Walking tracks

in Aoraki/Mount Cook
National Park
Contents
Welcome to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park 1

Be prepared 3

Walks from the village and campground 5

Freda du Faur 9

Walks map 10

Village walks map 12

Walks in Tasman valley 14

Cycling 16

Nature walking and wild-flower spotting 18

Welcome to Aoraki/
Mount Cook National Park
Enjoy one of our walks or hikes around the village and
environs; ranging from 10 minutes to 4 hoursthere
Check, Clean, Dry is something to suit everyones ability. For those with
Stop the spread of moderate fitness, there are options for even longer day
didymo and other walks or overnight tramps:
freshwater pests. to Mueller Hut (35 hr one
Remember to Check, way), which offers an amazing If you are doing an
Clean, Dry all items chance to experience the overnight walk, you will
before entering, alpine environment without need to sign in at the
and when moving being a climber, or to Ball DOC Visitor Centre,
between, waterways. Shelter (34 hr one way) for and pay your hut fees
breathtaking views over the before you go.
Haupapa/Tasman Glacier and
Published by: beyond.
Department of Conservation
Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
Visitor Centre
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
PO Box 5 Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park (70 696 ha) is New
Aoraki/Mt Cook 7946
Zealands great alpine park, boasting the highest mountains
New Zealand
2017 and the largest glaciers in the country. The area was
Editing and design: Publishing Team formally established as a national park in 1953 and is a
DOC National Office harsh land of ice and rock. Glaciers cover 40 percent of the
This publication is produced using paper sourced from
park. There are 19 peaks over 3000 metres high, including
well-managed, renewable and legally logged forests. of course New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki/Mount
R103448 Cook.
1
The park is also recognised for its outstanding natural
values and forms part of the internationally celebrated Te
Whipounamu South West New Zealand World Heritage
Area.
Glacier country
The glaciers that have helped shape the park's landscape
include five major valley systems: Godley, Murchison,
Tasman, Hooker and Mueller. There are also over 150
named smaller hanging glaciers on the mountainsides,
which add to the dramatic landscape.
Haupapa/Tasman Glacier, New Zealand's largest and
longest glacier, is clearly visible from the main highway at
the entrance of the park. It is 27 kilometres long, up to
3 kilometres wide and extends over 100 square kilometres.
Although covered with rock material in its lower reaches,
the ice of the Tasman is about 600 metres deep near the
Hochstetter Icefall.
The naming of a mountain
The mountain from which Aoraki/Mount Cook
National Park takes its name was originally named
Aoraki by Ngi Tahu, the first settlers in the area.
It received its European name, Mount Cook, in
1851 from Captain J.L. Stokes, who first sighted the
impressive peak as he sailed down the West Coast.
Stokes named the mountain in honour of the English
navigator and discoverer of New Zealand, Captain
James Cook.
In 1998, both names were officially recognised and
the mountain is now known as Aoraki/Mount Cook.
2 3
Be prepared
Remember your safety is your responsibility
Please choose a track that suits your fitness and experience.
Follow the Outdoor Safety Code:
Plan your trip
Tell someone your plans
Be aware of the weather
Know your limits
Take sufficient supplies
For more information, visit: www.mountainsafety.org.nz/
To make your trip as enjoyable as possible, before you set
out for a walk in the park, make sure you have the correct
clothing and supplies for your activity. We recommend you
take:
Sturdy shoes
Suitable head wear for the season and conditions
Extra warm clothing
Waterproof jacket
Water and food
First aid kit
Sunscreen all year round
Insect repellent (in summer months)
Camera
Beware
T
he weather can change quickly herehigh
winds are common and snow can fall at any time
of year. Check the weather forecast regularly.
S
now and ice conditions can be treacherous.
Always walk with care over snow or ice.
A
valanches can occur any time of the year but are
most common in winter and spring. Take special
care when travelling through known avalanche
areas and check avalanche advisory.
T
he alpine areas in the park are very exposed, and
at any time of year, spending a long time in the
sun or in hot conditions can lead to dehydration
and severe sunburngo well prepared.
 Enjoy
Walks from the village and campground
ning scenery
Stun wi
de
-
Governors Bush Walk
Time 1 hr return (loop track)

