Mt Cook is considered the peak of New Zealand due to its imposing height. Saying this, you can already get an idea of what you are going to find: impressive hiking routes, dizzying climbs, enormous glaciers, frozen lakes… A real challenge for lovers of the trail and a must-see destination on your trip to New Zealand. Are you up for it?
Mt Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand at 3,724 metres high. The mountain is part of the Southern Alps mountain range and is surrounded by 22 other peaks over 3,000 metres high. The mountain is also known as Mt Aoraki (you will see it referenced by both names in this post) and is included in the Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. This national park is also located in the Canterbury region in the centre of New Zealand’s South Island.
Mt Aoraki is part of a beautiful Maori legend. According to it, Aoraki and his three brothers, sons of the gods Sky and Earth, sailed across the ocean in a canoe. One day, the canoe ran aground on a reef, and the brothers climbed to the top hoping for rescue.
Help never arrived and, due to the cold, the canoe and its passengers froze. The canoe became the South Island of New Zealand and the four brothers became the highest mountains on the island. Aoraki, being the eldest of the brothers, created the highest mountain of all: Mt Cook.
Seriously, Maori culture is amazing: if you go to New Zealand, don’t miss the opportunity to discover it all.
If you are planning to visit Mt Aoraki, the best time is late spring, summer and early autumn (October to April). During these months, the mountain is accessible and perfect for hiking and climbing without being as cold as the rest of the year. Likewise, this time is ideal for seeing the lupins in bloom, although this is an invasive species and is slowly being eliminated. If there are no lupins left by the time you go, you will still find lilies and cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Despite the generally good climate, you should keep in mind that the weather on Mt Cook is very difficult to predict and can change from one moment to the next.
It’s essential to travel to New Zealand with comprehensive insurance. We were among the first to offer the popular IATI discount, and you can now get it with Heymondo Travel Insurance as well.
You can find more information about both companies through the links provided above, or you can access the discount directly using the buttons below (in both cases, you’ll see the reduced final price on their website):
Internet is mandatory for getting around and using metservice, the country’s weather service. Keeping up to date with the weather is necessary if you don’t want to have any problems. It can also be very useful when translating if you don’t understand English very well.
To do this, we will tell you how to get a New Zealand SIM card with the internet and take advantage of its affordable prices. And now we also have information about the New Zealand eSIM with unlimited data.
The closest town to Mt Aoraki is Mt Cook Village, which will be your destination to start your adventure on the acclaimed mountain. It is important to mention that the nearest airport is in Queenstown, so flying in is out of the question. That said, let’s see what other methods you can use to get there.
Getting to Mt Cook by car or campervan is fairly easy, as State Highway 80 will take you directly from Twizel to Mt Cook Village in a 30-minute drive. In fact, the road itself is a sight to behold, running alongside Lake Pukaki with the snow-capped mountains reflected in its blue waters.
If you plan to go to Mt Cook Village from Queenstown, it will take 3 hours, from Christchurch it will be 4 and from Lake Tekapo only 1 hour and 15 minutes.
If you want to go by bus, things get complicated as there are no direct routes to Mt Cook Village and the closest InterCity Bus line is in Twizel. For example, from Queenstown the bus takes 3 hours, and from Christchurch, 5 hours. However, once in Twizel you can use the minibus service offered by private companies that operate on demand.
Before you go anywhere, it’s always important to discover the history that lies ahead. The best way to discover Mt Cook’s history is by visiting the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre. This museum is located in The Hermitage Hotel in Mt Cook Village. Here you’ll learn about the means of transportation used to get to the mountain, how climbing was like in the old days, and an exhibition about the interesting life of Sir Edmund Hillary.
In fact, the museum is a tribute to this New Zealander who was the first human being to set foot on the summit of Mt Everest, followed by the Sherpa Tenzal. Entry to the museum costs NZ$20 for adults and only NZ$10 for children.
More than 300 kilometres from Mt Cook Village to Oamaru await you, following the Tasman River and Lake Pukaki, a perfect cycling tour to discover the amazing landscape of the Canterbury region. Starting with the gigantic Mt Aoraki mountain, passing through lakes, grasslands and vast plains until reaching the ocean, a multicoloured world awaits you on the longest cycling route in all of New Zealand.
