Walking tracks in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Contents Welcome to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park 1 Be prepared 3 Walks from the village and campground 5 Freda du Faur 9 Walks map 10 Village walks map 12 Walks in Tasman valley 14 Cycling 16 Nature walking and wild-flower spotting 18 Welcome to Aoraki/ Mount Cook National Park Enjoy one of our walks or hikes around the village and environs; ranging from 10 minutes to 4 hours—there Check, Clean, Dry is something to suit everyone’s ability. For those with Stop the spread of moderate fitness, there are options for even longer day didymo and other walks or overnight tramps: freshwater pests. to Mueller Hut (3–5 hr one Remember to Check, way), which offers an amazing If you are doing an Clean, Dry all items chance to experience the overnight walk, you will before entering, alpine environment without need to sign in at the and when moving being a climber, or to Ball DOC Visitor Centre, between, waterways. Shelter (3–4 hr one way) for and pay your hut fees breathtaking views over the before you go. Haupapa/Tasman Glacier and Published by: beyond. Department of Conservation Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park Visitor Centre Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park PO Box 5 Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park (70 696 ha) is New Aoraki/Mt Cook 7946 Zealand’s great alpine park, boasting the highest mountains New Zealand 2017 and the largest glaciers in the country. The area was Editing and design: Publishing Team formally established as a national park in 1953 and is a DOC National Office harsh land of ice and rock. Glaciers cover 40 percent of the park. There are 19 peaks over 3000 metres high, including This publication is produced using paper sourced from well-managed, renewable and legally logged forests. of course New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki/Mount R103448 Cook. 1 The park is also recognised for its outstanding natural values and forms part of the internationally celebrated Te Be prepared Wāhipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. Remember – your safety is your responsibility Please choose a track that suits your fitness and experience. Glacier country Follow the Outdoor Safety Code: The glaciers that have helped shape the park's landscape • Plan your trip include five major valley systems: Godley, Murchison, • Tell someone your plans Tasman, Hooker and Mueller. There are also over 150 • Be aware of the weather named smaller hanging glaciers on the mountainsides, • Know your limits which add to the dramatic landscape. • Take sufficient supplies Haupapa/Tasman Glacier, New Zealand's largest and For more information, visit: www.mountainsafety.org.nz/ longest glacier, is clearly visible from the main highway at To make your trip as enjoyable as possible, before you set the entrance of the park. It is 27 kilometres long, up to out for a walk in the park, make sure you have the correct 3 kilometres wide and extends over 100 square kilometres. clothing and supplies for your activity. We recommend you Although covered with rock material in its lower reaches, take: the ice of the Tasman is about 600 metres deep near the Sturdy shoes Hochstetter Icefall. Suitable head wear for the season and conditions Extra warm clothing Waterproof jacket Water and food First aid kit Sunscreen all year round Insect repellent (in summer months) Camera Beware • The weather can change quickly here—high winds are common and snow can fall at any time The naming of a mountain of year. Check the weather forecast regularly. The mountain from which Aoraki/Mount Cook • Snow and ice conditions can be treacherous. National Park takes its name was originally named Always walk with care over snow or ice. Aoraki by Ngāi Tahu, the first settlers in the area. It received its European name, Mount Cook, in • Avalanches can occur any time of the year but are 1851 from Captain J.L. Stokes, who first sighted the most common in winter and spring. Take special impressive peak as he sailed down the West Coast. care when travelling through known avalanche Stokes named the mountain in honour of the English areas and check avalanche advisory. navigator and discoverer of New Zealand, Captain • The alpine areas in the park are very exposed, and James Cook. at any time of year, spending a long time in the In 1998, both names were officially recognised and sun or in hot conditions can lead to dehydration the mountain is now known as Aoraki/Mount Cook. and severe sunburn—go well prepared. 