The Hooker Valley Track: The Best Half-Day Hike in New Zealand?
When it comes to beautiful views and epic hikes, New Zealand sure has a LOT of them. But when it comes to iconic mountains, there are fewer contenders.
Arguably the most iconic mountain in New Zealand is Aoraki / Mount Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand at 3,724 meters (12,218 feet). Aoraki is exactly what you'd picture an epic mountain to look like: snow-capped, jagged, and near incredible lakes and glaciers. So, basically, a must-see in New Zealand.
I had seen Aoraki / Mount Cook from a distance before, but on my third visit to the mountain, my friend Liz and I decided to hike for a closer look on one of the best easy trails in New Zealand: the Hooker Valley Track in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.
The Hooker Valley Track
*Note: The Hooker Valley track is currently closed due to one of the bridges being washed out. It is not estimated to re-open until mid-2026. Check on updates here. As an alternative, consider the Tasman Glacier View Track or Tasman Lake and River Track, both of which are fairly gentle walks around Aoraki / Mount Cook you can do in under an hour but still see some epic scenery!
Before this hike, Liz had taken me on the Rocky Mountain Track in Wanaka – which was more challenging than I (a self-professed non-hiker) was really prepared for. So while I was skeptical about joining her for another one, the promise of a mostly flat track and even more epic views won me over.
The Hooker Valley Track is basically perfect for beginner hikers. The trail is easy and not *too* long, and the payoff includes epic mountain views, plus a glacial lake with icebergs involved. Icebergs!!
The Hooker Valley Track is one of the most popular short hikes in New Zealand – some might say the best half-day hike in the country. The 10-kilometer (6.2 mile) out-and-back track takes 3-4 hours to complete, and is so easy it's considered a “walking track” in New Zealand – meaning perfect for a non-hiker like me.
It also comes complete with some epic mountain views. And I am never one to turn down epic mountain views, especially when not a lot of effort is involved.
Starting the Hooker Valley track
We kept an eye on the weather, and decided to make the trip to Aoraki / Mount Cook on a day that was predicted to be perfectly clear and warm. Our goal was to start the walk around 10 a.m. so that we would have different light for different parts of the track (and hopefully hit a time that would give us sun on the mountain).
Getting to Mount Cook from Wanaka by 10 a.m. shouldn't have been a problem. But when you factor in coffee breaks and far too many stops to photograph lupins along the way, we didn't even get to Aoraki village until noon. Add in lunch and some more coffee, and we didn't hit the trail until about 1 p.m.
But it ended up working out perfectly. Most of the morning hikers were already headed back to the village by then, and the light was absolutely perfect for photographing the as-advertised epic mountain views.
What the Hooker Valley Track is like
If you're looking for an easy hike in New Zealand, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is actually a great place to look. There are quite a few trails in the area that don't require mountaineering experience and only take a couple of hours to complete.
Neither Liz nor I had done the Hooker Valley Track before, so we didn't really know what to expect. What we found was an easy, mostly-flat gravel trail that is one of the nicest and most well-kept tracks that I've seen in all of New Zealand. Probably due to the fact that this walk is so popular.
The first portion of the hike has you crossing a few big suspension bridges over the Hooker River — they're a bit bouncy (which is fun) and make for some great photo ops.
The second half of the hike sees you entering the Hooker Valley, and gives you some fantastic views of Aoraki / Mount Cook. The landscape changes slightly along the way, which is great for someone like me who hates seeing the same old thing for hours on end.
The trail here also traverses over a nice boardwalk for a bit – be sure to stay on the trail!
We were lucky to be walking the Hooker Valley Track on a PERFECT day. It was sunny but not too hot. And, since it was springtime, there were plenty of Mount Cook buttercups blooming, yet still lots of snow on Aoraki.
And have I mentioned the epic mountain views?
Reaching Hooker Glacier Lake
The Hooker Valley Track ends at the Hooker Glacier lake, where you can usually find some (small) icebergs from the Hooker Glacier floating with Aoraki / Mount Cook looming impressively in the background.
