Hiking The Stunning Pukaki Kettle Hole Track Near Mount Cook
The Pukaki Kettle Hole Track is probably one of the most surprising hikes we’ve done in all of New Zealand! I don’t know how we got so lucky, but we randomly stumbled upon this cool hike as we were leaving the national park, and it was incredible!
This hike hands down offers the best view overlooking Mount Cook from afar, and we highly recommend stopping by before or after your trip to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park.
This local little trail is a quick turnoff off Highway 8 – so instead of going down the Mount Cook road (coming from Twizel), you just have to continue for a few more minutes.
I think part of the reason why we enjoyed it so much was that we had no idea about it until about 15 minutes before we started the hike. We left Aoraki Mount Cook and wanted to do a short hike before continuing to Lake Takepo, and that’s when we found it – and it was a banger!
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Everything you need to know about The Kettle Hole Track
Quick breakdown of your trip:
- 🚗 Getting there: The trailhead to Kettle Hole is located 10 minutes from Twizel (or 45 minutes from Mt Cook Village). The easiest way to get to the trailhead is by car. If you need a car rental, check out DiscoverCars for the best rates from Queenstown Airport and Christchurch Airport.
- 🏨 Where to stay: The best place to stay near Kettle Hole is either in Mount Cook Village or Lake Tekapo. There are great campsites and hotels in both locations. There’s also an incredible lodge just below the hike overlooking Lake Pukaki, where you can stay (but it books out super fast).
- 🎟️ Fees: You do not need a permit to do this hike & parking is free.
- ☀️ Best time to visit: January through March (peak summer).
The Kettle Hole Track is a hidden gem near Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. It’s funny because it is so close to Mount Cook and the main road.
We think it’s because all the attention goes to the magnificent mountain and the village, so most people forget to look outside of the national park where we found one of the coolest hikes we’ve done in NZ.
It’s a short little loop trail that goes around this massive kettle hole, but the views throughout the whole hike are just incredible. It’s a short and sweet one, and it’s a must-do while visiting this part of the South Island!
How to get to the Pukaki Kettle Hole trailhead
The trail is basically in the middle of the South Island, but if you’re on your way to or from Mount Cook, it’s a very short detour. It’s located on Highway 8, a few minutes away from the main turn into Mount Cook National Park.
It’s an easy trail to get to, and there’s parking for a handful of cars next to the trailhead. If you use the Google Map directions below, they will lead right to the start of the hike.
You can see how to get to the trailhead from Twizel here and how to get there from Mt Cook Village here.
If you’re looking to rent a car in New Zealand, we always use and highly recommend DiscoverCars! 🚘
Practical information about Kettle Hole Track near Mount Cook
Distance: 3.7 km return / 2.29 miles return
Elevation: 82 m / 269 ft. elevation gain
Type: Loop trail
Length: Roughly 1 hour (can take longer if you enjoy the views for a while)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Hiking Tip: Look up the trail on AllTrails before starting your hike 🗺️. You can find important trail information, such as recent wildlife sightings and trail closures. Check out the free version here or get a 7-day free trial of AllTrails+ here.
Here’s a picture of the beginning of Pukaka Kettle Hole
Starting the hike from the Kettle Hole parking lot
The parking lot is right off the highway on the other side of the road from where Lake Pukaki ends. This means when you get to the viewpoints on this hike, you’ll see the entire Lake Pukaki and Mount Cook!
You’ll get a good taste of Mount Cook from a distance and how magnificent this mountain is, and then if you do Hooker Valley or Sealy Tarns, you’ll get an up-close view of the famous mountain.
So at the start of the Kettle Hole Track, you’ll park in this little gravel area. We were the only car at the time, but it was still quite obvious where to park. There’s a little gravel type of area that looks like lots of cars have parked there in the past, and that’s the spot.
From there, you will start the ascent to the main part of the hike. You’ll have to cross over a fence (which is quite common in New Zealand) and walk through what looks like private land for a short section.
So, just like on any hike, make sure to respect the land you walk on. We’re super grateful to be able to hike up to the Kettle Hole and see the awesome views.
Around the Kettle Hole for epic views of Mount Cook
You’ll cross over one more fence before you start the loop section of the track. There’s a little step to help you get over the fence, and then we recommend doing the trail counter-clockwise.
Either way works, but personally I think it’s nice doing it this way because you start with the section that has higher elevation, and this is where you get the best view of Mount Cook – and then you finish up closer with a full view of Lake Pukaki and the mountain in the background.
If you enjoy taking pictures and videos, this is the perfect place to do it! We got lucky because the weather was absolutely perfect and the sky was completely clear, so we spent quite a bit of time playing around with our camera.
