Hooker Valley Track

Hooker Valley Track
Typical view from along the track - an old shelter at Stocking Stream, in front of Aoraki / Mount Cook
Length	5 km (3.1 mi)
Location	Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand
Designation	Walking track
Trailheads	White Horse Hill camping ground, Hooker Lake
Use	Tramping
Highest point	Hooker Lake 877 m (2,877 ft)[1]
Lowest point	760 m (2,490 ft)[1]
Difficulty	Easy
Season	All year
Sights	Wide glacier valleys with tussock vegetation, glaciers and glacier lakes, moraine ridges, clear views of Aoraki / Mount Cook and other snow-covered peaks (weather permitting)
Hazards	Sunburn
Surface	Fine gravel, well-formed
Website	Department of Conservation

The Hooker Valley Track is the most popular short walking track within the Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park in New Zealand.^[2] At only 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) length and gaining only about 100 m (330 ft) in height, the well formed track can be walked by tourists with a wide range of level of fitness.^[3]

The track is maintained by the Department of Conservation and has views of Aoraki / Mount Cook^[4][5] and access to the proglacial Hooker Lake, typically with icebergs floating in it. Hooker Valley Track has been named one of the 'best day walks in New Zealand'.^[6][7][8]

The lookout point at the end of the Hooker Valley Track is the closest any walking track comes to Aoraki / Mount Cook,^[9] and reveals completely unobstructed views of the highest mountain in New Zealand, with Hooker Glacier in the valley below. There is also access to the shore of the glacial lake. The vegetation around the track is open alpine tussock, and as such the track offers clear views of the mountains surrounding the wide valley floor of the Hooker Valley.