Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park is named after and home to New Zealand’s highest mountain, which stands at 3724 m.
The National Park contains 19 peaks that are more than 3,000 m tall, so it is a world famous mountaineering haven. The park contains a small village with motels and a hotel and nearby there is a campsite for tents, caravans and motor homes. Many hiking tracks depart from close to the Mount Cook village.
Glorious views of Aoraki / Mount Cook and other peaks int he park can be had from the end of Lake Pukaki and they become even more stunning and majestic the nearer the mountains become as the 52 km drive down the southern shore of Lake Pukaki is made towards Mount Cook Village.
Our trip to the park was in late winter and we were lucky enough to have three days of glorious weather. The walk up the Hooker Valley to the Hooker Lake is well worth doing and is a relatively easy 5 km walk. The view across the lake is directly at Aoraki / Mount Cook.
I also took the Mueller Hut track, which has roughly 2,500 steps at a step face at its beginning. However, the views from the top of the stairs close to the Sealy Tarns and outstanding and well worth the effort.
A short drive from the Mount Cook Village can be taken to view the mighty Tasman Glacier. There is a relatively easy 5-10 minute walk up to a viewing area where the reward is outstanding views over the lake to the Tasman Glacier.
