Winter Wonderland is the Hooker Valley Track

Walking round the corner the words escaped my mouth before my eyes could fully appreciate the view. Wow! I was truly in Winter Wonderland! (or Narnia, as I first thought). Just like that, The Hooker Valley Track became my favourite day hike in New Zealand (so far!).

A perfect cloudless day allowed the incredible sun make the snow even more blindingly white. The contrast of the dazzling white and the dark rock of the bare Mountains made the views all that more captivating. It felt almost magical and somewhere that isn’t quite real! – yep, Narnia – Winter in New Zealand was very different to the miserable winters I’m used to in Scotland.

The Hooker Valley Track is a 4 hour round trip hike from Mt Cook Village (in winter, I would add-on an additional hour for the WOW stops!). Unless you have some serious good core muscles or, like me, are unprepared (always) then I would definitely bring hiking shoes – although I did do the whole thing in my trusty running shoes, it made for wet feet and many a slip. –  and possibly a pole if you’re not used to winter conditions. Other than that the hike itself doesn’t require a huge level of fitness. YAY!

Make sure that you start the day hike with enough time so that toward the end you aren’t losing the light. The sunset from Hooker Glacier is incredible to witness and one I would encourage all hikers to aim for – because, I’m really not a morning person let alone wake up early enough to get there before sunrise. 

So what can you expect from The Hooker Valley Track?

If swing bridges over huge river beds with roaring streams and giant boulders are your thing, you’ll love it. Only doing it for the view, yep, also for you. Photographers dream or just here for instagram yes for you too (although, c’mon guys!). Like a challenge and here to see what New Zealand has to offer, then man, you’ve found it.

In winter this walk is tricky. The stairs are slippy and basically within the first 20 minutes you’ll come to a steep uphill which, (thanks to the well trodden track) is completely iced over. Enjoy. But still I would say that those with little fitness could do it, just take your time – fyi, crampons are not needed, it’s not that extreme guys.

Not only does The Hooker Valley track offer all of this, you can basically tick off a bunch of New Zealand Bucketlist Goals in one go.

Bucket list checks on The Hooker Valley Track are:

Hiking: State the obvious huh?

New Zealand attracts the adventurous type. People that are here to get out of comfort zones, stay active, do something stupid and ultimately have an adventure. I mean, if Bilbo can do it, you can too.

For those that don’t have time to do the multi day tramping adventures, this is the must do, day hike in New Zealand.

Mt Cook: Well, do I really have to say anymore? New Zealand’s highest (and most spectacular) peak, the hooker valley track really makes you feel in the presence of the mountain, its inescapable, but beautiful.

And obviously, the entire town is called Mt Cook Village, so. yeah.

Icebergs. So you wanted to see the famous Icebergs in the Tasman Valley but the road was iced up and you didn’t have chains for the car (*cough thisisme cough*). Well, don’t fret, the Glacier Lake at the end of the Hike has more treats in store!
Glaciers sadly are in retreat so a lot more parts of them are tumbling off. In this case, they tumble (or slam) into the Glacier Lake creating, Icebergs!

Make sure you get here before you lose the sun. Sunset bouncing off the ice and through the icebergs is incredible.

Glaciers. Yep, the gold at the end of the rainbow is the incredible Hooker Glacier. Measuring around 11kms in length it’s one of New Zealand’s largest and most accessible Glaciers.

New Zealand has over 3000 Glaciers! This day hike lets you experience the incredible beauty of it, without paying for it. Hear it crack, move and even collapse through the mountain pass as it pushes its way into the lake.

Are you convinced yet?

Standing still and spinning around, the view of the mountains surrounding you is incredible. Walking up stairs, steep hills, navigating minimal track, windy inclines and deep snow always had its rewards. Looking out onto impossible swing bridges hidden in a snowy background and frozen river beds with giant boulders. The silence broken only by your footsteps, the deafening cracks of the Glacier in the distance or the thunder of the avalanches above. Hooker Valley is a place so mystical it will take your breath away.

The Hooker Valley Track is how I imagined winter in New Zealand. Dramatic Mountains Peaks, blinding dazzling snow (and lots of it) with glaciers, icebergs and minimal people (YES!).

Want more day hikes in New Zealand? Well check out this post for some more ideas!

If you’re still not convinced (how?!) then take a peak at a video I made while out on the The Hooker Valley Track – yes, my running shoes make an appearance.