Experience required
Your safety is your responsibility – be prepared
- Summer (December–February): The route to Mueller Hut offers a mountain experience for anyone with moderate tramping experience – as long as care is taken.
- Winter (June–August): The route requires good level of mountaineering experience, including walking on ice and snow with ice axe and crampons, route finding and using an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel. Ski tourers must have a thorough knowledge of avalanche dangers and ability to navigate in alpine terrain.
- Spring (September–November) / Autumn (March–May): Winter conditions can be present during spring and autumn – check with the Aoraki/Mount Cook Visitor Centre for the current conditions.
Equipment required
Be avalanche aware
There is considerable avalanche danger on the Mueller Hut Route during winter and spring (April to mid November). However, avalanches can occur at any time of the year as snow falls year round in the park.
Make sure:
- You check the New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZAA) before you go.
- You have the skills to recognise avalanche conditions and avalanche prone areas.
- You know the safest areas to travel in.
- Each person has an avalanche transceiver, a snow shovel and a probe, and knows how to use them.
Read more about Avalanche terrain in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
Car parking fees
The track to Mueller Hut starts near the White Horse Hill car park. DOC is charging fees for car parking at White Horse Hill as a pilot from mid-December 2025 to 30 June 2026.
The fees are $5 per hour or $25 a day. If you arrive and leave within 20 minutes, parking is free. If you plan to stay for longer than 20 minutes you must pay on arrival.
Payment machines that accept debit and credit cards are highly visible at each site. Cash payments are not accepted.
Locals and other car park users can purchase an annual permit. Permits cannot be purchased at the payment machines and need to be purchased online.
Note: If you arrive one day and leave the next you will pay car parking fees for two days ($50). If you plan to stay for multiple days ($50 or more) it may be more affordable for you to purchase an annual permit.
No unauthorised drone use in the national park
Unauthorised use of drones is prohibited. You must have a permit to fly a drone.
DOC does not generally approve permits to fly drones in this national park and we do not recommend you apply for one.