Hooker Glacier

The Hooker Glacier extends 11 kilometers along the southwestern slopes of Aoraki Mount Cook, featuring multiple tributary glaciers including Sheila, Empress, and Noeline.

Canterbury provincial geologist Julius von Haast named the glacier after William Jackson Hooker, a British botanist who contributed to New Zealand's natural sciences.

The glacier stands as a natural monument within Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, reflecting the intersection of Maori heritage and alpine landscapes in New Zealand.

Visitors can observe the glacier and its terminal lake from the Hooker Valley Track, which starts at White Horse Hill Campground and covers 10 kilometers round trip.

The glacier's retreat since the 1970s created Hooker Lake, which contains floating icebergs and maintains water temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius.

Location: Mackenzie District

Location: Canterbury Region

GPS coordinates: -43.66300,170.11800

Latest update: May 17, 2025 10:26