Hooker hut- The best short hut track in new zealand

Tucked away off the Hooker Valley Track in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park is the cosy little Hooker Hut. It’s got to be the best short hut track in all of New Zealand. The track is easy to walk and the views are out of this world!

The Hooker Hut has a bit of a history for battling the elements. Long story short it first opened in 1910 on the moraine wall beside the Hooker Glacier. It was there for just over 30 years before the alpine conditions got the best of it. It was moved uphill in 1961 and again in 1994. In 2004, it was hit by an avalanche causing significant damage. It wasn’t until 2015 it was dismantled, flown out and stored in Twizel for it to be restored. 2020 came along and although there were delays because it was THAT year, it was restored and moved into where it is now. A much more accessible and safer spot.

If you want to learn more about other hikers in the area, check out:

Track details

200 m gain | 9 km return | 2-2.5 hour return*

The track to Hooker Hut is very kid/family friendly so time details will vary. When I went, we had a 2.5 year old with us so it took just under 1.5 hours to arrive at the hut.

The track starts at the Whitehorse Hill campground at the same place the Hooker Valley track starts. There is no signage off the Hooker Valley track, just a small arrow where you turn off. You also can’t see Hooker Hut from the track. However the track is marked with poles and straight forward to get to. Since the Hooker Valley track is so popular and busy, keeping the track more discreet does keep it less confusing for visitors in the area and keeps the hut hidden to those who don’t know about it.

Getting there

1. Start at the Whitehorse Hill Campground on the Hooker Valley track.
2. You’ll pass over two beautiful swing bridges.
3. After that there will be toliets to the left of you on the track.
4. You’ll see a picnic table and come to a boardwalk.
5. Off that boardwalk is the Hooker Hut track. There is a small orange triangle on the boardwalk- follow that.
6. If you reach a short wooden bridge you have gone too far.
7. Follow the path through the tussocks along the stream.
8. You’ll come to what feels like a bit of an expansive opening. Survey up the ridgeline for the orange markers.
9. There is a very quick up and over the moraine wall. Keep following the orange markers and you will arrive at the hut!

Don’t get alarmed if you think you’re going to get lost. The path to Hooker Hut is now routinely frequented with a pretty obvious path. Just be looking for a well walked path and orange markers. I would always encourage to have the topo maps with you on your phone.

If you’ve never been on the Hooker Valley track before you can expect a well walked gravel path. There are a few undulations and steps to go up and down. Once you head off that track onto the one to Hooker Hut, its more rugged through the tussock. Rocky in some places and a narrow path. It is still mostly flat with a short uphill bit before arriving at the hut.

The hut

Hooker hut is an 8 bunk hut. There are two beds in the main dining area and 4 on the other half of the hut with a door in between. The mattresses are pretty new and pretty comfortable. The doors are short, so mind your head! As well as the beds.

You must book this hut. It can be very hard to get a booking especially on the weekends. You will have better luck during the weekend. The summer months are also the busiest. You can book the hut through the Department of Conservation here.

Here is what you can expect from the hut during your visit:

• Log burner inside (make sure to pick up the key from DOC for the woodshed beforehand, bring matches)
• Double gas stove (bring matches)
• Dining table instead and out
• Bench space for meal prep and sink
• Water tank outside (They encourage you to boil the water. I use the Hydrapak filter cap on my bottle so I don’t have to boil it)
• Detached long drop toliet (it is definitley a loo with a view! Bring toliet paper, just in case)

Since the hut is so small, if you have the log burner going, it does heat up pretty quickly. The two bunks in the main area are the hottest. The group I was with and the two others staying all got way to hot in their sleeping bags. The windows are sealed so you’re not able to open them either. I wouldn’t worry about getting too hot overnight.

Winter conditions & alpine weather

Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park is an alpine area. Whether you are doing a short walk like the one to Hooker Hut or planning on something more challenging like Mueller Hut it is essential to be checking the weather and packing for the different conditions. This is a place where it’s bettter to be over packed and over prepared than under.

My visit was in July. There was snow on the ground and I made the mistake of not planning for ice! As a Canadian I should have known better I just wasn’t thinking! We were lucky to have sunny weather but the air was still crisp. A few must haves if you’re exploring in the winter:

• Crampons
• Thermals
• Puffer jacket
• Gloves and warm hat
• Hiking boots ( although the track is easy I wouldn’t recommend shoes)

Alternative routes

There are no alternative routes to get to the hut but the track does lead to other hikes. Of course if you keep going on the Hooker Valley track, you’ll reach Hooker Lake. I highly recommend either doing this before settling into the hut or visiting the lake the next day. It is about 2.5 km from the hut to the lake and 5km from the lake back to the carpark.

From the turn off of the Hooker Valley track to the Hooker Hut, this is where you can start your journey to Sefton Biv. The route to Sefton Bivouac is steep, challenging, unmarked and can be fatal without the right skills to navigate. Find more about the Sefton Biv route here.

More tracks in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park