op
en
Grade Short walk: Easy

sp
Start place Public shelter

ace
s
Height gain 100 m steps plus well gravelled track

b
rea
Special features

tht
A delightful bush walk, which joins with Bowen Bush Walk
ak
g to form a nature trail and explores one of the few stands of
in
su
Ph nri silver beech/tawai (also known as tawhai) forest in the park.
ses a
nd sunsets
oto
:D
ecla
n Wong
A gradual climb leads to a lookout point of Wakefield Ridge
and Aoraki/Mount Cook. This popular walk offers birdlife,

s
a great view of the mountains and a sheltered place to

rm
to
experience the outdoors in poor weather.
ca ls
ra tri
d

ma c Bowen Bush Walk

tic ele
wea rilling ions Time 10 min return (loop track)
ther e h t
vents, including t forma
u d Grade Short walk: Easy
and impressive clo
Start place Opposite petrol pumps
Height gain Predominantly flat with some steps
glaciers lots of them,
Special features
from hanging to valley floor;
from pearly w y An easy forest walk that can be joined with Govenors Bush
hite to gravel gre Walk to form a nature trail. This track wanders through
ttara and celery pine/mountain toatoa forest, and has
ildflowers
ingw an alternative exit/entry towards the Mount Cook Lodge.
az In summer a Bird Song sounds system enhances the
targ
rs experience.
ies fo
sk
clear night

4 5
Glencoe Walk Kea Point Track
Time 30 min return Time 2 hr return from the village, 1 hr return
Grade Short walk: Easy from White Horse Hill campground
Start place Behind The Hermitage hotel and car park
Height gain 40 m steps and some zigzags Grade Short walk: Easy
Special features Start place DOC Visitor Centre and cross over the
This walk zigzags through ttara trees with a ferny road towards Hooker valley
understorey, emerging at a lookout near the prominent Height gain 180 m over 3 km
water tanks above The Hermitage. A short climb rewards Special features
with a birds-eye view of the village and beyond to the white This walk gently winds its way through subalpine
ice of Hooker Glacier and Aoraki/Mount Cook. Sunrise and grasslands and scrub to the Mueller Glacier moraine wall.
sunset are good times to catch the light playing over the The track passes through a landscape that was formed in
mountains. 1913 when a stream cut through from the glacier to the
original Hermitage site, damaging the building. The walk
Red Tarns Track ends at a viewing deck that gives stunning views of Mount
Time 2 hr return Sefton, The Footstool, Hooker valley, Mueller Glacier lake
and Aoraki/Mount Cook.
Grade Walking track: Steep and mainly stepped
Start place Public shelter Sealy Tarns Track
Height gain 300 m Time 34 hr return
Special features Grade Walking track: Steep and stepped
Follow the track downhill from the public shelter to cross Start place As for Kea Point Track, then branch off
the bridge over Black Birch Stream and then climb steeply at the signpost
to the Red Tarns. The vegetation changes as you ascend Height gain 600 m
from the valley floor to a superb panoramic viewpoint of
Special features
the valleys below, the village and Aoraki/Mount Cook. The
tarns are named for the red pond weed that grows in them. Dubbed the 'stairway to heaven', 2200 steps take you
An aptly placed seat allows you to recover your breath straight up to the freshwater lakes of Sealy Tarns. This
and enjoy the views. This is a magnificent spot to view the energetic walk provides spectacular views of the Hooker
sunset in summer. valley and peaks of the area, including Aoraki/Mount Cook.
An abundance of alpine flowers in summer and the views
from the tarns make the effort worthwhile. The tarns are the
halfway point to
Mueller Hut.

