The scenic road to Aoraki/Mount Cook
& the famous photo spots
New Zealand is a country full of scenic roads, and the road to Aoraki/Mount Cook stands out as one of the most spectacular. The Southern Alps, including Aoraki/Mount Cook, are on full view as you drive along the bright blue waters of Lake Pukaki. You must’ve seen photos of a winding road with mountains towering in the back – that’s exactly the scenic road to Aoraki/Mount Cook. Keep reading for everything you need to know to visit it yourself.
Where is Road To Aoraki/Mount Cook And How To Get There
The road to Aoraki/Mount Cook is known as State Highway 80 (SH80). It’s is a scenic 55-kilometer road located in South Island of New Zealand, connecting the small town of Twizel with Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. It runs alongside the striking turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki. Because of the insane vistas you’ll see here it is considered one of the country’s most beautiful drives, with mountain views appearing closer around every bend.
Coming from the north side (Christchurch or Lake Tekapo) you’ll follow State Highway 80 along Lake Pukaki — a bright turquoise lake that reflects Mount Cook on clear days.
Coming from the south side, the journey feels very different but equally impressive. From Queenstown or Wanaka, you’ll typically drive through the wide golden landscapes of the Lindis Pass and the small town of Twizel (a common stop for supplies, fuel, or overnight stays – don’t skip Clay Cliffs and other hidden gems) and then continue north toward Lake Pukaki.
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Personal note: we visited Mount Cook/Aoraki National Park multiple times. First time the clouds were low and ominous and the lake was still beautiful, but no mountains were seen. So we didn’t even know that this was the actual spot. Second time and every time since … the view blows my mind away.
Photo Stops Along The Road
There aren’t many “official” viewpoints on the road to Mount Cook, but the most iconic photo stop is Peter’s Lookout above Lake Pukaki. Located on State Highway 80 (Mount Cook Road/SH80) along the western shore of Lake Pukaki, it offers a sweeping panoramic vista of the highway curving toward the bright turquoise lake and the snow-capped peak in the background. If you want to get that typical road-mountain-lake shot from a safe location – this is the place to do it.
When driving to Mount Cook you’ll notice people parking by the side of the road and taking photos. Even though the road is winding its way along the lake you can (usually) see pretty far into the distance. You can (usually) hear approaching vehicles from far away as well. But mind this: while you will probably see many people walking into the middle of the highway for photographs, it is an active 100 km/h highway with blind corners and heavy tourist/campervan traffic. Be very careful when stopping along the way and getting out of your vehicle.
That being said, many travellers pull over at unpaved gravel turnouts past Peter’s Lookout for the iconic straight-line road photo where the highway cuts directly through the frame toward the mountain. There are quite a few of such locations along the road – on the photo below I marked two spots: Peter’s Lookout and the location of photo taken of Mansa sitting on the road. We chose the latter location due to proximity of the mountain when using telephoto lens. We wanted the mountain to look even more magnified than it generally is.
General Information About Road To Aoraki
- Peter’s Lookout is roughly 10 minutes from the SH 80 turnoff (heading north from Twizel). It features a large, dedicated gravel car park on the right side of the road, making it safe and easy to pull over. It is also slightly elevated, so catching the lake in the photo is easy.
- The “Road-Shot” Angle: mentioned above, although there are numerous similar spots along the road.
- Tip: Use a telephoto lens from the safety of a designated pullover to compress the distance and make the road and mountain appear closer together.
- Best Time of Day: Late afternoon is ideal for photography, as the sun illuminates the face of Aoraki/Mount Cook. However, the traffic is fewer early in the morning. Photos of Mansa sitting on the road were taken at 6:30 in the morning in the middle of the week in early October. I have attached photos of various times in this blogpost for comparison.
Close to the end of the Mount Cook road sit two detours — one to the Hooker Valley (where one of New Zealand’s best short hikes is located) and the other through the Tasman Valley. Definitely drive down these roads. They’re very scenic (the road going into Hooker Valley might be busier than you expected though, due to heavy tourist traffic in summertime). There are shorter walks near the Hooker Valley Track and the walk to see Tasman Lake & Glacier is easy and rewarding.
Mount Cook Village signals the end of the road. You can stay the night there if you want or grab a bite to eat (keep reading). Even if you’re not planning on doing any hikes the drive to Mount Cook is still worth doing. Great hikes in the area: Red Tarns Track, Hooker Valley Track, Kea Point, Sealy Tarns, Tasman Glacier Track.
Where To Stay On The Road To Aoraki
There is a small range of accommodation available on the Road to Mount Cook and near Hooker Valley Track. More accommodations can be found in Twizel town, 1-hour drive from Mount Cook Village. Choose location of your stay depending on your plan – do you wish to drive the Road in the morning, in the afternoon, or….
Medium budget (private rooms with private bathrooms, price up to 70€/person/night):
- Mountain Chalets Motel (Twizel)
- Gladstone Cottage (Twizel)
Close by (medium budget, but shared facilities):
- Haka House Hostel Aoraki
- Aoraki Court Motel
With campervan: see this blogpost
- Lake Pukaki Viewpoint (free of charge)
- White Horse Hill Campground (DOC)
Add-Ons To The Scenic Roadtrip
Hooker Valley Track
Absolutely worth doing is Hooker Valley Track. I wrote a whole blogpost about it, just click on the name. First the road, then this marvel – by the time you reach Hooker Lake you’re basically standing at Aoraki’s feet.
Alpine Lavender Field
On the Road to Aoraki/Mt Cook, the lavender fields at NZ Alpine Lavender make for a beautiful summer stop – especially when the purple blooms are at their peak. The farm is private land. It’s open seasonally from around mid-November to early April (it varies from year to year).
You can wander through fragrant rows of lavender, take photos with the mountain backdrop and browse lavender-based products (like skin care products, certified organic oils, fragrances and more).
Entry to the blooming fields costs 8 NZ$ per adult. They also sell their famous lavender ice cream – enjoy a scoop while overlooking the farm. A scoop of lavender ice cream is around NZD $9 – a must-try for a refreshing stop on the road to Aoraki. Their most famous flavours are Lavender Vanilla, Lavender Blueberry and Lavender Mango.
Lupin Stop
During early summer, colourful lupin flowers bloom along the shores of Lake Pukaki, creating one of the South Island’s most photogenic landscapes with turquoise water and views of Aoraki/Mount Cook in the background. The best season is typically late November to early January, although blooms vary each year.
Best locations for observing this beauty (and taking best photographs) include the eastern side of Lake Pukaki, roadside patches along the Mount Cook Road (SH80) and the quieter Braemar Road side. There are several safe parking lay-bys and viewpoints near the lake, including the large pull-off at the begging of Lake Pukaki and lakeside parking areas where you can stop for photos.
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More New Zealand Blog Posts
There are loads of adventurous things to do in New Zealand and we also wrote detailed guides for all of the epic things you can do there. You can explore more of our guides by clicking one of the links below.
