The highest peak in New Zealand 
is the majestic Mount Cook, towering at 3,755 meters 
.
**Hooker Valley Track**
Including time for snapping photos, the journey took us a leisurely 2 hours and 50 minutes. After training on the challenging Roys Peak track, this one felt like a breeze. We hopped and skipped along, finishing it with ease [Yeah][Laughing][Yeah].
This trail is so accessible that even elderly folks and children can enjoy it. The path is incredibly flat, and we even spotted parents pushing strollers!
**Tips:**
Avoid wearing bright colors; they attract mosquitoes.
Bring a windbreaker as the winds can be quite strong.
The weather around Mount Cook is highly unpredictable 
. Apple Weather isn’t very reliable, but Windy offers more accurate forecasts. Alternatively, you can Google “Mt Cook webcam” to get a real-time view of the conditions, which is a safer bet.
I started my hike around 7 pm, and the timing was perfect. It wasn’t sunny, and I managed to return to the car before dark. Plus, there were fewer people, making the experience even more serene. New Zealand truly is an outdoor paradise, with no large animals—alpacas 
are the biggest you’ll see—making it relatively safe.
There are three bridges along the way. After crossing them, it’s just a short walk to the lake. However, the lake doesn’t offer great reflections, so the scenery before reaching it is more photogenic.
On the hiking sign, I found a heartwarming message: “Happy Chinese New Year 
.” It made my day!
Que trilha incrível! A luz dourada ao amanhecer realmente tornou a experiência mágica. Já ouvi falar muito sobre o Mount Cook, mas agora entendo por que é tão especial. Definitivamente quero fazer essa trilha um dia!
Mount Cook looks absolutely breathtaking! I can only imagine how magical it must feel to see the sunrise casting golden light on the Hooker Valley Track. I’ve always wanted to hike there; hopefully one day I’ll get the chance to experience it myself.
The Hooker Valley Track sounds amazing! I love how you captured the golden light on Mount Cook, it really makes the mountain look magical. Have you tried going at sunrise without the crowds?