Aoraki/Mount Cook is one of the most majestic and breathtakingly beautiful places in New Zealand. It is a must-see for any traveler to this country. The mountain stands 3,724 meters high and is a symbol of New Zealand’s landscape. There are various trails that offer viewpoints from different angles for visitors to enjoy. As a result, when planning for the 10 days trip in South Island with my friends, this is one of our top picks for the itinerary. We ended up choosing Hooker Valley Track as one of the destinations for the trip since our time was limited and this track is a short and easy trail but includes almost all of the most beautiful scenes of Mt Cook area.
We arrived to the car park of Hooker Valley Track starting point about 10am, we were lucky enough as it was a sunny day with just a bit of cloud cover. The sunshine was a true encouragement to start the track as the weather still very cold in early September, even a bit freezing there. However, you will definitely sweat a little bit while walking on this trail.
The track has been described as “a walk in the park” by many hikers and is ideal for all fitness levels. Some of the highlights on the trail include swing bridges, mountains, glaciers, avalanches and of course, one breathtaking view after another.
As you walk along this magical path, you will be able to experience the beauty of native alpine bush and hear the rumbling of avalanches from afar.
At the end of the track, there is a stunning view of Hooker Glacier Lake, speckled with icebergs, and majestic view to Mount Cook and the Southern Alps
The walk will take you through a variety of landscapes with each turn in the valley showing you something different.
Hooker valley is always a top destination for me in New Zealand and for sure I will come back there one day.
Thank you so much for reading!
