Where to Camp for the Hooker Valley Track: Aoraki Mount Cook Bases

The walks in brief

Hooker Valley Track takes about three hours return on a well-made path, with three swing bridges, the Mueller and Hooker glacier views and a lake with icebergs at the end. Kea Point is a shorter walk of about an hour, and the Tasman Glacier viewpoint is a short climb. Sealy Tarns and Mueller Hut are steep, long climbs for experienced walkers.

Mountain weather changes fast, wind can be strong on the swing bridges, and DOC closes parts of the track in bad weather or after a slip, so check the alerts before you set out. Carry a jacket, water and snacks, even for the short walks.

Camping at the village

DOC's White Horse Hill Campground is a few minutes from the start of the Hooker Valley Track and is the closest place to sleep, with basic facilities and views of the mountains. It is popular and fills in summer, so book ahead on DOC's site where possible. There are also hotels and lodges in the village, and no shop for groceries beyond a small store.

The village is at the end of a 55 kilometre road along Lake Pukaki, and there is no fuel there, so fill up in Twizel or Tekapo. Weather can be cold at night even in summer, and a heater helps in a campervan.

Glentanner, Twizel and Tekapo

Glentanner Park, on the road in near Lake Pukaki, has powered sites and cabins about 20 minutes from the village, and is a good backup if the DOC campground is full. Twizel, about an hour away, has holiday parks and shops, and the camping area around Lake Ruataniwha is an option in summer. Lake Tekapo, an hour and a half away, has more choice and a lakeside holiday park.

Whichever you choose, start early, because the car park at the trailhead fills from mid-morning on a fine day. The freedom camping in Mackenzie guide covers the rules in the district, and freedom camping is tightly restricted in the national park.

The drive in

State Highway 80 runs along the western shore of Lake Pukaki, with the mountain visible ahead on a clear day, and it is sealed and well marked. The drive from Twizel takes about 45 minutes and from Tekapo about an hour and a quarter, and the road can have ice in winter. The Christchurch to Tekapo and Aoraki guide covers the drive from the east.

Stop at the Pukaki viewpoint on the way in for the colour of the lake, and watch for tourists stopping suddenly for photos. The Christchurch to Queenstown guide covers the road past Twizel and Omarama.

Stargazing and the dark sky

The Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve covers the area, and the night sky is one of the best in the world on a clear, moonless night. You can see the Milky Way from the campground, and tours in Tekapo and Aoraki Mount Cook run in the evening.

Bring warm clothes, a red torch if you have one, and use only red light at the campground so as not to ruin other people's night vision. A clear winter evening is cold but spectacular.

Using KiwiCamping to pick a base

Near Aoraki Mount Cook, KiwiCamping marks DOC campsites, huts and holiday parks for iPhone users, with campervan access and facilities as filters. Put a base and a backup on a trip with dates and you can compare the forecast at each, then choose your walk day. Turn-by-turn directions and traffic are not part of the app.

To book a DOC site, use DOC's own booking pages. The app itself costs nothing to download and offers in-app purchases.

Places along the way