17 Truly Unforgettable Things to do in Mount Cook (Aoraki)

Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is one of the most magical destinations in New Zealand. The jaw-dropping scenery begins on the drive in and just keeps getting better and better; even the car parks have world class views! There’s plenty of activities on offer for hikers and non-hikers alike and having visited Mount Cook four times we’ve slowly made our way through almost of all them.

Whether you’re looking for tips on the best trails, sunrise and sunset spots, what it’s like to fly over and land on the Tasman Glacier, or simply where to find the best viewpoints, you’ll find it in this guide.

Here are the best things to do in Mount Cook.

The best things to do in Aoraki Mount Cook

The great thing about Aoraki/Mount Cook is that drive times between activities are very short. Most of what we are listing to do here is either in the village, the Hooker Valley (5 minute drive from the village) or the Tasman Valley (10 minutes from the village).

There are a couple of things such as Lake Pukaki which are 15-30 minutes further away, but nothing requires a hefty drive to get to if you base yourself in Mount Cook Village.

We’d still recommend spending 2-3 days to make the most of the area, but if you only have a day spare, you should be able to see quite a lot.

1. Walk one of the best day walks in the world - Hooker Valley Track (easy)

We’re going to start with one of the best things to do in the whole of New Zealand - the Hooker Valley Track. Even if you’re not a hiker, you have to do at least some of the 10km trail - it really is that special.

The well maintained - and almost entirely flat - path offers the kind of views you’d normally have to slog up a mountain for. There is not one moment where you lose the views, it’s a visual delight from the first step to the last.

With three epic swing bridges, the most picturesque boardwalk we’ve ever set foot on and an iceberg strewn lake at the end, this is one of the best walks in New Zealand.

If you don’t want to walk the whole trail, we’ve outlined a couple of good turn around points in this post, as well as all our top tips for the hike. This includes what it’s like to walk it for sunset and come back under the stars (spoiler alert, it’s unforgettable!).

2. Get up close to icebergs

Both Hooker Lake and Tasman Lake sit at the foot of two huge glaciers, and depending on your luck, you may be able to see icebergs. We’ve always seen a few icebergs on our visits, even in summer, but recently we were lucky enough to see Tasman Lake absolutely covered in them!

Icebergs at Tasman Lake

At both lakes you can walk right down to the shore and sometimes the ice is floating near enough to reach out and touch it’s a magical sight. Tasman Lake is the easier of the two to get to (at a 1.2km easy walk each way), and you can either walk to the jetty where the kayakers leave from or the river (we prefer the river and outline why in this post). Alternatively, you can check out Hooker Lake at the end of the Hooker Valley Track (5km each way, but also easy).

I would say Hooker Lake has more ice year round, but if you get lucky with Tasman Lake it’s unbeatable. If you’re planning a walk to one of the lakes purely to see icebergs then give the local DOC office a call to see which is best at that time.

Iceberg up close

Icebergs on Hooker Lake

3. Marvel at the jaw-dropping view from the air

Soaring over Mount Cook and the surrounding mountain range is simply jaw-dropping. With braided turquoise rivers and more jagged peaks than you could possibly imagine, it really is a dream trip.

You feel really close to the mountains as you fly by, which is pretty exciting and minutes pass like seconds.

You can take a fixed wing plane or a helicopter, we opted for the heli as I tend to get airsick on small planes. It does cost more but for me it was worth it as a one off special experience.

You can choose flight times from 20 minutes and up, some include snow landings. We took a short flight and it’s enough to get those wow factor views, but longer flights also allow you to cover Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers too, which would be pretty amazing.

You can check the reviews of the flight we took by clicking below:

4. Catch a sunrise at Tasman Lake

Tasman Lake is gorgeous at any time of day, but catching a sunrise here is something special. The sun rises directly behind the mountains and turns the tops of the peaks a soft pink.

It’s a mesmerising scene and yet another one of those pinch yourself moments in the park.

