One of the most iconic walks in all of New Zealand, this is the Hooker Valley Track. But first, a heads up,  it’s currently closed (as of 2025) and will stay that way until mid-2026 while DOC upgrades the swing bridges. Gutted, I know. If you’re visiting before it reopens, a solid alternative is Sealy Tarns. That one's a steep climb with a ton of stairs, though, so it might not suit everyone.

Now, onto the good stuff. When it is open, the Hooker Valley Track is an easy 5 km each way (about 3 hours return) and mostly flat, which makes it super family-friendly. It’s really popular, so expect to share the trail with loads of tourists, but it’s popular for a reason.

You’ll cross two massive swing bridges, wander past glacier-fed rivers, and get those unreal alpine views the whole way. The real star of the show is Aoraki/Mount Cook, which means “Cloud Piercer” in te reo Māori, NZ’s tallest mountain standing proud at the end of the valley.

At the end of the track, you’ll hit Hooker Lake, an icy, dramatic glacial lake often filled with floating icebergs. On calm days, the reflections are next-level. People do cold plunges here, but be warned, it’s absolutely freezing, even in summer. If you're game, bring warm clothes to chuck on straight after.

This track is one of those classic South Island experiences. Flat, scenic, and doable for just about everyone when it’s open again, don’t miss it.