Mt Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. It is a perfect place for people who like hiking, as there are a lot of walking tracks in Mt Cook. The two popular tracks are Hooker Valley (4 hours return) and Tasman Glacier View Walk (50 minutes return). We did both tracks. The scenery of Mt Cook is breathtaking and magnificent!

We stayed for 3 nights at YHA Mt Cook. It is a good choice as this hostel is clean and comfortable, but it is a bit stuffy in the room and I got a sore throat. >.<

 

Tasman Glacier Walk

It is about 8.5km walking distance from the accommodation. If you do not have a car, I strongly recommend hiring a bike, alternatively you can walk 8.5km (about 1.5 hour for one way). I do not recommend walking because you will see the same scenery along the way and you might be bored.

I had a very good memory here, how good if I could stop the time. My friend is very lazy and he slept on the top of the mountain (I can hear his snoring). I doubt if there is anyone else sleeping on the top of the mountain!?? =.=”

 

Hooker Valley

Hooker Valley is easily accessible from the accommodation area in Mt Cook. It is the most popular track in Mt Cook. The walk is easy as the road is flat, but it takes about 4 hours for a return trip. The scenery along the way is amazing.

We have run out of foods and we are hungry! We shared the mandarins and apple… ah, foods are so important! Nevertheless, sharing foods is a good memory for me. 🙂

 

Kea Point Track

Kea Point Track takes about 2 hours for a return trip. Although it is a less popular track, the scenery does not disappoint me. Why is Mt Cook so beautiful?

Woohoo~~!

 

Mt Cook is really a beautiful place. A simple photo shoot look like an image on the postcard. The beauty is undoubtedly stunning, but the most important part comes from the satisfaction of reaching the destination after a long walk. Cycling and hiking are a great combination of activities here. I would definitely recommend Mt Cook to others, as it is a great place to ‘feel New Zealand’, but I think it is less suitable if you would like a relaxing and easy trip.

Some tips of visiting Mt Cook:

1. Basically there are two main cycling tracks in Mt Cook – Hooker Valley cycling track (2km one way) and Tasman Valley cycling track (8.5km one way). If you hire a bike, I strongly recommend cycling to Tasman Valley first because it is harder to access through walking. The popular Hooker Valley track is easily accessible from your accommodation.
2. Please bring a lot of foods. There are no supermarkets in this area. Foods can be found in souvenir store, café or hostel but they are very expensive.
3. There are less shades on the walk, you have to apply sunscreen as the sunlight is very strong. My friend got sunburn! Also, please bring a lot of foods and water.