Mueller Hut Route
WalkCanterburyOpen
- Grade
- Advanced
- Walking time
- 4 hr
- Distance
- 5.2 km
- Route
- One way
- Dogs
- No dogs
Access: read before you go
There is considerable avalanche danger on the Mueller Hut Route during winter and spring (April to mid November). However, avalanches can occur at any time of the year as snow falls year round in the park. Make sure: You check the New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZAA) before you go. You have the skills to recognise avalanche conditions and avalanche prone areas. You know the safest areas to travel in. Each person has an avalanche transceiver, a snow shovel and a probe, and knows how to use them. Read more about Avalanche terrain in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Car parking fees The track to Mueller Hut starts near the White Horse Hill car park. DOC charges fees for car parking at White Horse Hill. The fees are $2.50 per half hour or $25 a day. If you arrive and leave within 20 minutes, parking is free. If you plan to stay for longer than 20 minutes you must pay on arrival. Payment machines that accept debit and credit cards are highly visible at each site. Cash payments are not accepted. Locals and other car park users can purchase an annual permit. Permits cannot be purchased at the payment machines and need to be purchased online. Note: If you arrive one day and leave the next you will pay car parking fees for two days ($50). If you plan to stay for multiple days ($50 or more) it may be more affordable for you to purchase an annual permit. How to pay fees or buy an annual permit . No drones Flying a drone without a permit is strictly prohibited. Drone use on conservation land
The track to Mueller Hut starts near the White Horse Hill car park. DOC charges fees for car parking at White Horse Hill. The fees are $2.50 per half hour or $25 a day. If you arrive and leave within 20 minutes, parking is free. If you plan to stay for longer than 20 minutes you must pay on arrival. Payment machines that accept debit and credit cards are highly visible at each site. Cash payments are not accepted. Locals and other car park users can purchase an annual permit. Permits cannot be purchased at the payment machines and need to be purchased online. Note: If you arrive one day and leave the next you will pay car parking fees for two days ($50). If you plan to stay for multiple days ($50 or more) it may be more affordable for you to purchase an annual permit. How to pay fees or buy an annual permit .
Flying a drone without a permit is strictly prohibited. Drone use on conservation land
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Getting there
We have not checked a road end or car park for this place yet, so we do not give driving directions to it. Check how to get there before you go. Some routes cross private land and need the landowner's permission.
How to get there, on doc.govt.nzCar parking fees
The track to Mueller Hut starts near the White Horse Hill car park. DOC charges fees for car parking at White Horse Hill. The fees are $2.50 per half hour or $25 a day. If you arrive and leave within 20 minutes, parking is free. If you plan to stay for longer than 20 minutes you must pay on arrival. Payment machines that accept debit and credit cards are highly visible at each site. Cash payments are not accepted. Locals and other car park users can purchase an annual permit. Permits cannot be purchased at the payment machines and need to be purchased online. Note: If you arrive one day and leave the next you will pay car parking fees for two days ($50). If you plan to stay for multiple days ($50 or more) it may be more affordable for you to purchase an annual permit. How to pay fees or buy an annual permit .
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Map and tracks
Track lines: DOC Te Papa Atawhai. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Topo map: LINZ, CC BY 4.0. 43.71434° S, 170.07846° E
About this place
This route provides a 360-degree panorama encompassing glaciers, ice cliffs, vertical rock faces and New Zealand’s highest peaks. Mountaineering experience, including using an ice axe, crampons and avalanche rescue equipment, is needed in winter, and sometimes in spring and autumn.
The route
Aoraki/Mount Cook Village to Sealy Tarns
Time: 2 hr
Follow the Sealy Tarns Track to Sealy Tarns .
Sealy Tarns to Mueller Hut
Time: 2 hr
Use Sealy Tarns as a decision point – check the weather, ensure your group are all feeling comfortable with continuing on to Mueller Hut, and make sure you have enough time to get there before dark. From Sealy Tarns follow the orange markers (every 200 metres) through the tussock. Keep a close eye on the orange marker poles, especially if there is low visibility. Make sure you can always see the next marker pole. This is not a maintained track but an alpine route. Parts of the route are quite rocky. It zig-zags through alpine scrub, herb fields and tussocks to a large rock field. From here 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. If snow is present, we recommend only continuing if you have avalanche knowledge and equipment. Once on the ridge relax and enjoy the magnificent view of the Mueller Glacier sweeping down the valley past smaller hanging glaciers and the stunning ice shelf on Mount Sefton. The route from here turns south towards the hut. Follow the orange markers through the basin until you see Mueller Hut – about 20 minutes along the ridge.
Side trip: Mueller Hut to Mt Ollivier
Time: 30 min
This is a rock scramble along the obvious ridge from Mueller Hut to the top of the rocky outcrop immediately to the south of the hut. A big cairn marks the top. Don’t be tempted to go further along unless you have experience, as it can get dangerous. It is very steep and exposed beyond the top of Mount Ollivier. This was the first peak Sir Edmund Hillary climbed, beginning a climbing career culminating in the first ascent of Everest.