As Tasman Lake is just a 15 minute almost flat walk on a gravel path, it makes getting up at the crack of dawn that little bit easier. Obviously clear conditions or light cloud is best, but don’t give up if you wake up to full cloud cover. The weather can change quickly here (for better or worse), so it’s always worth a try.

Despite having a crystal clear forecast, we awoke to a full white out - you wouldn’t even know the mountains were there. However, as the sun rose, it burnt off much of the cloud. The mountains drifted in and out of view which made the scene even more dramatic.

We’ve put all of the details on Tasman Lake at sunrise and the best spots for photographs in this post.

5. Go stargazing in the Dark Sky Reserve

A Dark Sky Reserve is an area where light pollution is strictly controlled, and in turn creates the best night skies you’ll find anywhere in the world.

Aoraki Mount Cook is part of New Zealand’s only Dark Sky Reserve and the stargazing here is next level. On clear nights it’s absolutely breathtaking and we saw the Milky Way and the core with amazing clarity.

You can either pick a scenic spot of your own, or do a guided experience with the Hermitage Mount Cook. We chose to stargaze at Hooker Lake and all the way back along the Hooker Valley Track.

But honestly, you don’t have to walk far. You can even stay within the village itself and marvel at the stars if you have a clear night. Bring layers even in summer, but whatever you do don’t miss out on the chance to see the phenomenal night sky.

6. Find Mount Cook’s own mirror lake

This one is a bit of a hidden gem, and wasn’t something we were expecting until we saw it with our own eyes! Most people have heard of Lake Matheson, but few people realise that Mount Cook has its very own mirror lake. It’s the largest of the red tarns that you’ll find at the top of the often overlooked Red Tarns Track.

Seeing Mount Cook reflected in the water is an absolutely staggering sight, and there’s a perfectly placed bench seat to admire it from.

The walk to get there is short at around 40-50 minutes but it’s predominantly uphill. Your effort is greatly rewarded though, not just with the tarns but also the sensational mountain vistas, which are 360 degrees.

It’s a wonderful place to catch a sunset - which sets directly behind Mount Cook - and then wander back down the well formed path in the twilight.

You can read all the details in our Red Tarns Track guide.

7. Explore the ice blue world of the glacier

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to explore the icy world of a glacier, then Mount Cook is the place to do it. After helicoptering up and donning a pair of crampons, you’ll begin traversing the ice, surrounded by a sea of white mountains.

It’s an otherworldly experience in which you’ll see cravasses, blue ice and maybe some ice caves too (conditions change as the glacier moves). You’ll likely hear and see plenty of small avalanches, but they are all in the distance and it’s a safe place from which to take it all in.

The walking is generally easy, but you do have to trust your crampons, which I’ll admit, I struggled with at first. However, don’t be put off because everyone else found it easy.

Trips generally spend two hours on the ice, which isn’t enough time to go far, but is enough to get a good taster. We didn’t get to see any big ice caves on our trip, so if that’s especially important to you it’s worth calling and asking in advance whether there are any.

You can check out the flights with Get Your Guide who list several different options for exploring the Tasman Glacier. Click on the button below to see the latest tours and prices.

8. Check out one of the most famous viewpoints in the country

On the road into Aoraki Mount Cook (30 minutes before you reach the village) you’ll see a viewpoint on your right (Peter’s Lookout).

This is the famous lookout with Mount Cook presiding over the windy road. It’s a fantastic view of both the mountains and the electric blue Lake Pukaki.

In terms of photography, it works best if you have a zoom lens because Mount Cook is still quite far away.

There aren’t many parking spots, but people move on quickly so you should be ok. If not, you get a second shot on the way back out again as there is only one road in and out of Mount Cook.

9. Hike to a vista you will never forget

The view from the top of the Sealy Tarns Track is easily one of the best in the park and one of our favourite hiking trails in the world. We loved it so much, we did it twice!

