Are you looking for a beautiful New Zealand adventure for the whole family? Walking the Hooker Valley Track with kids is a great choice. It is often argued to be the South Island’s most scenic and family-friendly day hike!
The whole trail takes around 3 to 4 hours. It includes two glacier lakes, frozen icebergs, three suspension bridges – and incredible views of Mount Cook covered in snow. That’s a pretty good haul of highlights for a half-day hike!
If you are looking for an easy walk for the whole family – with spectacular scenery – I recommend the Hooker Valley Track. Here is everything you need to know to plan a fantastic adventure.
- About Hooker Valley Track
- Best time of year to walk?
- Hooker Valley Track with kids
- Know before you go
- What to bring
- Getting there
- Where to stay before and after the Hooker Valley Track Walk
About The New Zealand Hooker Valley Track
- Total Length: 10 km (6.2 miles)
- Distance to Hooker Lake: 5 km (return via same track)
- Trail difficulty: Easy
- Walking time: 3 – 4 hr return
- Elevation gain: 124m (407 feet)
- Fitness level required: Low to moderate
Walking the Hooker Valley Track
The Hooker Valley Track is often advertised as New Zealand’s best half day walk. Which after now doing it, I agree!
For the entire walk, the pathway is well-maintained and reasonably flat. The trail follows the river up the sacred Tapuni area of the Hooker Valley, and is a combination of boardwalks, bridges and tidy gravel track.
The first of the three suspension bridges crosses the Hooker River with impressive views of Muller Lake. This is where we started to hear the rumble of avalanches in the distance on Mount Sefton!
After the second swing bridge the vegetation changes and there is a long boardwalk over open tussock through the wide valley floor. The track here is flat and easy.
From the third bridge it is only one kilometre to go to reach the lookout where the track ends overlooking icebergs floating on the impressive Hooker Lake. The view is spectacular with Aoraki Mount Cook and the Southern Alps right behind it.
There is a picnic area at the lookout above the lake, and a less maintained single file pathway down to the lake shore.
The track then returns the same way for a total walking distance of 10 kilometres.
Walking the Hooker Valley Track in winter
We walked the Hooker Valley Track with the kids in winter. Though we were lucky weather-wise with a clear day in June.
If you are planning to walk the track in winter, I recommend keeping an eye on the weather forecast in the days prior.
We could see ahead that there was a clear day forecast, with rain either side. So we made the decision to push on from Dunedin to Twizel especially to arrive in time for the weather window. Which was a good decision in hindsight!
It was cold starting out as the track is initially in shade in the morning. But by midday the sun was out and we were peeling back a few layers and removing gloves.
Walking the Hooker Valley Track with kids
The Hooker Valley Track with kids is a great option for a family day walk.
Our kids were 5 and 7 at the time and didn’t find it hard. They particularly enjoyed the swing bridges, and were excited to know there were three on the trail.
The other most exciting parts of the trail are a tie between hearing the distant rumble of an avalanche and trying to touch the icebergs floating on Hooker Lake!
I definitely recommend the Hooker Valley Track with kids as one of New Zealand’s best day walks. It’s an easy, interesting, and beautiful family day walk.
Things to know before you go
If you are unsure of the weather forecast you can check the track conditions at the Visitor Centre before starting out. Or check online with MetService for Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park here.
- Shops: There are no shops or cafes by the track or in Mount Cook Village. There is one self-service petrol pump for emergencies in the village but plan ahead and stock up in Twizel beforehand.
- Water: There is no drinking water available along the track so be sure to carry enough for the duration.
- Toilets: There are two sets of toilets at White Horse Hill Campground at the start. Halfway along the track at Stocking Stream there are self-composting toilets.
- There are two picnic tables just past the second swing bridge and at the Hooker Lake lookout.
- Avalanches: From the track you can see and hear occasional avalanches in the distance from Mount Sefton. The track is designed to be safe from avalanches so stick to the track.
- Shade: There is no shade along the track so be prepared with a sunhat and sunscreen.
- Start early: This is the most popular day hike in Mount Cook National Park so if you want to beat the crowds, start early.
What to bring and pack – Hooker Valley Track
The Aoraki Mount Cook area experiences very fast changes in weather.
It is always recommended to plan ahead, dress accordingly and pack a day pack that is prepared for this.
This is what is suggested:
- Waterproof jacket outer layer
- Warm layers of clothing
- Hat, gloves, sunscreen
- Suitable footwear for walking
- Plenty of drinking water
- Snacks + lunch for the duration
- Mobile phone
Getting there – Hooker Valley Track
The nearest towns to the Hooker Valley Track are Aoraki Mt Cook Village (2 km), Twizel (56 km) and Tekapo (96 km).
The drive from Twizel took us approximately 45 minutes in our campervan.
- Tip: Parking for the Hooker Valley Track is at the White Horse Hill Campground and carpark at the end of Hooker Valley Road. Parking here is free.
Where we stayed to do the Hooker Valley Track walk with kids
We stayed the night before and after doing the walk in Twizel. The day after we walked the Hooker Valley Track we drove onwards to Lake Tekapo.
Twizel is a good option to use as a base for walking the Hooker Valley Track.
There are paid and free options if travelling by campervan. We stayed in both.
TWIZEL: Lake Poaka Campsite (DOC Campsite)
- Location: Turn off SH 8 (Tekapo Twizel Road) on to the private road on the north side of Pukaki Canal. Follow the road for 2.5 km to the campsite entrance.
- Cost: Free
- Facilities: Longdrop toilet.
TWIZEL: Twizel Holiday Park
- Location: 122 Mackenzie Drive, Twizel
- Cost: From $30 per night with NZMCA membership
LAKE TEKAPO: Lake Tekapo Holiday Park
- Location: 2 Lakeside Drive, Canterbury 7999
- Cost: Lakeview, powered sites from $50 NZ p/n.
What do you think? Is the Hooker Valley Track the best family friendly walk in the South Island?
Read more about travel in New Zealand
- South Island Adventure: 25 Campsites We Can Recommend.
- Hiking Roys Peak Track In Wanaka With Kids.
- The Perfect Day Trip To Visit Milford Sound In Winter.
- Franz Josef or Fox Glacier Walk?
- Visiting Waiotapu Geothermal Wonderland In Rotorua.
- 20 Things To Do In Rotorua.
- Review Of Te Puia Cultural Show Rotorua.
More about travel planning for New Zealand and beyond
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- World Nomads – Make sure you have insurance before further contemplating Hooker Valley Track with kids!