The Hooker Valley Trail is surrounded by incredible alpine scenery thanks to its location in the middle of the Southern Alps mountains.
Nestled in between the snowcapped Sealy, Aroarokaehe and Kirikirikatata Ranges, the Hooker valley hike offers amazing panoramic views over glaciers and lakes as it makes its way through alpine tussock and across three swing bridges over glacial rivers. With so many amazing hikes to choose from in the Southern Alps, the Hooker Valley Track is only about 3 hours and 10km return and on a well-formed, flat track, making it a great option for families and those who want to see the best of the national park with limited time.
This guest post was written by Laura from Laura the Explorer , a kiwi travel enthusiast with a love for hiking and adventures in the great outdoors. Check out her blog for more guides and advice on some of the best hikes in New Zealand, like the Cape Brett Walkway. This map contains all the places to help with planning your Hooker Valley Track hike:. The parking area is broken into two zones, a free general parking area for those just visiting for the day and White Horse Hill Campground, a paid overnight camping area for those staying the night in a tent or campervan.
Starting from the village is really convenient for those staying at any of the village accommodations. The trail is also the start of the Kea Point track. When it comes to the Hooker Valley routes, there is generally one main walking route which is what I will explain now. A little further along the trail is the first viewpoint, the Alpine Memorial , where there are incredible views both up and down the valley.
The stunning views are a memorial for those who have perished on the mountains and are a good reminder of the respect these mountains require. Continuing on amongst the tussocks, the trail arrives at Lake Muller Lookout , an observation deck with amazing views over glacier-water filled Mueller Lake and the glacier moraine wall.