Be warned - this trail is pretty much all stairs, but the views are incredible. You are surrounded by mountains with a direct view to Aoraki Mount Cook, Hooker Lake, Mueller Lake and many, many more stunning peaks. It really is a view you’ll never forget.

The walk up is only 3.5km, but it is mainly uphill and relatively steep, albeit on a very well maintained track. If you don’t want to go the whole way you will still get exquisite views.

We’ve noted a spectacular photo spot in this guide which is less than halfway up and a very worthy walk in its own right.

For a full run down on other great day walks in Mount Cook, we have you covered in this guide.

10. Learn about Edmund Hillary and all things alpine

If you have even the slightest interest in Edmund Hillary, or in mountaineering and the national park in general, then the Sir Edmund Hillary Centre is a must do.

There’s a great museum with all sorts of cool artefacts and I loved looking at all the old mountaineering gear. The mind boggles as to how they made it up to such lofty summits with such basic equipment!

Another highlight is the movie theatre which screens a range of films on the area and Edmund Hillary too. The centre used to be free if you were staying at The Hermitage, so I ended up watching all the movies over our last trip as I could squeeze them in-between good weather windows.

Everybody (including hotel guests) must now pay $20 to enter the museum, so if you only have time for one video, I would recommend either the one on mountain rescue or the one on Edmund Hillary and both if you can!

11. Dine with a million dollar view

A lot of the places to eat in Mount Cook offer amazing views, but the best dining experience has to be at the Panorama Room at the Hermitage Hotel.

The view looks directly to Mount Cook and the dining room is beautiful, it’s also the only place for formal dining in the area.

The menu focuses on local seasonal ingredients and was generally very good on our visit.

When I booked I asked for a table right by the window, which they said they couldn’t guarantee, but happily we did get one so I would definitely recommend asking!

If the Panorama Room seems a bit of the pricy side (we’ve only treated ourselves to it once over four visits), then the Edmund Hillary Cafe also has great views.

It’s mainly pizzas and burgers and very casual, but if you snag one of the seats by the windows you won’t be disappointed! Alternatively the Old Mountaineers Cafe also has a fabulous view and is similarly priced to the Edmund Hillary Cafe.

12. Delight in the colourful lupins

Everybody loves the colourful pink and purple lupins and Aoraki Mount Cook has some of the prettiest scenes, with the flowers backed by snow-capped mountains.

Many people plan their trip around lupin season just to capture photos of these beautiful weeds. Yep, that’s right, as lupins are an invasive species they are actually considered a weed!

You’ll find them all over the area but some of our favourite scenes were actually right by the Hermitage Hotel. Lupins peak around Mount Cook in mid November/December time, our photos are from late December. You will probably see them a little before and after this time too, but it won’t be peak bloom.

Lake Tekapo is also a very popular spot to check out the lupins and if you’re coming from Christchurch you will pass directly by the lake.

13. Spend the night in a sensational historic hut (easy walk)

Hooker Hut is possibly the cutest little mountain hut I have ever seen in my life. This historic red and green hut was built in 1910 as a base for mountaineers and later fell into disrepair. It’s now been fully restored and moved to an exciting new location in the Hooker Valley.

This hut is so accessible, anyone who can manage roughly an hour to an hour and a halfs walk can stay there, and the track is almost all flat!

This being Mount Cook the walk is absolutely breathtaking, as are the views from the hut itself which is surrounded on all sides with the glorious mountain range. It looks directly out to Aoraki and has wow factor in spades.

The teeny hut can only sleep 8 people so securing a booking will be hard in years to come as it becomes more well known. You can read our full guide to Hooker Hut here.

14. Take that road photo

One of the most popular photos in Mount Cook that always comes up on Instagram is ‘that road photo’. The one where the person is walking down the road and Mount Cook is looming over them.

Our photo is not a great example as you need a zoom lens to really capture that effect, and ours had sadly rolled off a cliff a week earlier….

Still it gives you an idea just with less of the looming effect.

