🇳🇿NZ DIARIES | Day 2 - Aoraki / Mount Cook 🏔️
⛅️28 Nov 2025
We planned to hike Sealy Tarns in early morning on our full day at Mt Cook but unfortunately, the wind was crazy and it was raining. So we napped until 11am 😛 and then headed for lunch at Sir Edmund Hillary Cafe & Bar (fish n chips - 30NZD, pumpkin soup 13NZD, Nachos 27NZD - $52SGD for 3 pax)
Bought a fridge magnet as souvenir at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre for 6.50NZD, the view through the glass was 😍
We then went for Sealy Tarns track at 2.30pm and finished at about 5pm! The views were amazing throughout the hike but be prepared to be tortured by >2000 steps of never ending stairs 🙂 still, it was a wonderful short hike to do! Just pace yourself and it is definitely a must-do at Mt Cook!!
We had dinner at Chamois Bar & Grill which bill was about 110NZD. There are limited restaurants at Mt Cook so no point rating cos limited choices 🤣 but there is always options to cook cos our motel (Aoraki Court 💯) came with fully furnished kitchen! There’s no supermarket at the park so you gotta buy your groceries nearest being Twizel’s four squares or if you are coming from Christchurch PaknSave at Hornby.
The restaurant was packed so we waited 45min for our food. Post dinner, we went for a short walk at Hooker Valley track until to the closure point - started at 8.45pm and ended at 10pm. Summer in NZ is amazing, the days are so long and even at 10pm, sky was not completely super dark yet.
Total spend for 2 pax (sgd):
Meals - $162 (includes $ for our friends)
Magnet - $5
Day’s total - $167
Grand total so far - $586
Rest of the diaries:
During our stay at Aoraki Court motel, having a fully equipped kitchen was a lifesaver since there are no supermarkets within the park itself. We stocked up on groceries in Twizel before heading in, which made meal prep easy and convenient. For anyone planning a trip, I highly recommend staying within Mount Cook village; the views from the motel room were stunning and offered a relaxing retreat after long days of hiking. The Sir Edmund Hillary Cafe & Bar is another highlight. While the menu options are limited, the portions are generous and the fish and chips are a treat. Be aware that dining options inside the park are few and tend to fill up quickly, so you might experience waits during peak times. As someone who tackled the Sealy Tarns track in the afternoon, I can attest that those more than 2,000 stairs are demanding but well worth the effort. Pace yourself and take breaks to soak in the scenery. The hike’s panoramic vistas of Mt Cook and glaciers are among the best I’ve ever witnessed. For evening strolls, the Hooker Valley Track is ideal. Even at nearly 10pm during summer, the daylight lingers beautifully, making it a peaceful time to appreciate the pristine environment without crowds. It's perfect for refueling your soul after an active day. These practical tips and my personal experiences hopefully help future travelers prepare better for their visit to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park and enhance their adventure in New Zealand’s stunning South Island.