6 7
Hooker Valley Track
Time 3 hr return (add 1 hr if starting from Freda du Faur was the first woman to climb
the village) Aoraki/Mount Cook. She accomplished this amazing
Grade Walking track: Easy feat in 1910 with the help of two guides, brothers
Start place As for Kea Point Track, or start at White Alex and Peter Graham. In 1913, Freda completed
Horse Hill campground and car park the first Grand Traverse (all three peaks) of Aoraki/
Height gain 80 m over 5 km Mount Cook with guides Peter Graham and Darby
Thompson. Fredas Rock is the site where her now-
Special features
famous photo was taken just after her first successful
One of the most popular walks in the park, the track leads ascent of the mountain. For further information, visit
up the Hooker valley towards Aoraki/Mount Cook. It passes the Aoraki/Mount Cook DOC Visitor Centre.
close to the Alpine Memorial (a great viewpoint) and Fredas
Rock before coming to the viewing point of the Mueller
Glacier and the first swing bridge.
Cross the Hooker River here and carry on to the second
swing bridge. Look out for many different wildflowers along
the way, including celmisia and the Mount Cook buttercup/
kpukupuku.
The track from the first swing bridge to the second travels
between old moraine ridges and humps. Past the second
bridge, the vegetation changes to more open tussock and
a wider valley floor. A third swing bridge leads to the East
Hooker and the source of the Hooker River. The track ends
at the glacier lake, where there are amazing views of Aoraki/
Mount Cook, Hooker Glacier and the Southern Alps/K
Tiritiri o te Moana.
Return the same way, enjoying more views down the valley
and across to the Sealy Range.

8 9
 Empress High Peak
Hut 3724
Aoraki/Mt Cook
Mueller Hut Route
La Perouse
Middle Peak Time 35 hr one way
3078
3717
Grade Tramping track:
Low Peak
KEY TO SYMBOLS 3593 Steep and untracked
In winter: route
Car park ier
lac Start place As for Sealy Tarns
Ba ll G
Toilets
Nazomi
2925
Track
Ball Hut
Height gain 1000 m
Mt Beatrice
Shelter 2528 1030 m Special features

cier
Camp site
Spectacular panoramic views, a large

an Gla
hut and amazing landscapes are the

ute
Hut H ooker Glacier drawcards for this strenuous walk.
GE

ut Ro
Ball Pass
During the summer months (December

/ Tasm
2110
RAN

Information February) thisr route offers a mountain

Ball H
centre e
experience Riv
n for anyone with moderate

E
Mt Rosa

papa
iso

NG
2161 h
Copland Pass tramping
Mu rc experience if you take good
Copland care. During the winter months (June

RA

Hau
2150 Mt Mabel
Shelter

) WD
2091
August) the route requires a good level
E
EH

D (4
OK of mountaineering experience, including

ROA
KA

walking on ice and snow with ice axe

CO
O

HUT
R

A and crampons, route finding and using

O

BALL
MT

The
AR an avalanche transceiver, probe and

OLD
Footstool shovel. Check with the DOC staff at the
/

2764 AORAKI / MOUNT COOK NATIONAL PARK

Aoraki/Mount Cook Visitor Centre for
A

Hooker
current mountain conditions.
AT

Lake Tasman
900 m
Sefton Biv Lake
AT

During the summer months, you can

IK

Blue
Lakes
book this hut online at www.doc.govt.nz.
IR

3rd swing bridge

Tasman During the winter months, you need to
IK

viewpoint
HOOKER Wakefield call in to the Aoraki/Mount Cook Visitor
IR

VALLEY Falls
Centre to sign into the parks intention
K

TRACK
ler Glacier
uel system and pay hut fees before heading
M Kea Point 2nd swing bridge
Lookout
Mueller
to the hut.
Lake
SEALY TARNS
Track grades
AD

MUELLER TRACK
RO

HUT 1st swing bridge

1250 m
Y

ROUTE
Short walk: well formed track, easy walking for
LE

White Horse Hill

L
KEA

VA

Mueller Campground (DOC)

up to an hour.
er
N

Hut
PO

Riv
MA
HO

Walking track: track is mostly well formed, easy

INT

1800 m
S
OK

TA

an
TR

ER

Hook

to moderate walking from a few minutes to a day.