Mueller Hut to Aoraki/Mount Cook Village
Time: 3 hr
If you are leaving Mueller Hut in the morning, be aware that ice is common on the lower ridgeline. It’s best to wait for this to soften in the sun before starting the track. Descend back to the village the same way as you came up. Do not be tempted to go straight down or veer off the route at any stage. Make sure you turn off the ridge down the scree slope at the orange marker. In bad weather it can be quite difficult finding your way. When descending the scree slope, go slowly and carefully – stay in control.
Understand if you are ready for the Mueller Hut Route
Watch the NZ Mountain Safety Council’s walk-through video which takes you through how to prepare for this track. Including facilities, key decision points, hazards and typical conditions for the area.
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Know before you go
Experience required
Your safety is your responsibility – be prepared Summer (December–February): The route to Mueller Hut offers a mountain experience for anyone with moderate tramping experience – as long as care is taken. Check the weather forecast prior to your planned trip and avoid days with low visibility or high winds. Winter (June–August): The route requires good level of mountaineering experience, including walking on ice and snow with ice axe and crampons, route finding and using an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel. Ski tourers must have a thorough knowledge of avalanche dangers and ability to navigate in alpine terrain. Spring (September–November) / Autumn (March–May): Winter conditions can be present during spring and autumn – check with the Aoraki/Mount Cook Visitor Centre for the current conditions.
Equipment required
Find out what to take
Be avalanche aware
There is considerable avalanche danger on the Mueller Hut Route during winter and spring (April to mid November). However, avalanches can occur at any time of the year as snow falls year round in the park. Make sure: You check the New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZAA) before you go. You have the skills to recognise avalanche conditions and avalanche prone areas. You know the safest areas to travel in. Each person has an avalanche transceiver, a snow shovel and a probe, and knows how to use them. Read more about Avalanche terrain in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Car parking fees The track to Mueller Hut starts near the White Horse Hill car park. DOC charges fees for car parking at White Horse Hill. The fees are $2.50 per half hour or $25 a day. If you arrive and leave within 20 minutes, parking is free. If you plan to stay for longer than 20 minutes you must pay on arrival. Payment machines that accept debit and credit cards are highly visible at each site. Cash payments are not accepted. Locals and other car park users can purchase an annual permit. Permits cannot be purchased at the payment machines and need to be purchased online. Note: If you arrive one day and leave the next you will pay car parking fees for two days ($50). If you plan to stay for multiple days ($50 or more) it may be more affordable for you to purchase an annual permit. How to pay fees or buy an annual permit . No drones Flying a drone without a permit is strictly prohibited. Drone use on conservation land
Car parking fees
The track to Mueller Hut starts near the White Horse Hill car park. DOC charges fees for car parking at White Horse Hill. The fees are $2.50 per half hour or $25 a day. If you arrive and leave within 20 minutes, parking is free. If you plan to stay for longer than 20 minutes you must pay on arrival. Payment machines that accept debit and credit cards are highly visible at each site. Cash payments are not accepted. Locals and other car park users can purchase an annual permit. Permits cannot be purchased at the payment machines and need to be purchased online. Note: If you arrive one day and leave the next you will pay car parking fees for two days ($50). If you plan to stay for multiple days ($50 or more) it may be more affordable for you to purchase an annual permit. How to pay fees or buy an annual permit .
No drones
Flying a drone without a permit is strictly prohibited. Drone use on conservation land
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Nearby stops
White Horse Hill Campsite
Standard • Canterbury • 1.2 km
White Horse Hill Campsite is located in Canterbury and offers views of alpine scenery including Mt Sefton. The area provides access to a variety of walks…
Non-powered/tent sites • Shelter for cooking • Toilets - flush
Hooker Hut
Serviced • 8 bunks • Canterbury • 2 km
Hooker Hut is an eight-bunk serviced hut located in the Aoraki/Mount Cook area of Canterbury. It is the oldest hut in the park.
Cooking • Heating • Mattresses
Sefton Bivouac
Basic/bivvies • 3 bunks • Canterbury • 2.9 km
Sefton Bivouac is a basic high alpine hut located in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. The route to the bivouac is unmarked, steep, and exposed.
Toilets - non-flush • Water from tap - not treated, boil before use • Water supply
Bivouac site
Canterbury • 4.8 km
Hooker Hut (removed)
Canterbury • 6.3 km
Hooker Hut is a former hut located in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. The structure has been removed and is no longer available for use.
Walks nearby
Notes from people who have been
No notes yet. If you have been, say what you found.
Something missing or out of date?
Closed, moved, wrong facts, or something we have missed? Travellers keep the Road Guide up to date. Tell us what you found at contribute@parkup.nz and we will check it and add it.
Ask us to take this down
A person reads every request. We do not remove a place until we have checked it.
Sources
- DOC Tracks (API) · CC BY 4.0Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai. Data sourced from the DOC Developer Portal (api.doc.govt.nz).
- DOC Tracks & Trails · CC BY 4.0Data sourced from the Department of Conservation (DOC), New Zealand.