Aoraki/Mount Cook Village by Campervan: Glaciers on the Eastern Side

Quick summary: Aoraki/Mount Cook Village sits at the end of the road beneath New Zealand’s highest mountain, surrounded by glaciers. For campervan and motorhome travellers, it’s one of the most spectacular overnight stops in the country, with a DOC campground at the start of the Hooker Valley Track and the Tasman Glacier, the country’s longest, a short drive away. Walk to glacier lakes filled with icebergs, take a boat among the ice, or fly over the peaks on a ski-plane.

At a glance
Where	The end of State Highway 80, beside Lake Pukaki
From Christchurch	Around 330 km, about 4 hours
From Queenstown	Around 270 km, about 3 hours 30 minutes
Glaciers	Tasman, Hooker and Mueller
Signature experiences	Hooker Valley Track, Tasman Lake boat trips, ski-plane and helicopter flights
Tours	Mount Cook tours

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How are the Mount Cook glaciers different from the West Coast?

On the drier eastern side of the Alps, the glaciers end in wide, grey terminal lakes rather than descending into rainforest. The Tasman Glacier, the longest in New Zealand, has retreated to leave a large lake where icebergs break from the ice face, and the Hooker and Mueller glaciers end in lakes of their own. The landscape is open and alpine, and the walks are among the best in the country.

Which glacier walks start from the village?

Walk	Time	What you see
Hooker Valley Track	Around 3 hours return	Swing bridges, Aoraki/Mount Cook and Hooker Lake with its icebergs
Kea Point Track	Around 1–2 hours return	The Mueller Glacier’s moraine lake and the peaks above
Tasman Glacier viewpoint	Around 40 minutes return from the Tasman Valley car park	The Tasman Glacier’s terminal lake and the ice face beyond
Sealy Tarns	Around 3–4 hours return	A steep climb to alpine tarns above the Hooker Valley

Which glacier tours run from Mount Cook?

• Tasman Lake boat trips, among the icebergs close to the ice face of the Tasman Glacier.
• Guided kayaking on Tasman Lake. See kayak tours.
• Ski-plane and helicopter flights, many landing on the snowfields at the head of the Tasman Glacier. See snow landing tours.
• Guided glacier walks and heli-hikes with mountain guides.

Browse all Mount Cook tours.

Can you camp with an RV beneath Aoraki/Mount Cook?

Yes. White Horse Hill, the Department of Conservation campground where the Hooker Valley Track begins, has room for campervans and motorhomes in a magnificent setting. Facilities are simple, with no power, so arrive with a full water tank, empty waste tanks and charged batteries. It’s popular in summer, so book ahead where booking is offered. For full facilities, stay in Twizel, around an hour away.

What should you know about driving to the village?

The road along Lake Pukaki is sealed and well graded, with the mountain ahead of you most of the way. It’s a dead end, so fill up with fuel and supplies in Twizel or Tekapo before you go. Strong nor’west winds can buffet high-sided vehicles around the lakes, so slow down on exposed stretches.

How long should you stay?

Two nights gives you a full day for the Hooker Valley and a glacier experience, with a spare morning if weather grounds the flights. A single night still allows the Hooker Valley at dawn or dusk, when the light on the mountain is at its best.

Where can you stay?

• The DOC campground at White Horse Hill.
• Twizel and Lake Pukaki, around 65 km away. See Twizel and Lake Pukaki.
• Lake Tekapo, around 105 km away, with holiday parks.

How does Mount Cook fit with the West Coast glaciers?

There’s no road across the Alps, so linking Mount Cook with Franz Josef or Fox means driving around via Wānaka and the Haast Pass, around 500 km. See Mount Cook to the West Coast. For the route from Christchurch, see the local Aoraki/Mount Cook guide on christchurchtours.co.nz.

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Frequently Asked Questions