. Thanks for your support.
the drive to aoraki/mount cook national park is one of the most spectacular roads in new zealand
Aoraki/Mount Cook at a glance
WHY GO:
For the sweeping, spectacular scenery, and for the walks. Even if you’re not a big hiker, you can probably manage some of the trails in this national park. The more popular ones are very well maintained and mostly flat.
If you don’t have time to make it to the glaciers on the West Coast, Mount Cook is also a great place for a heli flight/hike to a glacier.
HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD YOU SPEND THERE:
How much time have you got?
If you can, two nights there is ideal. Or even overnight is a great experience. You can visit as a day trip from Tekapo or Twizel, but I don’t think you would regret dedicating more time to this park.
Of course, that does also depend on whether you can find accommodation there. You may have to stay around Lake Pukaki or Twizel depending on availability.
GETTING THERE:
Rental car is your easiest option — compare prices on Discover Cars. it’s around four hours from Queenstown so I recommend trying to stay nearby (Tekapo, Twizel, or Lake Pukaki) to maximise your time in the park.
Renting a campervan to get there is also a great option, as you can camp overnight at White Horse Hill (a fabulous campsite, even if it is quite busy). Check out your options on Motorhome Republic.
WHERE TO STAY:
There are limited accommodation options in the park — several hotels, a backpackers, and a campground. Room space is limited and this is one of the most popular places in New Zealand, so you’ll need to book ahead.
Staying overnight in Aoraki/Mount Cook Village
mount cook village is a tiny cluster of buildings at the base of the mountains
Mount Cook village is the key entry point to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park — several short walks and overnight hikes start from the village. It’s also well worth visiting for the pristine night sky, and other activities such as boat tours and heli hikes to the Tasman Glacier.
It’s worth spending at least one night in Mt Cook Village, to check out the short walks and epic stargazing. There’s also something very special about spending the night in the magical national park.
On my last visit, I arrived around midday, hiked up to the Sealy Tarns, and then camped overnight at the White Horse Hill Campground, with a quick trip to Kea Point at sunset. I had initially planned on camping at Mueller Hut but the weather wasn’t looking great, so I diverted to camping in the village instead.
I left the next morning as I’ve hiked the Hooker Valley Track before, but I could have easily added in that walk as well, and still had plenty of time to get to my next stop.
Some notes:
Although you can buy petrol in the village, it’s much cheaper to fill up your car in Twizel or Lake Tekapo.
There is no grocery store in the village, so if you plan on cooking your own meals, stop for supplies in Tekapo or Twizel.
There are limited options for food in the village (two cafes and one restaurant) so bring enough food for your time there or budget for eating out (dinner at the Hermitage is from $65 for an adult and from what I’ve heard, it’s not exceptional).
As with all national parks in New Zealand, Aoraki Mount Cook is free to enter and the hiking trails and DOC visitor centre are also free to access.
A WORD OF WARNING: Accommodation in Mount Cook village is very limited and books up quickly. Book as far in advance as you can — check availability on Booking.com now.
If there are no rooms available, the White Horse Hill campground is a great choice for anyone in a campervan.
Alternatively, Lakestone Lodge on the edge of Lake Pukaki is an absolutely stunning place to stay, only a short drive away.
Hiking in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
The main things to in Aoraki/Mount Cook are hikes - this is where you’ll find some of the best short walks in New Zealand.
A quick note on over tourism. The Hooker Valley Track in Aoraki/Mount Cook is one of the most popular short-ish walks in New Zealand. There’s a reason for that — it’s stunning. But, popularity means it’s also very, very busy.
You can expect the carpark and trail to be pretty packed all day if you’re visiting over summer. Consider going earlier in the morning, or later in the evening.
Better still, seriously consider the other walks in the area to escape the crowds and spread out the pressure on that one trail.
Hike the Hooker Valley Track — the best activity in the national park (3 hour return walk)
The main activity that people come to Aoraki/Mount Cook for is the Hooker Valley Track. This walk is possibly one of the best short walks in New Zealand.
It’s only three hours return and the track is accessible to people of all levels of fitness and experience. It feels very special being able to see glacial and mountain scenery on such an accessible walk.
The trail is very clearly marked and evenly graded the whole way. Lots of families with children make the trek.
The walk takes you through a valley to the Hooker Lake, where you can see icebergs crumbling from the Hooker glacier, and the peak of Aoraki/Mount Cook rising behind the glacier.
Some tips:
The track is popular, so to avoid the crowds start as early as you can — if you stay in Mount Cook Village, set off when it gets light to have the track to yourself.
The carpark fills up pretty quick, so if you get there later in the day you might need to find a park on the side of the road.
When you reach the end of the track, you can make your way around to the left, near the Hooker River, to get away from the crowds.
The view at the end is highly weather dependent. You can check the weather in advance on cameras to see whether or not it’s looking clear.
It can be cold on the walk (you’re near glaciers!) but there is also little protection from the sun, so make sure you take a hat and sunscreen.
Just a reminder you can’t use drones on the Hooker Valley Track (as in most national parks in New Zealand).
Climb the ‘stairway to heaven’ to see the Sealy Tarns (3-4 hour return walk)
Another epic hike in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is the Sealy Tarns track.
A tarn is a small mountain lake which often form in glacial landscapes.
Climbing up to the Sealy Tarns involves 2,200 steps, which people call the ‘stairway to heaven.’
