This is a nice moderate walk/hike around Lake Matheson, but my one tip would be:…read more If you're doing the trail to see the famous view of the mountains and glacier, take a look at the start of the hike to see if you can see the glacier! We had a cloudy afternoon with some wind that moved in fast so we couldn't see the reflection or the famous view, which made it just a regular hike. Very dependent on weather if you want that postcard view!

We walked through the trails and forest to get to the river suspension bridge (jetty view point)…read morewhich takes approximately 20 minutes, admiring the flora and fauna along the way. The track continues through the conservation forest to a pontoon that extends out onto the lake which took about 30 minutes. On a calm day, this lake create a magnificient reflection of the surrounding, especially the beautiful reflected views of Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. It was very serene and pictureque.

Another hike that might not be top of your list ( Milford and Routeburn the tops) but if you want…read moreamazing views of Mt Cook this is the one. Easy hike that crosses some really cook bridges and rivers. The end is a gorgeous glacial lake. Pack a lunch and enjoy the views

Of all the places to hike this is one you will want to get up early to do. We started our hike at…read more7:3am to miss the crowds and be able to see and hear God's beautiful creation. This place is totally amazing! Layer your clothes and take water. When your body warns up you can take off. There are toilets available before your hike. Campground is also located there if your the camper type. About an hour into the hike they currently have the trail closed due to repairs to the bridge. After the hike we drove over to the cafe for hot tea and coffee. Enjoy!

If you are visiting Lake Matheson, be sure and add a stop to this viewpoint which is less than 10…read moreminutes drive continuing on Cook Flat road after the Lake Matheson turn off, take a right on Gillespie road and part in the lot. There is an interpretive sign and recreation on the a historical canoe plus picnic areas and grassy areas. The main reason to go is the panoramic view of Fox glacier, Mt. Cook and other mountains.

We did the short walk to Peter's pool, with nice views, then carried on to the other short walks…read morewith views of Franz Josef glacier. These paths were very easy 20 minute walks suitable for anyone.

We were supposed to take a helicopter ride and do a guided hike on the glacier, but our trip was…read morecancelled due to low clouds that would have made flying unsafe. The staff at the company offered a guided valley floor walk for a fee, but they kindly noted that the trail on the valley floor was part of the national park, and was free of charge if we wanted to just drive there and walk on our own (since we did have a car!) We were very thankful for the tip! This is an absolutely beautiful park! Yes, driving there does involve a few of New Zealand's famous one-way bridges, but it is worth it! The Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk takes hikers past what the glacier left behind; geology buffs would go nuts for this! For the average person, the colors and patterns on the rocks are beautiful! There are some beautiful waterfalls along the way, and the ever changing pattern of the water in the valley floor will keep hikers on their toes! Signs are posted that give current trail conditions, and warn if flood risk is likely; as long as risk is low, it seems the worst that happens is that you may have dry shoes hiking out, but soggy ones coming back! The valley floor is very exposed, so sunscreen, a hat and water are a good idea. The views of the glacier are beautiful! The trail ends about 750m from the glacier, so, no, you don't get to walk on it, but you do get to see it pretty well! We also did the Douglas Walk to Peter's Pool which was another pretty view of the glacier reflected in the pond. As an added bonus, this trail is through the rain forest. We enjoyed the plants and birds a great deal! Finally, after dark, we did the Terrance Walk to see the glow worms. This is definitely worth doing; bring a flashlight so you don't trip, but then turn it off to enjoy the glow worm show! Trails are all nicely maintained and clearly marked! This ended up being a great plan B when our trip was cancelled!

Bautiful glacier, I agree that it was underrated and less popular than Franz Josef but it is also…read morenice because it was alot more laid back and the road less crowded. The holiday park at Mount Cook has a beautiful outdoor kitchen with the glacier showing in the background. I knew that this park was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my life and I planned to propose on top of the glacier here; the photos came out amazing and the tour guides/helicopter pilot was super friendly and awesome to work with. They pointed out that in front of the national park is where a large LOTR battle took place but the actual glacier should have been the feature because of its beauty. Go visit at least once in your life!

There is nothing in NZ which is not must do. NZ is gods own country ... beauty all over the place …read more Mt cook is definitely one of the best places I saw in my trip . It's beauty is hard to describe in words , snow capped mountain peaks , bright piercing sun light creating numerous small rivers n glaciers , beautiful wild flowers , crystal white color sheeps , most amazing n helpful people , this place is like a meditation center ... so so so beautiful .... we took helicopter ride which was bit expensive but definitely so worth it ....

The gorge walk starts right from town, you walk behind a water storage area along a gravel road…read morewhich gradually turns to a trail and culminates at the Callery river suspension bridge. Once at the bridge be sure to head down to the river for great views of the river and the cave like area that the river has cut through. The walk is moderate with gradual up hill to the bridge and takes about 1.5 hours round trip, though plan for longer if you want to linger.

Fox River South Side Valley Walk is a steady uphill on an easy grade gravel surface suitable for…read moremountain bikes, strollers and hikers. There are two main view points of the glacier, but you will still be 2-3 km away from the glacier. The last viewpoint is not suitable for strollers and is more uphill and is the best view. ON the way - take the Moraine loop trail which parallels the main trail. This has some lush forest, fern and moss landscape.

We walked to the trailhead from our room at Mt. Lodge Motels & Inn…read more The Red Tarns route was a 1.5mile steep stairs uphill trek to the top of mountain, then including a small Red Tarn Pond loop- The entire route took about 45min return. To be honest, we cared less about the actual Red Tarns Pond- the stair climb was an excellent cardio hike- and the view from the top was amazing- we didn't bother with the red tarn pond loop once up top, we just sat and enjoyed the view, rewarding ourselves for the climb.