The spot to head to is roughly 12km outside of the village and takes around 10 minutes to drive to (you can find the exact spot we went on Google Maps by clicking here). Make sure you pull your car into the lay by, fully off the road.

As with any road photos you need to be mindful of traffic and only go when the road is very quiet - sunrise works best for this.

15. Grab a coffee at the Old Mountaineers Cafe

The Old Mountaineers Cafe is our favourite place to grab a coffee or some post sunrise brekkie in the park.

The views are tremendous and the vibe is also really nice (nicer than the Edmund Hillary Cafe) with high ceilings and lots of old mountaineering memorabilia and prayer flags donning the walls.

The menu is small focussing on burgers, pizzas and a few muffins to go with coffee. I’d recommend the brekkie burger which was a great pick me after watching sunrise at -4C in winter!

16. Sleep under New Zealand’s highest peaks (hard walk)

Mueller Hut is one of New Zealand’s most popular mountain huts and for good reason. The location of the hut on the Sealy Range is exquisite, with 360 degree views of mountains and glaciers. Sunrises, sunsets and stargazing from here are a dream. The hike is just over 10km return and starts off as a well made trail up to Sealy Tarns (the halfway point).

Past Sealy Tarns, it becomes a route, marked with orange poles. There is some scrambling and scree to negotiate as you make your way up to the hut. We got two thirds of the way to Mueller Hut before a blizzard rolled in and we had to turn back (and this was in summer!). It’s still on our must do list and we plan to return to try again this summer. In the meantime we couldn’t write a blog about the best things to do in Mount Cook and not mention it!

You must book your bed in the hut in advance and in winter you will likely need extra gear (depending on when in winter) such as an ice axe and crampons, which can be rented from the Alpine Guides Store. There is also avalanche risk for part of the year so check with DOC for current conditions on your dates.

17. Wander the shores of Lake Pukaki

Lake Pukaki is stunning, with a water colour that changes according to the weather and which part of the lake you are at. We’ve seen it look extremely blue, almost clear and every colour in-between.

If you want to go down to the lake shore and perhaps dip your feet in the glacial water, the best place to do it is from the Peter’s Lookout.

You’ll see a sign directing you down the gravel path towards the water, it’s less than five minutes long.

We headed down there in winter and two kids went in for a dip (they’d been dared $10 by their parents!) and that’s why I love Kiwis, they’re always so much fun!

The water is cold even in summer but it will definitely be refreshing!

Where to stay in Aoraki Mount Cook

When picking somewhere to stay, be very careful with some booking site’s selections for what counts as near Mount Cook! Some will look at hotels within a 30-50km radius of the mountain, and serve options on the West Coast such as Franz Josef (which is a 6 hour drive away by road but just over the mountain as the crow flies).

When searching, look at either Mount Cook Village, Twizel or anywhere on State Highway 8. If you possibly can, splurge and stay in Mount Cook Village. It’s significantly more expensive than Twizel (a 45 minute drive away) but allows you to track weather more accurately.

On two of our visits we did not see the mountains for two days, and then had crystal clear weather on the third. This is another reason staying in Mount Cook itself is so helpful as the weather changes so quickly, you can see the cloud lift and rush out to enjoy it, whereas the weather forecast can easily still be saying it’s poor.

Now onto where to stay, based on our personal experience (and not sponsored).

The Hermitage Hotel

On my first trip to Mount Cook I didn’t consider staying anywhere else. I wanted to experience the heritage and the history only found at this hotel and I’m really glad to have stayed there.

The rooms are not fancy but they’re very comfy and if you splurge on a room with a view it’s a real treat. We left the curtains open and awoke with sunrise over the mountains, just glorious. However, there are no cooking facilities and food everywhere in Mount Cook is expensive, no biggie for an overnight stay, but adds up when you stay several nights as we always do.

You can check reviews and prices on:

Aoraki Court Motel

Booking.com

In terms of value for money and quality this is now our top choice for hotels in Mount Cook. You don’t get the heritage but you get huge rooms with amazingly comfy beds and small kitchenettes (including 2 ring hobs) which allow you to really keep the food costs down.