Liz and I headed down to the “beach” for a rest and to snap plenty of photos.
As we headed back to the village nearly an hour later, I admitted to Liz that I had actually LIKED this hike. My only battle wound was a sunburn on my arms (I stupidly didn't put sunscreen on them, even though I KNOW that New Zealand basically has no ozone layer), and there had been no wheezing lungs, sweating kneecaps, or pleas for death on the trail.
I'll definitely call that a success.
The Hooker Valley Track is indeed a fantastic hike, and I'd recommend it to just about anyone!
What you need for this hike
Even though the Hooker Valley track is nice and flat, it IS 5 kilometers to the lake and 5 kilometers back. It will take at least a couple of hours, so you want to make sure to be prepared. I recommend bringing:
- Good walking shoes – You don't necessarily need hiking boots for this track, but I would still recommend comfortable shoes with good grip that you can walk on gravel for a couple hours in. I love my Merrell Moab waterproof boots, and my Oboz low hiking shoes – though honestly a solid pair of sneakers would be okay on this trail.
- Sunscreen – There's virtually no ozone layer over New Zealand, meaning you'll get burnt fast. Bring sunscreen, and reapply when you get to the lake!
- Layers – Mountain weather can always be a bit fickle, so it's never a bad idea to wear layers. I'm not opposed to a pair of convertible hiking pants for a walk like this, and a rain jacket just in case.
- Water – Make sure to bring water! Even if it's not hot, you'll still need to drink after walking for a few hours. I like my CamelBak Chute reusable water bottle. Many people will also bring a picnic snack to have at the end of the trail, in sight of Aoraki / Mount Cook.
Is this a trail you would want to hike in New Zealand?
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
Such a great post, Amanda, thanks for sharing! I love my time in New Zealand and especially Hooker Valley Track! I will never forget it!
You’ve short changed yourself. I’m sure it’s 5kms each way. Total of 10kms. It is a stunning walk.
Beautiful photos Amanda ! I’m planning to walk the Hooker Valley Trail later this year and your lovely pics have me super excited for it 🙂
It’s such a nice walk – I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!
Hi Can you send or post info about how to sign up for this hike?
Cheers
You don’t need to sign up for it – just show up and hit the trail!
These are fabulous pictures which I really appreciate because I hiked this trail on a cloudy, cold, windy, snowy, hail-filled day! Nonetheless, the views were spectacular with or without precipitation. But a sunny day cannot be beaten. Want to go back right now!!
Sunshine definitely can make all the difference sometimes! I was so lucky with the weather. Though moody skies can be cool, too!
I definitely want to do this hike when I return to New Zealand. Great post and awesome pics! Where did you get your compass??!
It’s definitely a must-do hike in New Zealand! (And the compass pictured in this post wasn’t mine – I think the owner bought it on Etsy, though!)
This is a gorgeous place, and while it would be difficult to do NZ justice in a single post, your entry does a very good job. Am heading to Mt Cook in the autumn season, and this certainly whets my appetite 🙂
Great to hear it, Harrison! Autumn is a lovely time to be in New Zealand.
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New Zealand’s always been a place that I’ve wanted to go, but especially after I saw “Lord Of The Rings.” I have two really good friends there who I’ve never met in person but we’ve gotten to know each other quite well over the years. This trail you talked about in this post has been on my list of To-Visit-Spots for a while, but now that I’ve read your post about it, I want to go even more. Thank-you so much for sharing your story of it & your gorgeous photographs. 🙂
Great to hear it, Michelle! I hope you get to visit New Zealand soon!
Which month did you travel Mount Cook, it seems like the whether are so nice, can see a lot of iceberg floating as well?
I was there in early December – so *right* at the beginning of New Zealand summer.
This looks like a lovely hike and reminds of the ‘Tongariro Crossing’ hike also in New Zealand! Have you tried it? It’s in Tongariro national park in the North island. It took us a full 8 hours and was pretty tough towards the end but well worth it for the incredible views! We got lucky with a lovely clear sunny day however totally recommend it too! 🙂
I haven’t tackled Tongariro yet, but it’s definitely on my list!