2 3 Enjoy Walks from the village and campground nning scener Stu y • wi de Governors Bush Walk -o p e Time 1 hr return (loop track) n s p Grade Short walk: Easy a c e s Start place Public shelter • b Height gain 100 m – steps plus well gravelled track re a th Special features ta k A delightful bush walk, which joins with Bowen Bush Walk in g su to form a nature trail and explores one of the few stands of P n ho r to is silver beech/tawai (also known as tawhai) forest in the park. : D es ets ecl and suns an Wong A gradual climb leads to a lookout point of Wakefield Ridge and Aoraki/Mount Cook. This popular walk offers birdlife, s rm a great view of the mountains and a sheltered place to to s experience the outdoors in poor weather. • l d ca ra tri m ec at el Bowen Bush Walk ic ng ns wea rilli io Time 10 min return (loop track) ther ng th at events, includi orm ud f Grade Short walk: Easy and im essive clo pr Start place Opposite petrol pumps Height gain Predominantly fat with some steps • glaciers – lots em, of th ; Special features from hangi f oor ng to valley An easy forest walk that can be joined with Govenors Bush from pearl rey y white to gravel g Walk to form a nature trail. This track wanders through tōtara and celery pine/mountain toatoa forest, and has df ow • wil ers an alternative exit/entry towards the Mount Cook Lodge. ing az In summer a ‘Bird Song’ sounds system enhances the r g ta experience. r s fo es ski • clear night 4 5 Glencoe Walk Kea Point Track Time 30 min return Time 2 hr return from the village, 1 hr return Grade Short walk: Easy from White Horse Hill campground Start place Behind The Hermitage hotel and car park Height gain 40 m – steps and some zigzags Grade Short walk: Easy Special features Start place DOC Visitor Centre and cross over the This walk zigzags through tōtara trees with a ferny road towards Hooker valley understorey, emerging at a lookout near the prominent Height gain 180 m over 3 km water tanks above The Hermitage. A short climb rewards Special features with a bird’s-eye view of the village and beyond to the white This walk gently winds its way through subalpine ice of Hooker Glacier and Aoraki/Mount Cook. Sunrise and grasslands and scrub to the Mueller Glacier moraine wall. sunset are good times to catch the light playing over the The track passes through a landscape that was formed in mountains. 1913 when a stream cut through from the glacier to the original Hermitage site, damaging the building. The walk Red Tarns Track ends at a viewing deck that gives stunning views of Mount Time 2 hr return Sefton, The Footstool, Hooker valley, Mueller Glacier lake and Aoraki/Mount Cook. Grade Walking track: Steep and mainly stepped Start place Public shelter Sealy Tarns Track Height gain 300 m Time 3–4 hr return Special features Grade Walking track: Steep and stepped Follow the track downhill from the public shelter to cross Start place As for Kea Point Track, then branch off the bridge over Black Birch Stream and then climb steeply at the signpost to the Red Tarns. The vegetation changes as you ascend Height gain 600 m from the valley foor to a superb panoramic viewpoint of Special features the valleys below, the village and Aoraki/Mount Cook. The tarns are named for the red pond weed that grows in them. Dubbed the 'stairway to heaven', 2200 steps take you An aptly placed seat allows you to recover your breath straight up to the freshwater lakes of Sealy Tarns. This and enjoy the views. This is a magnificent spot to view the energetic walk provides spectacular views of the Hooker sunset in summer. valley and peaks of the area, including Aoraki/Mount Cook. An abundance of alpine fowers in summer and the views from the tarns make the effort worthwhile. The tarns are the halfway point to Mueller Hut. 6 7 Hooker Valley Track Time 3 hr return (add 1 hr if starting from Freda du Faur was the first woman to climb the village) Aoraki/Mount Cook. She accomplished this amazing Grade Walking track: Easy feat in 1910 with the help of two guides, brothers Start place As for Kea Point Track, or start at White Alex and Peter Graham. In 1913, Freda completed Horse Hill campground and car park the first Grand Traverse (all three peaks) of Aoraki/ Height gain 80 m over 5 km Mount Cook with guides Peter Graham and Darby Thompson. Freda’s Rock is the site where her now- Special features famous photo was taken just after her first successful One of the most popular walks in the park, the track leads ascent of the mountain. For further information, visit up the Hooker valley towards Aoraki/Mount Cook.