Walking and cycling tracks - Aoraki/Mount Cook in National Park
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Walking and
cycling 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 tracks 16
Nature walking and wild-flower spotting 18
Welcome to Aoraki/
Mount Cook National Park
Enjoy one of our short walks/hikes or cycle rides around the
village and environs; ranging from 10 minutes to
4 hours—there is something to suit everyone’s ability. For
those with moderate fitness, there are options for even
Check, Clean, Dry Protect plants
longer day or overnight walks:
Stop the spread of and animals
to Mueller Hut (3–5 hr one
didymo and other Remove rubbish way), which offers an amazing If you are doing an
freshwater pests. Bury toilet waste chance to experience the alpine overnight walk, you will
Remember to Check, environment without being a
Keep streams need to register at the
Clean, Dry all items climber, or to Ball Hut (3–4 hr
and lakes clean DOC Visitor Centre,
before entering, one way) for breathtaking views and pay your hut fees
and when moving Take care over the Tasman Glacier and before you go.
between, waterways. with fires beyond.
Camp carefully
Aoraki/Mount Cook
Keep to the track National Park
Consider others Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park (70 696 ha) is New
Respect our Zealand’s great alpine park, boasting the highest mountains
Published by Publishing Team cultural heritage and the largest glaciers in the country. The area was
Department of Conservation formally established as a national park in 1953 and is a
PO Box 10420, Wellington, Enjoy your visit harsh land of ice and rock. Glaciers cover 40 percent of the
New Zealand
2013 Toitū te whenua park. There are 19 peaks over 3000 metres high, including
(Leave the land of course New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki/Mount
undisturbed) Cook. The park is also recognised for its outstanding natural
1
values and forms part of the internationally celebrated Te
Wāhipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage Be prepared
Area.
To make your trip as enjoyable as possible, before you set
Glacier country out for a walk or a cycle ride in the park, make sure you
The glaciers that have helped shape the park's landscape have the correct clothing and supplies for your activity. We
include five major valley systems: Godley, Murchison, recommend you take:
Tasman, Hooker and Mueller. There are also over 150 Sturdy shoes
named smaller hanging glaciers on the mountainsides, Suitable head wear for the season and conditions
which add to the dramatic landscape. Extra warm clothing
The Tasman Glacier, New Zealand's largest and longest Waterproof jacket
glacier, is clearly visible from the main highway at the Water and food
entrance of the park. It is 27 kilometres long, up to
First aid kit
3 kilometres wide and extends over 100 square kilometres.
Although covered with rock material in its lower reaches, Sunscreen all year round
the ice of the Tasman is about 600 metres deep near the Insect repellent (in summer months)
Hochstetter Icefall. Camera
Beware
• The weather can change quickly here—high
winds are common and snow can fall at any
time of year. Check the weather forecast
regularly.
• Snow and ice conditions can be treacherous.
Always walk or cycle with care over snow or ice.
• Avalanches can occur any time of the year but
are most common in winter and spring. Take
special care when travelling through known
avalanche areas.
The naming of a mountain
• The alpine areas in the park are very exposed,
The mountain from which Aoraki/Mount Cook and at any time of year, spending a long time
National Park takes its name was originally named in the sun or in hot conditions can lead to
Aoraki by Ngāi Tahu, the first settlers in the area. dehydration and severe sunburn—go well
It received its European name, Mount Cook, in prepared.
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
Enjoy
Walks from the village and campground
ning scenery •
Stun wi
de
-
Governors Bush Walk
Time 1 hr return (loop track)
op
en
Grade 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
nri silver beech/tawai (also known as tawhai) forest in the park.
ses a
nd sunsets
Photo: Declan 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 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;
An easy forest walk that can be joined with Govenors Bush
from pearly wh y
ite to gravel gre Walk to form a nature trail. This track wanders through
tōtara and celery pine/mountain toatoa forest, and has an
g • wildflowers alternative exit/entry towards the Mount Cook Backpackers.
gazin
r A ‘Bird Song’ sounds system enhances the experience.
sta
or
iesf
sk
ar night
• cle
4 5
Glencoe Walk Kea Point Track
Time 30 min return Time 2 hr return from the village, 1 hr return
Grade Easy from White Horse Hill campground
Start place Behind The Hermitage hotel and car park
Height gain 40 m – steps and some zigzags Grade Easy
Special features Start place DOC Visitor Centre and cross over the
This walk zigzags through tōtara 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 bird’s-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 grasslands and scrub to the Mueller Glacier moraine wall.
and sunset are good times to catch the light-play 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 Steep – mainly stepped
Start place Public shelter Sealy Tarns Track
Height gain 300 m Time 3–4 hr return
Special features Grade 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 from the red pond weed that grows in Dubbed the 'stairway to heaven', 2200 steps take you
them. 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 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. Freda’s 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 Freda’s
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/
kōpukupuku.
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 to be had
of Aoraki/Mount Cook, Hooker Glacier and the Southern
Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana.
Return the same way, enjoying more views down valley
and across to the Sealy Range.
