Mount Cook Village at a glance
Mount Cook Village sits at the end of State Highway 80, about 55 km from the junction with State Highway 8 along the shore of Lake Pukaki. It is the base for the Hooker Valley Track, the Tasman Valley, the Kea Point walk and the Mueller Hut route. Accommodation, the Hermitage hotel, the Department of Conservation (DOC) visitor centre and a fuel pump are all here.
What the village does not have is a normal shopping street. There are no banks, the hotel shop sells snacks and drinks, and the nearest shop is in Twizel. Plan food, cash and fuel before you arrive. The details below are the 2026 figures from DOC and the Hermitage and can change.
DOC visitor centre
The best first stop for walks and mountain conditions.
Where and when
The centre is at 1 Larch Grove and opens daily. From October to April it is open from 08:30 to 17:00, and from May to September from 08:30 to 16:30. Entry is free. The staff can tell you about tracks and mountain conditions, and the centre runs the intentions system for climbers and trampers.
Money in the village
There are no banks in the village. EFTPOS is available, but that does not mean there is a cash machine, so bring the cash you need. Paid parking at White Horse Hill takes cards, not cash. More in the national park guide.
Our picks: flights from Mount Cook
Helicopter flights that start at Mount Cook, one with the hotel transfer in the village included.
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.
Helicopter to the Tasman Glacier with a guided walk
A helicopter flight, a glacier landing and a two-hour guided walk. Glacier boots, crampons and a rain jacket if needed are included, and so is the hotel transfer in Mount Cook Village.
Check availability →
30-minute helicopter flight with an alpine landing
A panoramic flight with an alpine landing, pilot commentary and a safety briefing. Food, drinks and hotel transfer are not included.
Check availability →
Helicopter flight with an alpine landing
A 25-minute helicopter flight with an alpine landing and live commentary from the pilot.
Check availability →Tours from Mount Cook Village
Scenic flights, glacier trips and stargazing around Aoraki/Mount Cook, with live prices and availability.
Fuel, food and everyday needs
Facts the Hermitage and DOC publish.
Fuel
The village has a self-service pump that takes cards. Check the pump before you rely on it, and fill up in Twizel if you are low. Glentanner Park on the way in has no fuel.
Food
The Hermitage says there are no regular shops or convenience stores in the village, but its hotel shop sells snacks and drinks, offers a post service and is listed as open 08:30 to 19:00 seven days a week, seasonally. For groceries, the nearest shop is in Twizel, 66 km away by the Hermitage's count. DOC gives the supermarket as 70 km, or about 1 hour.
Cooking
The motel units have a kitchenette. The hotel and the lodge have no way to heat food, so bring food that needs none if you stay there. See where to stay for the options.
Showers
Paid showers are in the village shelter. DOC lists them under the White Horse Hill campsite, which has none of its own.
The Hermitage and the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre
The Hermitage is the hotel in the village. Inside, the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre is a museum about mountaineering, aviation and Hillary, with a cinema included in the ticket. It is open daily from 08:15 to 20:00, with seasonal hours. A statue of Sir Edmund Hillary stands in the village.
Tickets cost from NZ$30 for adults and from NZ$16 for children up to 14. Children up to 3 are free. A family of two adults and two children pays from NZ$75, booked by phone. Guests of the hotel, the lodge and the motels get a ticket valid during their stay, not a free entry. The Glacier Explorers boat trip also starts at the Hermitage; see Tasman Glacier.
Walks and drives from the village
Most of the park's short walks start within a few minutes.
Hooker Valley
The car park at the end of Hooker Valley Road is about 5 minutes from the village by car. Parking is paid: NZ$2.50 per half hour, up to NZ$25 a day, with 20 minutes free if you leave within that time. Details are on the Hooker Valley Track page.
Tasman Valley
The Tasman Valley car park is free and about 10 minutes away. It is the start of the Tasman Glacier View Track.
Kea Point and Sealy Tarns
The Kea Point Track starts in the village or, for a shorter walk, at White Horse Hill. It gives views of Mount Sefton, the Mueller Lake and Aoraki. The Sealy Tarns climb starts from the same track. See things to do for the full list.
Governors Bush and Red Tarns
Governors Bush starts at the public shelter on Bowen Drive. The Red Tarns track climbs about 300 m from the public shelter by the Black Birch Stream.
The road ends at the village, so there is no through route to the west coast from here. For Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, see getting to Franz Josef.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pages that go with the village.
Mount Cook Village: frequently asked questions
Is there a petrol station in Mount Cook Village?
Yes, a self-service pump with card payment. Check it before you rely on it, and fill up in Twizel if your tank is low.
Is there a supermarket in Mount Cook Village?
No. The hotel shop sells snacks and drinks. The nearest shop is in Twizel, 66 km away by the Hermitage's count.
Is there a cash machine in the village?
There are no banks, and EFTPOS is available. Bring the cash you need before you arrive.
Is the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre free for hotel guests?
No. Guests get a ticket that is valid during their stay, but they still pay for it. Adults pay from NZ$30.
How far is the village from the Hooker Valley car park?
About 5 minutes by car. The car park is at the end of Hooker Valley Road.