Epic Travel → Asia & the South Pacific → New Zealand → Canterbury → Ball Flats Hike

♦ Intrepid Top Pick!

Location: Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park, Canterbury, New Zealand

Time Required: 3-5 hours

Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles) round-trip to the road end/18 km (11 miles) round-trip to Ball Flats

Elevation Gain: 300 m/985 feet (to Ball Flats)

Red Tape/Notes: This trek is in an avalanche zone; be prepared and watch for alerts/warnings.

What’s Nearby?: Tasman Glacier View Track, Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park, Lake Tekapo, Lake Tekapo Peninsula Walkway

We loved this hike! Yes, it’s up a rather dull and boring road, but it went surprisingly quickly and there was some really nice scenery along the way. Your view down to the glacier is mostly blocked by the moraine ridge, but little footpaths lead up to the top of the ridge providing views down onto the toe of the glacier (these views are infinitely better than the ones from the Glacier View Track). The road ends somewhat abruptly, and continues on along a narrow spine to eventually reach Ball Flats. We had read that the hut was dismantled, so we didn’t bother going all the way out, but I’m now finding reports that a new hut has been built so…yeah, probably should have gone on to find out for ourselves. Regardless, the route provides views of the sparkling white pristine Tasman Glacier stretching off into the distance (not the dirty brown you see from the base), great views of the terminal end of the glacier, all surrounded by beautiful mountain peaks, so who really needs a hut? We had mostly low clouds obscuring the mountains, so the views were diminished, but the great thing about this route is that you’re not taking it for the mountain views, you’re taking it for the view of the glacier, which is fabulous regardless of the weather conditions. Also, hardly anyone does this route, so you’ll see few people. They’re all staring at the dirty brown toe back at the Glacier View Track. LOL.

Epic Travel → Asia & the South Pacific → New Zealand → Canterbury → Ball Flats Hike