You’d think Mt Aoraki was specially designed by the Maori gods to create the best hiking trails in the country. A multitude of trails that climb, skirt, diverge or seek the best panoramic view of the mountain await you in the Mt Aoraki / Cook National Park. Below we will look in detail at a few that, in my opinion, are the best.
This 10 km round trip route will take you around 3 hours from Mt Cook Village itself. It’s a very popular trail that takes you up the mountain via the most impressive scenic bridge in the country to Hooker Glacier Lake. Here, you will enjoy the best views of the Alpine range and Mt Cook. If you go on a clear day you can even see the peak of Mt Aoraki reflected in the crystal clear waters of the lake…
A 12-minute drive from Mt Cook Village is the start of this short, 1-hour walk. Easy to go through, it offers unique views of the Tasman Glacier and its deep blue lake. You can also see icebergs coming from the glacier on the lake, and, if you go in winter, the lake will be completely frozen!
Just keep in mind that the glacier is slowly disappearing due to global warming. Every year it retreats about 500 meters, and by 2027 it is expected to have retreated about 4 kilometers, from 24 to 20. A clear example of how human actions have a direct impact on nature.
If the previous hiking routes were easy and short, this one is the opposite. The Mueller Hut Route starts at a 4 minutes drive north of Mt Cook Village, and is considered the most challenging route in all of Mt Aoraki.
At first it will seem easy, with a gentle 2 hour climb to Sealy Tarns with views across to Hookers Valley and all the mountain peaks. Then it gets tricky. You will have to climb a poorly maintained path through alpine scrub, tussock grass and giant boulders that will get in your way. In total, a further 2 hours of fighting the mountain and through the clouds to reach Muller Hut.
If you’ve made it this far, congratulations, you’re in front of the most incredible cabin in all of New Zealand, where you can even spend the night before returning (you’ll need to book, especially in summer).
Finally, once at the hut you can venture a little further up to the rocky summit near Mueller Hut. The route is very dangerous but, if you dare, from the top you will have 360 degree views, with Mt Cook dominating the alpine range and the lakes and valleys of the region.
An easy walk that starts from Mt Cook Village and takes you through the picturesque forest of Mt Aoraki, among tall trees darkening the route with their leafy canopies and green ferns marking the route. Along the way there is a small shelter where you can go to the bathroom, have something to eat or even take a shower. In total, the route takes 45 minutes and at the end of it you will reach a viewing point where you can see Aoraki Mountain from a different perspective.
Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki are two glacial lakes that you should not miss during your adventure around Mt Aoraki (remember, Aoraki is another name for Mt Cook). Reaching Mt Cook Village will have given you an idea of what Lake Pukaki is like: a blue sea that, on clear days, will give one of the most impressive panoramic views of the highest mountain in New Zealand.
Lake Tekapo has waters of a light turquoise colour, a characteristic that is different from the rest of the lakes in New Zealand. A large and deep lake, with its waters fed by the Alpine mountain range and with a curious uninhabited island in the middle of it.
You can take hiking routes, such as the Tekapo Peninsula Walk or the Mt John Summit Track. Lake Tekapo is also a very good option to find accommodation before your visit to Mt Cook so you don’t have to worry about the tourist overcrowding that the hotels on the mountain experience.
Before or after visiting Mt Aoraki you should take the scenic route that links these two lakes, stop at the viewpoints and, if you have time, do some of the water activities that you can do at these lakes.
Fly over the mountains of the Southern Alps and get the most spectacular photo, an impressive scene that will remain etched in your retina forever. The snow-capped mountains, the glacial lakes, the glaciers themselves… all in a flight of just 50 minutes that will surely make you shudder. The best part? The helicopter will drop you off for a few minutes over one of the snow-capped mountains that are only accessible by this method of transport.
Of course, we are in New Zealand and skydiving could not be missed on its most emblematic mountain. Although the jump is from a lower height than on the West Coast, being only 15,000 feet (only?), the free fall over the mountainous landscape will shoot up the adrenaline levels in your body.
If you fancy exploring the Tasman Glacier in depth, the only way to do so is by taking this scenic flight that will take you over the top of the glacier. You will love the helicopter ride itself, with views of the entire glacier, its lake and the mountain that forms it. But without a doubt, the best awaits you when you set foot on the glacier and take the 2-hour walk along it… it’s a blast!
