Image: Colm Keating | ©
Milky Way above White Horse Hill Campgsite.
White Horse Hill Campsite

Located in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park in the Canterbury region

Camp beneath magnificent alpine scenery including Mt Sefton. Enjoy a variety of walks from the valley floor to mountain tops.

White Horse Hill Campsite is a standard campsite at the end of Hooker Valley Road. It can be accessed by driving through the White Horse Hill car park. Parking charges apply in the car park. 

This campsite is often full all year round and must be booked in advance to guarantee a site. The busiest period is between Christmas and mid-February. Visiting mid-February through to Easter is a good option as there are generally fewer people.

Drones and dogs are not allowed. There is a permanent fire ban in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.

Fees

  • Adult (18+ years): $20 per night
  • Child (5–17 years): $10 per night
  • Infant (0–4 years): free

Passes

The DOC Campsite Pass can be used at this campsite. 

Campsite Pass bookings must be booked online before occupying a site. If you do not book, bookings may be made by campground staff (if present) and will incur a $10 service charge. Sites may not be available if you do not book. 

Bookings

Advance bookings are required throughout the year.

Bookings are open for stays up to 30 June 2026.

If there is no availability showing online for your dates, the campsite is fully booked. No sites are held for campers turning up on the day without a booking.

Book White Horse Hill Campsite online.

If you have booked a campsite you must park in the campsite area to avoid parking charges.

If you have booked but the campsite area is full, you can park in the car park. To avoid a parking fine, you must tell DOC staff your vehicle number plate. Find them at White Horse Hill or at the visitor centre.

2.5 km from Aoraki/Mt Cook Village at the end of Hooker Valley Road off SH 80. Drive through White Horse Hill car park to reach the campsite.

Location

NZTM2000 coordinates: E1365711, N5155153

Latitude: -43.71964561, Longitude: 170.09146595

Check-in and check-out

Check-in: 2 pm – 8 pm
Check-out: 12 noon

Outside of these times, day parking is available in the White Horse Hill car park next to the campsite. Parking fees apply.

Facilities 

There is treated drinking water, a cooking shelter and basic toilet facilities on site.

The campsite does not have power or showers. Coin-operated $2 hot showers are located at the public shelter in Aoraki/Mount Cook Village (2.5 km from campsite).

There are reduced facilities at the campsite during winter (June to August):

    • flushing toilets are replaced by pit toilets
    • no running water (water is available at the shelter in Aoraki/Mount Cook Village).

Campsite rules

  • Camping is not allowed in the cooking shelter.
  • Chemical toilets/waste water cannot be emptied into campsite toilets.
  • All rubbish must be secured within your campervan or tent and taken with you out of the national park.
  • Rubbish can be disposed of at the Resource Recovery Parks in Fairlie, Lake Tekapo and Twizel. See Resource Recovery Parks for opening hours.

Noise levels

  • The campsite must be kept quiet between 10 pm and 7 am.
  • Music should be played at a level not audible to neighbouring campsites.
  • Chainsaws, generators, or compressors are not permitted under any circumstances.
  • Unacceptable conduct (for example, nudity, violence, excessive noise or behaviour deemed  publicly offensive) will be referred to the Police, and result in removal of those concerned, with no refund.

No drones, dogs or fires

Dogs or other animals are not allowed in the national park.

Recreational drone use is not allowed anywhere in the national park. You must have a permit to fly a drone for commercial purposes on public conservation land. Commercial drone use information.

There is a permanent fire ban in the national park. The ban includes fireworks. 
  • The nearest public dump station is in Twizel see public dump station.
  • Aoraki/Mount Cook Village (2.5 km from the campsite) has a petrol station and limited café, restaurant and bar options.
  • The nearest supermarket is in Twizel township (70 km, one-hour by car).