Tasm
AC

VA
K
E

LLE

er

Tramping track: track is mostly unformed,

RANG

Y RD

Aoraki/Mount
challenging day or multi-day tramping/hiking.
Riv

Cook village
er

GOVERNORS Route: unformed track, challenging overnight

C
BUSH WALK
tramping/hiking, suitable only for people with
LY

yc
le

high level backcountry skills and experience, and

tra
SEA

ck

RED TARNS TRACK

0 2 navigation and survival skills.
80 N 11
kilometres
 To campground

KEA POINT TRACK

HOOKER VALLEY ROAD

Mt Cook Chalets

The Hermitage

Old Mountaineers Cafe

DOC visitor centre

Car park
LK
WA
E
O

E NC Aoraki
GL Alpine
Glencoe Stream
Lodge

Cy c
Bowen Bush

le
tra
k
WEN BUSH

c
BO W
A
80
LK

Petrol
pump To
Mount Cook Lodge Glen
DOC office
tan
ne
r
Public
shelter, Mt Cook Aoraki
shower Court
Motels
& toilets
Motel
Governors Bush
Mount Cook YHA
School

Community hall
GO
VE
RN
RSO
BUS
H W
ALK

Bla
ck
Bi
N rc
h
St
re
0 200 400 a
m

metres
RED TARNS TRACK

12 13
 River. Icebergs can usually be seen floating in the lake in
Walks in Tasman valley summer, and in winter, the lake freezes over. The track leads
through the old terminal moraines of the glacier, and you
Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier View Track can see good examples of plant succession along the route.
Time 40 min return Tasman Lake is a relatively recent addition to the scene,
Grade Walking track: Easy with steps starting its formation in 1974 and growing steadily since
Start place Blue Lakes car park then. It is now large enough to take commercial boat and
Height gain 100 m kayak tours. The large terminal moraines mark the foot of
the Tasman Glacier at the time of the lakes formation and
Special features
are a sobering reminder of the glaciers retreat.
From the car park, walk past the Blue Lakes shelter and
meander up past the Blue Lakes to a viewpoint on the Ball Hut Route
moraine wall. There are good views of the lower Tasman Time 34 hr one way
Glacier and lake, icebergs and the mountains at the head
Grade Tramping track: first section easy, can be
of the valley. A side trip to the Blue Lakes offers good
a challenging route from the end of the
swimming in summer.
4WD track. In winter: all a route
At around 27 km long, the Tasman Glacier is the longest Start place Blue Lakes or Celmisia car parks
glacier in New Zealand. The glacier lake has been growing Height gain 100 m over 9 km
rapidly over the past few years and is now around 7 km long.
Special features
The first 5-km section of this track follows an historical road,
now a 4WD track. It opens up to spectacular views after the
end of the 4WD track, but the route becomes more difficult.
The moraine wall throughout this area, including along the
4WD track, is very unstable and should be negotiated with
caution. You will need to move with care and skill around
collapsed areas at various stages along the route.
Ball Hut is close to the
historic site of the first Ball
Hut and offers superb views
Please sign in of the Tasman Glacier and
at the DOC Visitor surrounding peaks.
Centre if you wish to
stay at Ball Hut, and
pay your fees before
Tasman Lake Track departing.
Time 50 min 1 hr return
Grade Walking track: Easy
Start place Blue Lakes car park
Height gain None
Special features
This walk branches to the right off the Blue Lakes Track
just past the Blue Lakes Shelter and leads to a viewpoint of
the Tasman Glacier terminal lake. A further track branches
to the right off this track to go to the source of the Tasman
14 15
Cycling NOTE:
Cycling is allowed
Hooker valley only on the Alps 2 Ocean
Distance 2 km Cycle Trail and on formed
Grade Easy/Grade 2 roads in the national park.
Start place Aoraki/Mount Cycling is NOT ALLOWED
Cook village on the walking tracks Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail national park section
veer left at in the park. Distance 5 km
Hooker Valley Road Grade Easy/Grade 2 downhill to the airport
intersection Start place Aoraki/Mount Cook village as for the
Height gain 50 m Tasman valley, then take the
Special features Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail at the Hooker
This cycleway runs alongside Hooker Valley Road to the River road bridge
White Horse Hill Campground and car park. It provides Height loss 60 m
stunning views of the Southern Alps/K Tiritiri o te Moana Special features
along its length. Its all downhill to the airport on this section of the Alps
2 Ocean Cycle Trail! Make sure you stop and take a look
Tasman valley behind you from time to time to view the Southern Alps as
Distance 8.5 km you spin down the Tasman valley.
Grade Easy/Grade 2 This is the first section of the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail,
Start place Aoraki/Mount Cook village veer right which leads all the way to Oamaru. From the airport, you
at the Hooker Valley Road intersection need to take a short helicopter ride across the valley to
and head towards the Tasman valley continue on the cycleway through to Twizel and beyond.
Height gain 100 m
Special features
This cycle trail takes cyclists out to the Blue Lakes car
park in the Tasman valley. Follow the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle
Trail from either the White Horse Hill Campground or the
Aoraki/Mount Cook village as far as the road bridge on the
Tasman Valley Road. Cycle along the Tasman Valley Road
to the Blue Lake car park. Take care as the road can be busy
with cars and buses. From here, leave your bikes and walk
to the Haupapa/Tasman Glacier viewpoint or lake, where
you will be rewarded with expansive views of the glacier,
moraines and the river winding its way along the valley
floor.

