Winter around Mt Cook is beautiful – but cold! Images from a recent photo trip have been uploaded (see Recent Images).
The Aoraki/Mt Cook area is easy to get to, and from the Mt Cook village it is possible to walk into three valleys, each with a glacier and terminal lake. The two walks that are particularly worthwhile are the Hooker Valley walk (about 2-3 hours to the Hooker Glacier lake, with views of Mt Cook looming overhead…) and the Tasman Valley walk (shorter, about an hour plus). A view of the Mueller glacier lake can be had on the Hooker walk.
In winter these walks need to be done around the middle of the day, before the sun goes behind the steep surrounding slopes, and shadow covers the landscape. Temperatures will drop markedly once the sun has gone, particularly if any wind comes up. BUT the winter scenes are unique, with small ‘bergs in the gray glacial waters and plenty of snow about the ranges. Be careful to pick good weather before you go.