If you don’t have your own vehicle or don’t want to make the long trek to Mt Cook, there are several bus excursions from one of the cities near this mountain. The one below leaves from Christchurch early in the morning and will take you to the most spectacular places in the area.
With all-inclusive accommodation, you’ll learn about the history of Mt Cook at the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, stop at various lake viewpoints and have a delicious lunch at the Hermitage Hotel. If you’re feeling adventurous, consider taking the side trip to the Tasman Glacier – trust me, it’s worth it.
In my opinion, this is the best way to explore the Tasman Glacier without having to get on the noisy helicopters. By kayak, you will get to the hidden corners of the glacier and as close as possible to the icebergs that you are sure to find. Likewise, the guide will take you to a hidden circuit away from the masses where you will be able to explore a different side of this glacier in Mt Cook / Aoraki National Park.
This is the best way to explore the Tasman Glacier without getting tired at all (which is to be appreciated if you have been hiking Mt Cook). This tour not only offers incredible views of the glacier, but also raises awareness of how fast it is disappearing and the effects of climate change on it. An awareness cruise experience and enjoyment of the spectacular views.
This is a bit of a sensitive topic, so in this post we will address it in a slightly different way. Mt Cook offers few accommodation options in the surrounding area, so it is best to look for where to spend the night in Twizel or Lake Tekapo.
That said, let’s see what options we have in terms of accommodation in the area.
I can tell you that finding a hotel to stay for a night in this remote village will be impossible unless you book months in advance. And I say months in plural because if you go to Booking and try to find a free date, you will surely have to look at 4 months to find a free hotel.
That said, if you are lucky enough to find it, Aoraki Court Motel would be the best option. You can park your car on site and it offers warm, insulated rooms with a fridge and a kitchenette, so you can survive even in winter. They also offer free maps of the hiking trails and even a local newspaper so you can access the latest information about Mt Aoraki.
If you are looking for a more luxurious option, you will love the famous Hermitage Hotel which I have already told you about a couple of times.
However, if you are looking for something more economical, White Horse Hill Campground will be your choice if you have your own caravan. This campsite has the peculiarity of having its own natural alarm: the curious Kea birds climb on top of your caravan and make their noises very early in the morning ;))
Twizel is the largest town close to Mt Cook, and therefore has the widest range of hotels. Finding accommodation in Twizel will not be too difficult, but I recommend booking in advance, especially during the summer school holidays.
A great option in this town is Mountain Chalets Motel, 50 minutes drive from Mt Cook and 10 from Lake Pukaki. This accommodation offers chalets or small studios with a kitchen, microwave and refrigerator. The rooms also have electric blankets to help you survive the cold winter. In addition, you can book tours to Mt Cook or rent a bicycle from the same establishment.
If you are looking for a more luxurious option, then Matuka Lodge could be your choice. This resort is located right on the Alps to Ocean Cycleway so you don’t have to worry about where to start.
Visiting Mt Cook can be perfectly combined with your stay in Lake Tekapo. In fact, as I mentioned earlier, the road that connects the two is one of the most beautiful in the whole country. For this reason, you may want to stay in Tekapo and forget about crowds or packed hotels.
My choice is Lake Tekapo Village Motel in the town of Tekapo, 1 hour and 15 minutes from Mt Cook. This motel offers studios with lake views, private bathrooms, TVs and heaters so you won’t be cold in winter.
As we have seen above, the best way to reach the attractions of Mt Cook and its surroundings is by car or campervan. The campervan will play a special role due to the scarce accommodation near Mt Cook, as you can camp in one of the free campsites in the area.
It is important to note that, once you are in Mt Cook, you will have to take long hiking routes to visit most of the attractions. Something that makes life much easier is to join tours that take you from one place to another without having to worry about driving.
To finish this guide about Mt Cook, I would like to leave you with a couple of thoughts. Mt Aoraki is an impressive mountain that you will love even from afar. Visiting it is a must and you should try to spend at least one night in the Muller hut and see the sunrise over the mountains.
The good thing about Mt Cook is that it won’t take you too long: spending one night somewhere nearby and two full days on the mountain and lakes will be enough to see everything.
Here are a couple of common sense tips and recommendations to make the most of your visit to Mt Cook:
Click on the image and it will take you to a new Google Maps window with all the points of interest to travel to Mt Cook.
