Exploring Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park

During our visit to New Zealand's South Island, we visited Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. We didn't have a lot of time there but the weather was great and we enjoyed a beautiful hike along the Hooker Valley Track.

Hiking the Hooker Valley Track

We parked our car near the Hooker Valley Track trailhead and ate a quick snack before starting up the trail. The peaks of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman were hidden by clouds. Otherwise, we had mostly blue skies.

We walked across Hooker River on the first swing bridge, taking care not to overload it with too many people at once. Kyle demonstrated what would happen if we did! Unfortunatley we could only hike as far as the second swing bridge because it was closed for replacement. Maybe it had been previously overloaded by people that weren't privy to Kyle's special demonstration!

Because of the bridge closure, our hike was relatively short but we certainly enjoyed ourselves and the views of the river, lake, and glacier along the way. And, by the time we returned to our car, the clouds above Mount Tasman cleared enough for us to see most of its peak!

You can view the Wheels Up for New Zealand 2026 trip page to see all my blog posts, photos, and Wanderlog info.