Haka House Aoraki Mt Cook couldn’t be better named and it couldn’t be better located – nestled snugly as it is into the gorgeous alpine landscape of Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park and with the mighty Mt Cook, stunning Tasman Glacier and gorgeous Southern Alps mountain range all on its doorstep, making it the best Mt Cook hostel for mountain walks.

Haka House Aoraki Mt Cook’s location truly is majestic. Seemingly a stone’s throw away and rising to 12,316 ft, the permanently snow-clad Mount Cook is New Zealand’s highest peak and is surrounded by 22 other peaks surpassing 10,000 ft – all part of the legendary Southern Alps mountain range that stretches the length of the South Island. It’s little surprise that mountaineers consider this to be the best climbing region in Australasia.
If scaling towering mountain peaks isn’t quite your thing though, there are a number of short walks that start near Aoraki/Mount Cook Village. Each walkable within an hour are the Governors Bush Walk, Bowen Bush Walk, Glencoe Walk, and Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier View Walk. Taking around two hours are the Red Tarns Track, Kea Point and Hooker Valley Track. For the more experienced alpine hiker, there are three mountain pass routes that can be traversed – over the Mueller, Copland and Ball passes.

The famous Tasman Glacier is the country’s largest glacier at around 27 km in length. It is one of several large glaciers that flow from the Southern Alps towards the Mackenzie Basin, and can also be visited on helicopter and ski-plane tours, high-flying adventures that create memories for a lifetime. Imagine the mesmerizing experience of flying up the stunning Tasman Valley past snowy mountain peaks, to land on the upper snowfields of the glacier itself… and to then step out into one of the most awe-inspiring alpine landscapes in the world.
For those who love cycling, the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail is a fantastic ride that begins at either Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park or Lake Tekapo and makes its way to the town of Oamaru on the South Island east coast, known for its Victorian architecture, art galleries and resident blue penguins. Along the way it passes through enchanting vistas of golden tussocked-fields, dazzling blue lakes, vineyards and dramatic mountain ranges.
The Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail is divided into nine sections, and can be ridden in full over five to seven days or alternatively you can pick sections and ride them as day trips.

There’s plenty of outdoor beauty and adventure to be had while staying at Haka House Aoraki Mt Cook, a gem among the various Aoraki Mount Cook Village hotels. And not only during the day, but at night also. You see, Haka House Aoraki Mt Cook happens to be situated in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, and the stargazing that’s possible in the evening – thanks in no small part to the minimal light pollution of the location – is breathtaking.
Grab a blanket, take a short stroll from the property and find a quiet spot nearby to admire the star-studded evening sky. Or join a guided tour to the summit of Mount John for naked eye and telescope viewing of the stars, or to purpose-built stargazing observation craters – memorable experiences that will leave you awe-inspired and totally enchanted.
An Aoraki Mt Cook alpine lodge like no other, Haka House Aoraki Mt Cook welcomes guests with a warm, inviting and cosy vibe. The property’s private or shared room accommodation options and public spaces – including the lounge, fully equipped kitchen, sauna, yoga and stretching room, outdoor terrace and garden area – create the perfect environment to begin and finish many a remarkable day exploring the majesty of Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.