Mueller Hut

If walking for three hours up the side of a mountain range to see the tallest peak in New Zealand sounds like a riot then Mueller is the hut for you. With flabbersmacking views of the Hooker Valley and peaky peaks, including Aoraki/Mt Cook on a good day, you feel so far away from everything but you’ve got there in half a day. Start at the White Horse Hill car park, at the end of the Hooker Valley Road. Follow the Kea Point Track path to the Sealy Tarns turnoff. Then turn off. The Sealy Tarns Track begins gently until you reach the foot of the Mueller Range then it zigzags up and it’s steep. But totally worth it. From Sealy Tarns follow the orange markers (every 200 metres) through the tussock. This is not a maintained track but an alpine route so parts are quite rocky. And tricky. Then the route ascends a loose gravel slope (scree) of about 50 metres, to the skyline ridge. At certain times of the year this becomes a steep snow slope. Once on the ridge, look down at the mighty Mueller Glacier sweeping down the valley. Breathe it all in. Then follow the markers along the ridge for about 20 minutes until you see Mueller Hut. And get the kettle on. Head back to the village the same way as you came up.