The view is not of Mount Cook itself but it is of incredible mountain vistas. I really loved the motel, so much so that we stayed with them in the sister motel in Franz Josef and loved that one also.

In case you are also weighing up the Mount Cook Lodge we can tell you Aoraki Court is much nicer in every way. We stayed at the lodge on our fourth visit and though there’s nothing wrong with it, we both regretted not going for Aoraki Court. NB, if you’re planning a winter visit, the Mount Cook Lodge was freezing with a woeful heating system.

Check out the reviews and prices on:

If you need somewhere more budget friendly we have also stayed in Twizel and can recommend the following.

Mountain Chalets Twizel

Booking.com

We stayed in a one bedroom chalet and they are a great budget option with small kitchenettes with 2 ring hobs. The bed is comfy and there are two heat pumps. The shower temperature could be a touch temperamental, but really this place was a bit of a bargain and you can’t complain!

Check out the reviews and prices on:

Planing your trip to Mount Cook

A note on Aoraki Mount Cook weather

A common thing that can happen at Aoraki Mount Cook is that a layer of cloud sets in that means you can only see the foot of the mountains. This can be frustrating (after all, you came to see those stunning peaks), but bear in mind that the weather in Aoraki Mount Cook can change very quickly. We have experienced full white out to clear in 10 minutes (and the reverse).

A strange phenomenon at Aoraki Mount Cook is that the weather can differ between the Hooker Valley and the Tasman Valley. If one valley is under full cloud make sure you check the other. We couldn’t see the mountains at Hooker Valley recently, yet Tasman Valley, a 10 minute drive away was completely clear!

If you have a cloudy forecast and limited time, it is worth heading out on one of the trails anyway as it can change so quickly. Don’t rely on the Apple app to check the weather, it tends to be more inaccurate than most (although none can truly predict Mount Cook weather). We find Yr.no the most reliable whilst being far from perfect! You can also check the fog radar.

You will want to have layers with you year round as it can be incredibly cold even in summer - we had a blizzard in December!

Surprisingly, winter tends to have the most stable weather. Yes, it can get very cold, but you are more likely to get beautifully clear skies at this time of year and see the tops of the mountains.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Mount Cook have snow all year round?

The peak of Mount Cook does have some snow all year round, but there’s obviously a lot more in winter (see below for our comparison). Aoraki Mount Cook National Park usually only gets snow at the lower altitudes (the village and many of the easier hiking trails) in the colder months, and it is rare that this is substantial.

Mount Cook in summer

Mount Cook in the summer

Mount Cook in winter

Mount Cook in winter

However, once you start ascending some of the hiking trails, you can get flurries of snow at any time of year. This is an alpine environment, so we recommend to be prepared for cold and inclement weather at any time of year. We had a blizzard on the way to Mueller Hut in the middle of December!

  • Whilst many people do choose to day trip, that does leave you at the mercy of the weather gods. Personally a day would never be enough for us, but if you just want to check out a few views and do one trail then if the weather is good you’ll be fine.

    If you want to experience a little more of the magic Mount Cook has to offer, 2-3 days is better. This will be enough time to do the Hooker Valley Track, a scenic flight, some of the viewpoints and a trail such as Sealy Tarns or Red Tarns.

  • The only time of year you may need snow chains is in the winter, however it is rare that this will be necessary. When we were planning to visit in the winter, we called up DOC and asked about the road conditions, and they advised that the road is routinely ploughed and rarely sees conditions that will close it.

    We didn’t carry chains and only had a tiny rental car. We were just prepared to wait it out for a plough if necessary, which it wasn’t, and we spent a week in Mount Cook in winter.

  • It takes about four hours to drive from Christchurch to Mount Cook on a clear run. Most of the drive is along a single lane road (which is easy to drive and in immaculate condition), when you reach the edge of Lake Pukaki you’ll see Mount Cook, but it’s still 30 minutes away!