For walkers who want a decent hike to beautiful sceneries but want none of the elevation, Hooker Valley Track is the one to go! It is a 3-hour, 10km return trip that offers magnificent views of the Muller Glacier, Hooker Lake, and the soaring snow capped Aoraki / Mount Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand.
Do note that the Aoraki / Mount Cook region can experience very fast changes in weather. High wind, heavy snow and rainfall are common anytime of the year. It is a good practice to check the weather forecast when planning your trip to Mount Cook National Park.
Hooker Valley Track Car Park to 1st Swing Bridge - 1km
4.21pm: The journey begins at White Horse Hill car park where you’ll find the trailhead to Hooker Valley Track. The Mueller Hut Route trailhead is also nearby. I checked in and parked at White Horse Hill Campground as I’ll be staying here for the night after this hike (I’ll talk more about the campsite at the end of this post).
(+4)4.25pm: Flat gravel track at the start, wheelchair and buggy accessible up to the first lookout.
(+6)4.31pm: Contrasting colors of the Southern Alps and the golden tussocks.
(+3)4.34pm: A short side track (>1 minute) to Mueller Lake Lookout.
(+4)4.38pm: The view before the 1st swing bridge.
The first swingbridge.
(+1)4.39pm: The view from the first swing bridge.
Hooker Valley Track 1st Swing Bridge to 2nd Swing Bridge (1.5km)
(+6)4.45pm: Listen out for the rumbling of avalanche from the distant Mount Sefton and you might be able to spot them rumbling down the steep mountains.
(+8)4.53pm: The track passes old moraine ridges and humps.
(+9)4.59pm
(+2)5.01pm: 2nd swing bridge
Hooker Valley Track 2nd Swing Bridge to 3rd Swing Bridge & Hooker Lake (2.5km)
(+4)5.05pm: Walking along the Hooker River towards the lake and the mighty Aoraki / Mount Cook.
(+3)5.08pm: From here the track changes to wider valley floor and open tussock.
(+6)5.14pm: Public toilets. There’s a less obvious path to the beautiful Hooker Hut, which you can book and stay in, surrounded by amazing alpine scenery.
(+4)5.18pm: There was this rotating metal plate contraption I’m not sure what it is for. Ancient compass / peak finder?
(+9)5.27pm: Approaching the final swing bridge.
Hooker Lake
(+14)5.41pm: Arrived at Hooker Lake.
Amazing view of Hooker Lake with icebergs floating around (this was during mid summer).
The majestic peak of Aoraki / Mount Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand.
Small chunks of melting ice from the lake.
6.44pm: Walking back to the car park, I couldn’t stop looking back at the views!
7.15pm: Close to the track end, there is the Alpine Memorial to remember those who perished in Mount Cook National Park.
7.20pm: Exited Hooker Valley Track
White Horse Hill Campground
Right outside of Hooker Valley Track trailhead, I stayed in White Horse Hill Campground (online booking required) for the night for my next morning climb to Mueller Hut Route. It is a spacious non-powered campground good for tenting, caravans, and car camping. The campground is facilitated with flush toilets, a large shelter for cooking, and potable (treated) water from taps (no running water and flush toilets in winter, pit toilets will be used instead).
Being so far from any cities and light pollution, the starry night sky above the campground was amazing!
The crisp chill morning starts with the sun shining and spotlighting the mountain face. I think that might be the Mueller Hut Peak that I’m heading next, after breakfast!
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*地球队长经过* 记住，请保护我们的环境，请勿破坏大自然。不要留下任何垃圾，只带回照片和回忆（如果可以的话，还可以捡走一些垃圾）。请在指定的路径上行走，并尽量保持在中间行走，以使裸露的土壤不会进一步扩散/腐蚀。与大自然融为一体吧 *飞走了*
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