16 17
Nature walking and wild-flower spotting
Pick up the Nature-trail guide and visit one of the short
walks in the village for a true nature-trail experience.
Use the informative guide, the plant labels through both
Governors and Bowen bush walks and the Bowen Bush
Bird Song sounds system in Bowen Bush to help you
identify the plants and birds present in the park.
Wild flowers abound from October to March, and the
Hooker valley walk is a great place to see these.

Look out for: New Zealand falcon/ Rifleman/ttitipounamu

Photo: M F Soper
krearea
Photo: D Busbridge

Grey warbler/riroriro
(more commonly heard
than seen) Photo: M F Soper
Paradise shelduck/ptakitaki

Fantail/pwakawaka

Kea
Photo: S Jackson

Tomtit/miromiro
Photo: A Fleming

18 19
 Gentian Large mountain
Black mountain daisy/tikumu
ringlet butterfly

Common copper butterfly

Photo: G W Gibb

Bush snowberry
Photo: S Mankelow
Red admiral butterfly
Mount Cook
buttercup/
Boulder copper Southern kpukupuku
butterfly Photo: R Morris Alps gecko
Photo: M Lettink
Paper daisy
Photo: J H Johns

WARNING
In summer, the native
tutu shrub flourishes
Common skink throughout the Hooker
valley walks.
All parts of this plant,
including berries, contain
a poison called tutin.
DO NOT EAT ANY TUTU
BERRIES AND WASH
YOUR HANDS AFTER
TOUCHING ANY PART
Spaniard/ OF THE PLANT.
taramea
20 21
Travelling with children?
Check out the Toyota Kiwi Guardians programme
at www. doc.govt.nz/kiwiguardians. or talk to the
DOC Visitor Centre staff.

Further information
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre
1 Larch Grove
Aoraki/Mount Cook
Phone: (03) 435 1186
Email: mtcookvc@doc.govt.nz
www.doc.govt.nz

Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail

www.alps2ocean.com