Hooker Valley track

I visited this track today and really enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the way — the views are definitely worth it! Unfortunately, the track was closed about halfway through, just before the second swinging bridge, which was a bit disappointing. One thing to note: I saw lots of people wearing casual sneakers and slipping around on the icy parts of the trail like ice skaters. If you’re planning to go, I highly recommend wearing proper hiking or winter shoes. It makes a big difference and helps you feel much more confident walking on the ice and snow.

This was a beautiful and easy hiking track. The path is wide in most places when it's gravel and the boardwalk was well maintained. The views are great the whole track and at the end you get to the glacial lake with Mount Cook. Not challenging but stunning throughout. It can be crowded so be aware of when you want to arrive with parking and how many people will be around if that's something you want to limit. Parking an RV/camper is doable here especially if you arrive early! There are several bridges.

Beautiful walking track with few small climbs with steps in between. Total trek time is about 3 hrs, unfortunately I couldn't complete the full trek as I reached late in the evening. Walked till the first bridge. The views and atmosphere is fantastic. Hopefully will be back again to complete the trek

I hiked the Hooker Valley Track in the beginning of June, a day after a big snowfall. The trail was all covered with snow. There was a trail carved in the snow with the width of a person where people could walk. The leading road was closed due to snowfall but there was a parking around 2km from the trail head. I really recommend this trail in the winter!

Brilliant hike up the valley to a glacier lake. The path is well marked and although some steep slopes it is generally straightforward. Great views of the snow covered mountains. It was a delightful view of the lake with icebergs in it. It is quite a busy walk which takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes to get to the hermitage hotel

Simply love it! We came with our kids, ranging from a baby to 2 years, 5 years, and 9 years old, and they all had a blast. We even managed to make it all the way to Hooker Lake! We were lucky enough to witness an avalanche, which was an amazing experience. We started early in the morning to avoid getting sunburned, and it was totally worth it. The scenery is absolutely beautiful, and we loved every bridge along the way. It was great to see so many other families, including those with babies and young kids, enjoying the hike as well. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a family-friendly adventure with stunning views!

Wow. This trail is beautiful and easy for families to do. At 11km long it's not short but well worth it. Make sure you come early or late to avoid the crowds. We chose to come late after a glacial trip and it was great on the return, not many people and plenty of good sunset photos.

The track was very slippery you need ice spikes attached to your shoes and for older people poles only if there is snow on the track... otherwise it's easy you don't need any assistance The view is so beautiful it's worth it

We parked at the trailhead located next to the White Horse Carpark, a quick 3-4min drive from Hermitage Hotel. NZ DOC estimated the walk as 3-4hr return, which was pretty accurate to our experience. There are maps available breaking down the segments of the trail, and their times, from bridge to bridge, as a helpful waypoint guidance. The walk was flat path, with very minimal elevation gain- we were walking on a very rainy, windy day-and the flatness of the valley walk, between the mountains, created a very intense wind tunnel- we often had to stop, shielding from the wind-but this made for a very fun experience. Arriving at the swing bridges, the icy rivers below were gorgeous light blue breathtaking views- then the arrival at the final glacier lake was worth the long trek. A delightful walk to enjoy Hooker Valley.

My wife and I hiked this trail on a rainy day in March. We got soaked and we never saw Mt. Cook, which was hidden by clouds, and it was still 110 percent worth it. The New Zealand DOC estimates the hike as 3-4 hours out and back, and it's accurate. We clocked it at 9-10 miles from the trailhead at the Hermitage Hotel. You also certainly don't have to do the whole track to get some great photos. We parked (free) by the Hermitage Hotel, grabbed a map from the concierge, and had a drink at their bar afterward (not free). The hotel also has a shop stocked with any gear you might feel compelled to buy before hiking. There also are restrooms located within the hotel off the lobby. The elevation gain is marginal and most of the trail is pretty flat. We were just fine in running shoes, and the only reason I'd be cautious about footwear is that parts of the trail (especially bridges and wooden causeways) can be slippery. The rest of the trail is dirt and gravel. There are no amenities, so bring water, snacks, etc. The DOC also has resources, including a posted sign on the trail, on what you should bring to have a safe, fun hike. This was a must-do on our New Zealand itinerary, and even without Mt. Cook in view it was one of the most beautiful hikes we've taken.

Hiking in the mountains, the Hooker Valley Track is an easy hike. Perhaps if you're not afraid of heights, this would be easy for you. However for those who are scared, you might want to be conquering your fears when doing this hike. Go across stable bridges above rivers, there's that lush green of flat lands and boulders of rock faces around watching your every move. I'd say hike at your own risk and wear sunscreen because the rays down here are more powerful due to no pollution. The hike is easily accessed, though not paved, probably the only time you're wet is if it's raining or if you decide to jump in the lake at the end. It's a good way for family to exercise their legs after driving for long periods of time. Be respectful of the land, pick up after yourself. It's not a peaceful or beautiful hike if rubbish is seen. Oh and, bring water. Enjoy!!!

After visiting my two favorites lakes in New Zealand, we drove to Mt. Cook. The drive from Lake Pukaki to Mount Cook was amazing - first half of the drive is along the circumference of the turquoise blue Lake Pukaki and the second half of the drive is towards the face of the glacier covered Southern Alps. It had become cloudy that afternoon and we could hardly see the peak of Mt. Cook. I was really hoping the clouds would clear away at least for a little to make way for our hike. But in vain. With every passing minute, the clouds became darker and darker and it started to drizzle. I knew exactly what trail I wanted to hike - The Hooker Valley Trail! No no, there's no hooker in the trail. I have no clue why it was named so. Kinda embarrassing to even tell people that I loved the Hooker Valley Trail; every time I got to emphasize that it is a hiking trail. After parking the car, we packed up our bags with jackets, umbrellas, water, bananas and started on our hike. I looked behind every now and then to catch glimpses of Lake Pukaki. It almost seemed like it was warm and sunny near Lake Pukaki, just a few kilometers away from Mt. Cook. The weather didn't make up its mind - it rained every alternate minute and I was tired folding in and opening the umbrella every other minute. Sigh. The views of the surrounding glacier covered mountains were breathtaking. After a while, I felt like a teeny tiny ant, surrounded by these gigantic, white mountains all around me. After a while, we came across a viewpoint to see the Mueller Lake and the Mueller Glaciers. We continued walking, crossing the Hooker River on a suspension bridge. How fun! I'm used to walking on suspension bridges in Lynn Canyon, Vancouver and in Arenal Hanging Bridges in Costa Rica, but it always a scary experience for me. The hike to the Hooker Glaciers did not have one suspension bridge, but three! Although I was bummed that the weather was overcast, the cloudy weather did make the scenery look quixotic. We continued walking until the trail ended in the mouth of the Hooker Lake with glaciers in the background. What I loved the most was the little ice bergs floating on the Hooker Lake. How cool is that?! I love seeing icebergs, so this was really a dream come true for me! By the way, when you are in Mt. Cook National Park, don't miss out the short hike to the Tasman Glaciers, New Zealand's longest glaciers.

The track itself is extremely lengthy compared to the Tasman glacier track, and due to lack of time, we only did half of it, but you can definitely tell the end will very well be rewarding. If you're afraid of heights and some motion sickness be sure to go with a friend as there are three hanging bridges. Also ensure to have sufficient time, about 3 to 5 hours depending on your pace.