Twelve experiences at a glance
Most of what there is to do around Aoraki/Mount Cook is outdoors and starts within 10 minutes of Mount Cook Village. The list below mixes short walks, hard climbs and a few things for bad weather. It is not a ranking. Each entry gives the facts from the Department of Conservation (DOC) or the operator, with prices as of 2026.
Check the current conditions before you go. Weather can close tracks or cancel flights and boats, and mountain routes have their own rules. The national park has no general entry fee, but parking at White Horse Hill is paid, and some activities, huts and the campsite charge separately.
Walks to the glacier lakes
The classic walks of the valley.
1. Hooker Valley Track
A walk from White Horse Hill to the Hooker Lake with three swing bridges, about 5 km each way and 10 km return. DOC's stage times add up to about 1.5 hours one way and 3 hours return without stops. The new second bridge is 189 m long, the longest suspension bridge in New Zealand according to DOC, and opened in July 2026. A limit of 20 people applies on the first bridge. Check DOC's current notices before you go. See the Hooker Valley Track page.
2. Tasman Glacier View Track
A steep staircase of more than 300 steps to a moraine viewpoint over the Tasman Lake. It takes 10 minutes to the Blue Lakes junction and 5 more to the viewpoint, and DOC lists 40 minutes return. Parking is free. See Tasman Glacier.
3. Tasman Lake and River Track
A 2.5 km walk of 50 minutes return, which DOC lists as the alternative when the steps do not suit you.
4. Glacier Explorers boat trip
A guided boat trip on the Tasman Lake with a bus from the Hermitage. The minimum age is 4, and adults pay from NZ$219 and children aged 4 to 14 from NZ$99 as of October 2026. The trip pauses in winter, roughly from mid-June to the end of August.
Our picks: things to do
A ski plane and helicopter flight, a helicopter hike on the glacier and stargazing at Lake Tekapo.
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.
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Ski 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.
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Guided stargazing at Lake Tekapo
A 75-minute guided session with 14-inch telescopes. Transfer from the check-in office, down jackets and a link to your digital photo are included.
Check availability →Things to do with a guide or a pilot
Scenic flights, glacier trips, stargazing and day trips around Aoraki/Mount Cook, with live prices and availability.
Steeper climbs and viewpoints
These need more time, more legs and a closer look at the weather.
5. Sealy Tarns
A stepped climb of 2,200 steps and 600 m of height gain, reached by the Kea Point Track from the village or White Horse Hill. There is no shelter and no alternative route on the way up, so turn back in bad weather. Snow and ice are possible from March to November. In winter the track can be extremely icy and may need crampons and an ice axe, and avalanches are possible. Ask at the DOC visitor centre.
6. Mueller Hut
An overnight trip on an alpine route, not a stroll. DOC gives 2 hours from the village to the Sealy Tarns, 2 more to the hut and 3 for the descent. Above the tarns the route is not a maintained path, and avalanche danger is considerable from April to mid-November, and avalanches can happen at other times too. The hut has 28 bunks and costs NZ$50 to 62 per adult per night. See Mueller Hut.
7. Kea Point
A walk with views of Mount Sefton, the Mueller Lake and Aoraki. It starts in the village, or from White Horse Hill for a shorter route. DOC lists 180 m of height gain over 3 km.
8. Governors Bush
A forest walk with views of Wakefield Ridge and Mount Cook. It starts at the public shelter on Bowen Drive and can be linked with Bowen Bush.
9. Red Tarns
A steep stepped track of 300 m of climbing from the public shelter along the Black Birch Stream, with views over the village and the valley. Red water plants give the tarns their name.
For bad weather, and for the sky
Indoor options and one flight.
10. DOC visitor centre
A free exhibition at 1 Larch Grove, open daily from 08:30 to 17:00 from October to April and to 16:30 from May to September. It is also the place to ask about conditions on the tracks.
11. Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre
A museum and cinema inside the Hermitage. It is open daily from 08:15 to 20:00, with seasonal hours, and adults pay from NZ$30. A family ticket for two adults and two children starts at NZ$75. Read more on the Mount Cook Village page.
12. A scenic flight with a glacier landing
The Ultimate Alpine Experience combines a ski plane and a helicopter, lasts 45 minutes and lands on the Tasman Glacier. Its operator lists it at NZ$599 on the home page and NZ$549 on the product page, so confirm the price when you book. A 25-minute Tasman Discovery with a ski plane snow landing is listed at NZ$429. See scenic flights. West of the main divide, Franz Josef helicopter flights cover the other side of the range.
Beyond the list
Two more things worth a day.
Stargazing
Big Sky Stargazing runs from the Hermitage, takes 75 to 90 minutes and starts at 21:30 and 23:30 in the current season. Adults aged 15 and over pay from NZ$165, and the minimum age is 8. It is weather dependent. More on the tours page.
Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo
The two lakes sit on the way in. The Church of the Good Shepherd at Tekapo and the view of Lake Pukaki each make a stop. See Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where to go next.
Things to do at Mount Cook: frequently asked questions
What is the most popular thing to do at Mount Cook?
The Hooker Valley Track is the best-known walk, with three swing bridges and a lake at the end. The list above is in no particular order.
What can I do in half a day?
The Tasman Glacier View Track takes 40 minutes return, and Kea Point, Governors Bush and the visitor centre are short stops. The Hooker Valley Track needs about 3 hours return without stops.
What can I do when it rains?
The DOC visitor centre and the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre are indoors. Flights, boats and stargazing depend on the weather, so ask the operator about refunds.
Is there an entry fee for the national park?
There is no general entry fee in the park, as of 2026. Parking at White Horse Hill is paid, and DOC has consulted on a charge for international visitors that is not in force yet. Fees for huts, camping and activities are separate.
Can I do the Mueller Hut walk as a day trip?
It is an alpine route with a steep climb. DOC gives 4 hours to reach the hut and 3 hours to come down from it, so it is not an easy half-day outing. Read the safety notes on the Mueller Hut page first.