A visit to Mueller HutHigh up in the mountains of Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, lies Mueller Hut (1800m). For serious exploration of the park, you'll need glacier equipment, but this is one of the few high places can be reached by a good hiking trail, and, weather permitting, up on the ridge you have fantastic views!
 View up the Hooker Valley from high on the trail
Only a little higher up the ridge lies Mount Ollivier (1933m), an easy peak with more great views. Mind you, most people go up the ridge and stop at the first summit, thinking they are there, but Mount Ollivier is the second one, about 400 meters further south (-43.7255, 170.0646).
You can get up and down easily in one day, but why not spend the night? The hut has mattresses, gas cookers and water, so you can travel light. You have to book at the visitor center near the trailhead in Aoraki / Mount Cook village.Interactive mapIf the map does not show right away, try right click on the map area and choose Refresh, that might help. Otherwise, click here. Right now, it appears to load directly for Google Chrome and Firefox, but not with Internet Explorer. Sorry about that, I'll try to fix it. Suggestions are welcome.
The arrow points to the hut. If you zoom in on the satellite image, you can actually see it!External LinksCheck out the Mueller Hut Route by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
Mueller Hut, with the false summit often mistaken for Mount Ollivier behind it |
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