8 9
Empress High Peak
Hut 3754
Aoraki/Mt Cook Mueller Hut Route
La Perouse
3078 Middle Peak Time 3–5 hr one way
3717
Grade Steep and untracked
Low Peak
3593 Start place As for Sealy Tarns
Track
ier
lac Height gain 1000 m
Gardiner
Nazomi Ba ll G
Hut
2925 Special features
Mt Beatrice Ball Hut See Mueller Hut Route brochure for
2528 1030 m
more detailed information on this
walk. Spectacular panoramic views, a
large hut and amazing landscapes are
the drawcards for this strenuous walk.
ute
H ooker Glacier
ut Ro
Ball Pass
2110
Ball H
er
Mt Rosa Riv
n
2161 hiso
Murc
Copland Mt Mabel
Copland Pass
)
Shelter
WD
2150 2091
D (4
ROA
Hooker Hut
E
N G
HUT
BALL
er
R A
Glaci
OLD
The
Footstool
2764
K
O
n
Hooker
a
O
Lake
Tasm
Sefton Biv 900 m
C
Blue
T
Stocking Stream 3rd swingbridge M Lakes
Day Shelter
HOOKER Wakefield
VALLEY Falls
TRACK
ler Glacier
uel
M Kea Point 2nd swingbridge
Lookout
SEALY TAR Mueller White Horse Hill
NS Lake Campground (DOC)
TR
AD
MUELLER AC
K
RO
HUT 1st swingbridge
1250 m
Y
ROUTE
LE
L
KEA
VA
Mueller
er
N
Hut
PO
Riv
MA
HO
Short walk – well-formed
INT
1800 m
S
OK
TA
an
TR
ER
easy walking for up to an hour
Hook
Tasm
AC
VA
K
E
LLE
er
Walk – well-formed easy walks
RANG
Aoraki/Mount
Y RD
Cook village from a few minutes to a day
Ri v
er
GOVERNORS Route – unformed, suitable only for
BUSH WALK C
people with high-level backcountry
LY
yc
le
skills and experience
tra
SEA
ck
RED TARNS TRACK
0 2 11
80
kilometres N
To campground
KEA POINT TRACK
HOOKER VALLEY ROAD
Chalets
The Hermitage
Cafe
DOC visitor centre
Car park
LK
WA
E
O
E NC Alpine
GL Lodge
Glencoe Stream
Cy c
Bowen Bush
le
tra
k
c
BOWEN
BUSH 80
WALK
Petrol
pump Mount Cook To
Backpackers G
le
DOC office an ntan
d T ne
Public wi r
ze
shelter l
& toilets
Aoraki
Court
Hermitage Motels Motel
Governors Bush
Mount Cook YHA
School
Community hall
GO
VER
NO
RS
B US
H W
ALK
Emergency
services
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 Walk can see good examples of plant succession along the route.
Time 40 min return Tasman Glacier Lake is a relatively recent addition to the
Grade Easy with some rock steps scene, starting its formation in 1974 and growing steadily
Start place Blue Lakes car park since then. It is now large enough to take commercial boat
Height gain 100 m and kayak tours. The large terminal moraines mark the foot
of the Tasman Glacier at the time of the lake’s formation
Special features
and are a sobering reminder of the glacier’s 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 3–4 hr one way
Glacier and lake, icebergs and the mountains at the head
Grade First section easy, can be a challenging
of the valley. A side trip to the Blue Lakes offers good
route from the end of the 4WD track
swimming in summer.
Start place Blue Lakes or Celmisia car parks
At around 27 km long, the Tasman Glacier is the longest
Height gain 100 m over 9 km
glacier in New Zealand. The glacier lake has been growing
rapidly over the past few years and is now around 7 km long. Special features
The first 5-km section of this track follows a 4WD track and
is a tedious walk. The scenery improves 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
Please sign in
historic site of the first Ball
at the DOC Visitor
Hut and offers superb views
Centre if you wish to
of the Tasman Glacier and
stay at Ball Hut, and
surrounding peaks.
pay your fees before
departing.
Tasman Glacier Lake Walk
Time 50 min–1 hr return
Grade 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 tracks Note:
Cycling is allowed
only on the purpose-built
Hooker Valley Track cycleways and on formed
vehicle roads in the
Distance 2 km
national park.
Grade Easy
Cycling is not allowed Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail national park section
Start place Aoraki/Mount
on the walking tracks
Cook village – Distance 5 km
in the park.
veer left at Hooker Grade Easy – downhill to the airport
Valley Road intersection Start place Aoraki/Mount Cook village – as for the
Height gain 50 m Tasman Valley Track, 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/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana Special features
along its length. It’s 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 Track behind you from time to time to view the Southern Alps as
Distance 8.5 km you spin down the Tasman Valley.
Grade Easy 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 track takes cyclists out to the Blue Lakes car park
in the Tasman valley. From here, you can leave your bikes
and walk to the Tasman Glacier viewpoint or lake, where
you will be rewarded with expansive views of the Tasman
Glacier, moraines and the river winding its way along the
valley floor. Alternatively, you can continue pedalling past
the car park along a rough 4WD track for about 5 km up
towards Ball Hut.
16 17Nature 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/tītitipounamu
Photo: M F Soper
kārearea
Photo: D Busbridge
Grey warbler/riroriro
(most commonly heard
rather than seen)
Photo: M F Soper
Paradise shelduck/pūtakitaki
Fantail/pīwakawaka
Kea
Photo: S Jackson
Tomtit/miromiro
Photo: A Fleming
18 19Gentian 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
Boulder copper buttercup/
Southern kōpukupuku
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 21Travelling with children?
Check out the
programme;
pick up a booklet from
the DOC Visitor Centre.
Further information
Aoraki/Mount Cook Visitor Centre
Aoraki/Mount Cook
Phone: (03) 435 1186
Email: mtcookvc@doc.govt.nz
www.doc.govt.nz
Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail
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