The stairs leading up to the tarns
It sounds more intimidating than it is, although steep the track is in good condition and has great views of the Hooker valley and Aoraki/Mount Cook. Take your time and in no time at all you’ll find yourself looking at the freshwater tarns.
In summer, alpine flowers add an extra element of beauty.
Hike to Mueller Hut
4 hours one way
Mueller Hut is famous for being built and opened by Sir Edmund Hillary. From it’s rocky mountain perch, it beckons to hikers and climbers who want to spend a night in a superb alpine environment.
The hut is located two hours beyond the Sealy Tarns.
It’s a four hour hike in total to reach the hut from the Aoraki/Mount Cook Visitor Centre, so if the hut is booked, and it often is, you can hike up and back as a tough but rewarding day hike.
Despite its popularity, this is still an alpine hike in difficult terrain.
In the summer months — December to February — you can hike the Mueller Hut route with moderate experience.
Outside of this time you might need mountaineering experience with crampons and ice axes.
Ask at the Aoraki/Mount Cook Visitor Centre for guidance on conditions, and don’t overestimate your abilities.
It’s free to enter the visitor centre and well worth visiting to learn more about the national park and the trails you can find there.
Hike to Kea Point (go at sunset for incredible colours)
1 hour return from White Horse Hill Campground
The Kea Point track is a gorgeous easy walk you can do from the campground.
At the lookout point, you can see the peak of Aoraki/Mount Cook reflected in a glacial lake below.
I went around sunset and when I rounded the last corner the tip of the mountain was bathed in a warm red glow.
It was stunning, so if you’re camping I recommend checking the sunset times and going about 30 minutes before it’s due to set.
The path back to the camp is well marked and easy to follow, so as long as you have a torch you won’t get lost on the way back.
Hike to the Tasman Lake Viewpoint
The Tasman glacier is New Zealand’s longest glacier.
An impressive 23 kilometres of ice cascade out of the mountains and into the Tasman Lake.
You can walk to a view point for the Tasman glacier in one hour, so it’s a nice short hike.
From the viewpoint, you can see the stubby end of the glacier, which often looks quite dirty. It’s not the most visually impressive glacier you can see in New Zealand, at least not from this vantage point (it’s a different story if you take a helicopter up to the glacier) but it’s still cool to lay eyes on it.
The lake is a muddy, light brown colour, not quite the bright blue of Lake Pukaki, but sometimes ice bergs float in the lake.
There is also a second track which branches off the Tasman Lake Viewpoint walk and leads to the Blue Lakes, another pretty spot to admire the glacier and surrounding mountains.
I found the Blue Lakes pretty underwhelming though, so you could easily skip these and you won’t miss much.
Explore the glaciers in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park
Take a glacial boat tour
Glacial Explorers is the only glacier boat tour in New Zealand.
The cruise takes you around the Tasman glacial lake, weaving in and out of ice bergs as you get to see the Tasman glacier from the water.
The trip takes 2.5 hours, with around 1 hour on the lake. It’s a cool way of seeing the Tasman glacier, and because the ice is constantly changing, no two days are the same.
To go on the tour, you need to be comfortable walking the 1.5km to and from the lake edge (around 25 minutes walking each way).
7. Go on a Tasman glacier heli hike
If a heli hike is within your budget, walking on the Tasman glacier might be the very best thing to do in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.
Standing on a glacier is a surreal experience, one that brought a friend of mine to tears.
There are a couple of different heli hike tour operators, but they are priced around the same $700 per adult for a glacier landing and two hour hike.
Other incredible things to do in Aoraki Mount Cook
5. Go stargazing in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve
Cost: $139 for 90 minutes with Big Sky
Mount Cook Village is smack in the middle of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky reserve, which spans the national park.
The reserve protects the natural and cultural heritage in the area, as the natural dark helps preserve local ecosystems and connects Ngai Tahu (the local Maori iwi) with their history of astronomy and navigating with the stars.
You can very easily just go for a nighttime stroll around the village if you’re staying overnight.
Or, on clear nights you can take a Big Sky Stargazing tour from the Hermitage.
On this tour, astronomy guides lead a 90-minute tour with a combination of telescopes and viewing the night sky with the naked eye.
The tours operate all year round, but in the summer months, it doesn’t get fully dark until much later in the evening — in summer, tours leave at 10.30pm and 12.30am.
What you’ll see in the sky depends on the season and month.
The full moon can also affect how much you see. While you might not see as much when the full moon is out, you will get to see visuals of the moon and its craters, as well as star clusters and some planets like Jupiter and Saturn.
September is a great month to go stargazing in Aoraki Mount Cook.
The nights are still long and dark, but the arrival of spring means warmer temperatures. It's also the most accessible time to see the Milky Way core, as it passes almost directly overhead shortly after nightfall.
On some nights, you can also see the Aurora Australis/Southern Lights.
Thanks for reading this far! I hope I’ve convinced you to visit Aoraki Mount Cook National Park — it’s truly a highlight of any New Zealand trip.
If you’re planning on road tripping around the South Island, you might also find these articles useful:
AUTHOR BIO
I’m a freelance travel writer from New Zealand with bylines in National Geographic Travel, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and more.
I’ve travelled up and down beautiful Aotearoa and I love sharing my recommendations for the best places to visit in New Zealand.
