I recently spent a week hiking in the Southern Alps in New Zealand, one of the highlights was hiking the Hooker Valley Track. Despite being a busy day on one of New Zealand’s most popular hikes, I was pleasantly surprised that I was still able to find some short moments of solitude along the trail.
The Hooker Valley Track, NZ
Before hiking the Hooker Valley Track, I spent the morning hiking up to Sealy Tarns – a very challenging hike that is predominantly spent ascending a well-maintained, steep, staircase. I’d spent the previous night staying in a motel in Mount Cook Village, which left me with a short walk across the valley to the start of the track. Here there is a large car park, camping area and toilet facilities.
Much of the Hooker Valley Track consists of a gently undulating gravel trail, making it pretty accessible and an easy terrain for hiking. Before long, you come across the first of several suspension bridges that cross the fast-flowing glacial-fed rivers below. Criss-crossing the water allows for an ever-changing perspective as your gaze switches between the growing presence of Mount Cook, back towards the Sealy Tarns hike and either side of you the steep mountainous sides of the valley.
Hooker Valley Boardwalk and Hooker Hut
One of the most famous (perhaps instafamous is more accurate) views of the Hooker Valley Track is a view up the valley towards Mount Cook with a boardwalk leading towards it. Having seen so many of these photos I’d thought the whole trail was boardwalk, whereas in reality it’s only a very short section around the middle of the trail.
While the view is great, the boardwalk is also a marker for a very cool side trail that I think is a must do. With no signposting, other than a narrow footpad, there is a trail to the left that leads ultimately to Sefton Bivvy (one of the oldest mountain huts in NZ). Sefton Bivvy is a challenging, steep, rock scramble high above the valley, but much more accessible is a flat and gentle walk to Hooker Hut, one of many DOC huts that you can book across New Zealand.
It’s important to be respectful of other hut users that have booked the space, but as someone that loves visiting backcountry huts, this short detour to view the hut and Mount Cook in the background was a personal highlight of my trip. I was also surprised that this infamous boardwalk section of trail wasn’t heralded by queues of photographers and tourists lining up for the shot and it was here, among other sections of the trail, that I enjoyed some moments of solitude. It’s also worth noting that there is a toilet block just near the start of the boardwalk, the only one on the trail besides the ones at the beginning.
Mount Cook Glacier
Continuing along the trail, there’s another suspension bridge and some undulating gravel track before you emerge at Mount Cook Glacier. Viewing the melting glacier and icebergs, they are literally melting and breaking apart into the water before your eyes, is both a magical and sad experience.
The viewing point at the end of the Hooker Valley Trail makes for a great snack stop, possibly even dipping your toes in the icy water, before returning the way you came. I had a great time exploring this trail and I’m already planning a return trip with the family.
Trail Notes: Hooker Valley Track
- Distance: 10km return
- Duration: 3 hours return (approx)
- Location: Canterbury, near Mount Cook Village, 2.5hours from Wanaka