Location: Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, Christchurch-Canterbury, South Island

Walk distance: 10km

Duration: 3 hours

If you want to experience an iconic New Zealand walk but don’t have the time or stamina for one of the Great Walks, then the Hooker Valley Track is a good option.

If you are staying at Mount Cook, the track is accessible from some of the accommodation (add 30-40 minutes to your walk). We chose to drive and park at the start of the walk.

Try to start early in the day to avoid the crowds – this is a very popular walk suitable for all ages.

Highlights:

• mostly easy walking
• good variety of spectacular scenery
• 3 swing bridges over icy blue flowing rivers
• convenient drop toilet on the route
• the anticipation of seeing the peak of magnificent Mount Cook for the first time
• a glacier lake at walk’s end (a magnificent place to rest before you retrace your steps to the carpark).