Aoraki/Mount Cook in a nutshell
Aoraki/Mount Cook stands at 3,724 m, the height the Hermitage currently gives. The figure comes from the AORAKI2013 survey by the University of Otago, not from a new measurement in 2026. NgΔi Tahu links the double name to its Settlement, and Aoraki is more than a tourist translation of the English name. The Hooker Valley is sacred to NgΔi Tahu, and DOC describes its TΕpuni status as a symbolic cloak of protection.
Mount Cook Village sits at the end of State Highway 80 on the South Island. From the junction of SH8 and SH80 it is about 55 km along Lake Pukaki. The drive from the Hermitage takes 4 hours 15 minutes from Christchurch, 3 hours 15 to 30 minutes from Queenstown and 2 hours 30 minutes from WΔnaka. All prices on this site are in New Zealand dollars (NZ$), as listed in 2026, and they change.
What this guide covers
The park, the lakes along the road and the neighbouring guides.
This is an independent travel guide to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, the Hooker Valley and Tasman Valley, Mueller Hut, Mount Cook Village, Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo and the road from Twizel. It is not the website of the Department of Conservation (DOC), the park, a hotel or a tour operator. We link to bookable tours and flights, and say what each one includes.
Places on the other side of the Southern Alps have their own guides. For Franz Josef and Fox Glacier on the west coast, including helicopter flights over the main range, see our sister site. For Fiordland, Milford Sound and Te Anau, see the Milford Sound guide. This site stays with Mount Cook and the Mackenzie Basin.
Our picks: flights over Mount Cook
A ski plane and helicopter combo, a helicopter flight with an alpine landing and a flight with a glacier hike.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tasman Glacier helicopter ride and hike
Three hours with two helicopter flights and a guide. Boots, socks, crampons, a walking pole and a rain jacket are provided. Food and drinks are not included.
Check availability βSki plane and helicopter glacier flight
Two flights in one trip, by ski plane and by helicopter, with all taxes and fees included. Parking at the airport and Wi-Fi are free.
Check availability β
Helicopter flight with an alpine landing
A 25-minute helicopter flight with an alpine landing and live commentary from the pilot.
Check availability βMount Cook tours and day trips
Scenic flights with snow landings, glacier boat trips, stargazing and day trips from Lake Tekapo, with live prices and availability.
Plan your trip
Start with the walks and the flights, then pick the pages you need.
Hooker Valley Track
About 10 km return with three swing bridges, the new second bridge and the 20-person limit at the first.
Tasman Glacier and Tasman Lake
The viewpoint climb, the lake track and the boat trip from NZ$219.
Mueller Hut and Sealy Tarns
An alpine route with booking rules and hut prices from NZ$50 per night.
Scenic flights
Ski plane and helicopter flights with glacier landings, compared by length and price.
Tours compared
Flights, glacier boats, stargazing and the Tekapo day trip side by side.
12 things to do
Walks, museums and flights, from Kea Point to a glacier landing.
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
The visitor centre, park rules, parking fees and what an entry charge would change.
Mount Cook Village
Fuel, food, the Hermitage and the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre.
Lake Pukaki
The turquoise lake beside State Highway 80 and Peters Lookout.
Lake Tekapo
The Church of the Good Shepherd, the Dark Sky Reserve and flights from Tekapo.
Getting there
Driving times, the InterCity bus and the Tekapo shuttle.
Weather and best time
Monthly temperatures and rainfall, and which season suits which plan.
Where to stay
The village, White Horse Hill campsite, Glentanner, Twizel or Tekapo.
Good to know in 2026
Where older guides are out of date.
The Hooker Valley Track is open again
The new second bridge, 189 m long, opened in July 2026 after the old one was closed in April 2025. In September 2026 DOC set a limit of 20 people on the first bridge because of cable wear. DOC calls a crossing within the limit safe. Check current DOC notices before you go.
Hooker Valley Track βParking is no longer free everywhere
At White Horse Hill, the car park for the Hooker Valley, parking costs NZ$2.50 per half hour, up to NZ$25 per day, and you pay by card. The Tasman Valley car park is free. There is no general park entry ticket in the current DOC pages.
National park and fees βMueller Hut needs a booking from November
From 2 November 2026 to 2 May 2027 every bed must be booked, and no walk-in beds are held back. Adults pay NZ$50 to 62 per night depending on season and weekday. The route above Sealy Tarns is alpine, not a maintained track.
Mueller Hut βFuel and the church at night
The village has a self-service fuel pump that takes cards. The grounds of the Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo are closed at night, and the interior is open only on limited days.
Lake Tekapo βThe International Visitor Levy of NZ$100 is separate from all of this. It is collected with the visa or NZeTA request, if it applies to you, and is not a park entry ticket.
More independent New Zealand guides
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one place on the South Island.
Mount Cook: frequently asked questions
Is there an entry fee for Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park?
The current DOC pages show no general entry ticket. You do pay for White Horse Hill parking (NZ$2.50 per half hour, NZ$25 per day), huts, camping and commercial activities. An access charge for international visitors is still a proposal: DOC consulted on it in June to August 2026, and the law has to take effect first. See the national park page.
How long does it take to drive to Mount Cook?
The Hermitage gives 4 hours 15 minutes from Christchurch, 3 hours 15 to 30 minutes from Queenstown and 2 hours 30 minutes from WΔnaka. Snow can close SH80, so check the road before you leave. Buses and shuttles are on the getting there page.
Can I fill up with fuel in Mount Cook Village?
Yes, there is a self-service pump with card payment. Opening hours and fuel grades are not listed, so arrive with a reasonable tank. The nearest shop outside the village is in Twizel, 66 km away.
Can I do the Hooker Valley Track with a guide?
The Tekapo Shuttle day trip stops at the Hooker Valley, but it only transports you. The operator says it does not guide the walk because it has no guiding concession. Most visitors walk it alone, and the Hooker Valley page gives the stages and times.
How high is Aoraki/Mount Cook?
3,724 m, the value the Hermitage gives. It comes from the 2013 AORAKI2013 survey by the University of Otago, which used a photogrammetric model checked with GPS points near the summit. The team did not step on the highest point out of respect for the tapu.
Is visitmountcook.org an official website?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to DOC, the national park, Tourism New Zealand, a hotel or any tour or flight operator.