As you continue around the loop trail, you’ll continue to get absolutely incredible views of Lake Pukaki and the surrounding area.
Fun fact: The Kettle Hole was formed by melting ice over the years. It looks like a comet flew into the earth and created this, though ☄️
Finish up at The Kettle Hole
Near the end of the loop trail, there are two benches that’s perfect for a little lunch spot (so make sure you bring some food or snacks). The benches are conveniently located so you can enjoy the incredible views of Lake Pukaki and Mount Cook while snacking on whatever delicious food you bring.
After lunch, you’ll only have about 10-15 minutes until you’re back at the carpark and can continue your adventures. As we mentioned before, this short and sweet hike is perfect if you’re looking for something to do on the way to or from Mount Cook!
📍 Want to know about all the best spots in Aotearoa New Zealand?
Then check out our New Zealand Maps with +200 locations around the country that we have visited during our 10 months of living and travelling in NZ! 🗺️
What to bring on the Pukaki Kettle Hole Track
You don’t need much for this one because it’s short and sweet, but one thing we do recommend is to bring a snack or something, so you can sit and enjoy it at the bench while overlooking Lake Pukakai.
Packing list for the Kettle Hole Track:
- Water is a must! We always fill up our LifeStraw bottles before hikes and day trips. On this hike, you’ll have to fill up your bottle beforehand, so make sure you bring enough.
- Sunscreen!! There have been multiple occasions where we’ve been hiking in New Zealand or doing something outdoorsy, and the UV index has been 9. This trail is fully exposed.
- A sun hat or cap to protect your head from the sun and heat.
- Bring some snacks or coffee to enjoy at the viewpoint overlooking the lake and the mountain range.
- A power bank could be good to bring as well if you plan to take lots of pictures and videos.
Before you make your way to Mount Cook
Check the weather
Before heading out on any hike, you should always check the weather forecast to make sure you’ve got good conditions.
If you’re planning to explore the Mount Cook area, it’s especially nice to have good weather. It will be disappointing to go to such a beautiful area and not be able to see a thing.
You can check out the weather for Mount Cook Village here to get an idea of what type of weather you can expect during your visit.
Leave no trace
When you go hiking (and do other outdoor adventure activities), always remember to follow the 7 principles of leaving no trace.
This means:
- Plan ahead and prepare.
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
- Dispose of waste properly.
- Leave what you find.
- Minimize campfire impacts.
- Respect wildlife.
- Be considerate of others.
Rent a car in New Zealand
Because of the location of this hike, it’s easiest to go if you have a car. We’ve had a car hire in New Zealand every time we’ve been to the country, and it makes getting around so much easier and also allows you to access more remote hikes like this one.
Even if you go on one of the tour buses, you will get dropped off in Mount Cook Village, and from there, you wouldn’t be able to get to Kettle Hole since it’s too far (45 minute drive).
On a positive note, that’s why some of these more remote hikes, are a lot less touristy. So you’re more likely to have the trail to yourself.
You can look into getting a car hire in New Zealand here. The further ahead you book your car, the more likely you are to get a good price.
When is the best time to hike Kettle Hole?
This hike is perfect to do if you’re already heading to the Mount Cook area or if you’re looking for a place to stretch your legs and hike for an hour while you’re on Highway 8.
The weather doesn’t play as big a factor here since it’s such a short hike and it’s not actually inside the national park. If you don’t spend a long time taking pictures, you can probably do the whole thing in less than 45-60 minutes.
It could also be nice for sunrise or sunset with some awesome photo opportunities of the mountain range in beautiful light. The main viewpoint of the lake and Aoraki Mount Cook is north, so you can catch either sunrise on your right or sunset on your left and it’ll make for some beautiful photos!
Unless it’s pouring rain or covered in snow, there isn’t really a bad time to do this hike.
📍 Want to know about all the best spots in Aotearoa New Zealand?
Then check out our New Zealand Maps with +200 locations around the country that we have visited during our 10 months of living and travelling in NZ! 🗺️
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Recap of the Kettle Hole track
This short but sweet hike overlooking Lake Pukaki is a highlight that’s worth adding to your bucketlist of hikes and things to see near Mount Cook. This part of New Zealand is amazing, so definitely don’t rush it because there’s tons to see in this area!
If you have any questions about this hike or anything else related to New Zealand, feel free to DM us on Instagram @redwhiteadventures or leave a comment below.
We hope you have an amazing time visiting Mount Cook National Park and exploring New Zealand. It’s one of our favourite places in the world!
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