The Kea Point Track Mount Cook National Park is one of the shortest walks in the park. Kea Point offers spectacular views of the Mueller Glacier moraine wall and Aoraki / Mount Cook.
If you’re after a shorter hike in the Mount Cook National Park, then the Kea Point hike is a great option. This is an easy yet rewarding hike that is much less trafficked than the Hooker Valley track.
The viewpoint offers unique views of the Mueller glacial lake and moraine, as well as Mount Cook and Mount Sefton.
How to Get to the Kea Point Track
The Kea Point Track starts from Mount Cook National Park, just near the White Horse Hill Camp Site. This is the same area where you can start the Hooker Valley Track, Sealy Tarns track, and the Mueller Hut hike.
The best way to get to the Mount Cook National Park hiking area is to drive here. There is a large car park here where you can leave your car for free. That being said, this car park can get very busy in peak season, so plan to arrive early.
The Kea Point Track Mount Cook National Park
- Hike Distance & Duration: 6 km in 1-2 hours
- Elevation: 180 m total gain
- Difficulty: Easy
Following signs from the White Horse Hill campsite, the Kea Point track leads slowly into the subalpine shrub. After about 10 minutes, the trail splits. Continue right, following signs to Kea Point. The left fork leads onto the Sealy Tarns Track and the Mueller Hut Route.
From here, the trail climbs gently through grassland and low scrub before finishing at the Kea Point Lookout.
RELATED: 6 BEST DAY HIKES IN MOUNT COOK NATIONAL PARK
Kea Point Lookout
The wooden viewing platform at Kea Point offers expansive views of the Footstool, the Hooker valley, the Mueller Glacier lake and moraine, Mount Sefton, and Aoraki/Mount Cook.
The name "Kea Point" comes from the Kea bird, an incredibly intelligent and cheeky native alpine parrot. These parrots are native to the Mount Cook National Park, and can often be spotted on the track.
MORE: 11 EPIC MOUNT COOK VIEW LOCATIONS
More South Island New Zealand Hikes
I hope that you enjoyed this quick guide to hiking Kea Point Mount Cook National Park. If you're looking for more hikes and things to do in the area, check out the list of articles and guides below.
Alternatively, get some more hiking inspiration by checking out this guide to the 6 Best Hikes in Mount Cook National Park or this guide to the 31 Best Hikes in the South Island.
