Hooker Valley Track — Ashlyn Oswalt

Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park

If you’re looking to make the most of New Zealand’s wintery weather without too much effort, head down to Aoraki/Mt Cook and walk the Hooker Valley Track and Tasman Glacier.

We recently visited Canterbury’s famous national park with some friends, hoping to see some snow, stars, and walk one of New Zealand’s most famous day walks. A bit of a change from our normal vanlife, dog-friendly weekends (sorry, Trapper), Aoraki provided the perfect point to soak up some winter weather.

We lodged in Lake Tekapo, giving ourselves a basis for exploring Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, while also being able to enjoy the town and its hot pools. While The Hermitage Hotel provides lodging right in the national park, you may want to save that splurge for an extra special trip. We stayed at this hostel in town, but there are several more options.

Lake Tekapo is about an hour’s drive from the Hooker Valley Track walk and a scenic one at that. We started our day with a walk to the Tasman Glacier Lake, an easy less than one hour stroll that meanders through the glacier’s old terminal moraines and along the Tasman River, before depositing walkers to the Tasman Lake. We were treated to an iceberg speckled lake, which is normally frozen over in the winter (climate change or shoulder season got the best of it this time).

Trail to the Tasman Glacier by CJ Duncan

Sitting on the floating dock on Tasman Glacier Lake by CJ Duncan

A floating dock provides a great spot to sit for a spell, and judging by the kayaks tied up next to the lake, it looks like you can kayak around the glacier in warmer weather.

Tasman Glacier Lake (hi, Danny!) by CJ Duncan

We then tackled the Hooker Valley Track, a walk that begins a short drive up the road from the Tasman carpark. The Hooker Valley Track is one of New Zealand’s most popular walks - and it’s easy to see why. The 10km out and back walk begins at the base of the Hooker Valley and winds its way through alpine streams and glaciers, with 360-degrees of amazing views. Three swing bridges glide walkers across the rushing Tasman River and it’s not uncommon to see an avalanche or two.

The track is listed as easy via DOC’s website, and with a paved pathway, toilets, and plenty of seating along the way, this track is suitable for most walking levels.

At the end, walkers are rewarded with views of Aoraki/Mt Cook, protruding from the iceberg littered Hooker Valley Lake. Aoraki, which means “cloud-piercer” in te reo Māori, lived up to its name on our walk, piercing the clouds with its sky-high peak, New Zealand’s largest mountain.

Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park features ten short walks, most listed as “easy” making this mountaineering haven surprisingly accessible. Plenty of other tracks, such as the Mueller Hut Route and tackling Aoraki itself provide entertainment for those looking for some wintery challenges.