Day 2 of our rescheduled South Island crew trip (post-Covid vibes!) and wow—what a highlight! After Lake Tekapo’s serenity, we drove to Aoraki/Mount Cook Village for NZ’s ultimate easy-access adventure. This hike stole the show for our group of 6.

Hooker Valley Track: Epic Views, Zero Sweat? Think Again! ❄️➡️💦

Drove ~1.5 hours from Tekapo to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, parking at the White Horse Hill Campground trailhead.

• The 10km return Hooker Valley Track is a must-do flat walk through golden tussock, crossing three epic swing bridges over the Hooker River. Toilets midway—lifesaver!
• Started chilly at 8am (layers on!), but by midday we were sweating buckets amid stunning views of Mueller Lake, icebergs, and the Hooker Glacier crowning the valley.

Hands down my fave hike ever—stunning payoffs with zero technical bits, took our crew nearly 5 hours round-trip with photo stops. Glaciers up close? Unforgettable!

We fueled with water, bananas, and protein bars—essential for that steady energy.

Mulan’s Rocky Playground & Queenstown Base 🌿🪨🏠

Hike done, we headed to the nearby Pukaki Rock formations on Lake Pukaki’s shores (aka Mulan’s training camp from Disney’s live-action flick!). Picnics amid those massive boulders were our perfect post-hike chill—pure movie magic.

Then, straight onto our cozy Airbnb in Queenstown (~3-hour scenic drive via Lake Pukaki and Lindis Pass). Settled in for lake views and group downtime—what a base for the adventures ahead!

Day 2: Hike high, movie magic low, home sweet home. Stay tuned for Day 3 photos! Who’s adding this to their NZ bucket list? 🚀

Pro-Tip 💡 Hit it early to beat crowds—plus, pack those snacks to power through the “easy” sweat-fest! 😅

South Island Adventure Day 1: Steampunk (Oamaru) to Turquoise Dreams (Lake Tekapo)! 🚀✨
South Island Adventure Day 3: Epic Scenic Loop & Action-Packed Fun! 🚗🎯🌀✨
South Island Adventure Day 4: Steamboat Splendor, Farm, Ice & Ferg Finale! 🚢🐑🧊🍔✨