Where to Stay Near Aoraki/Mount Cook: Best Areas & Accommodation

Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is no doubt a bucket list destination on your New Zealand itinerary, but figuring out where to stay nearby can be a challenge.

As one of the most popular places in the South Island, accommodation around Aoraki/Mount Cook can fill up fast, particularly from November through April when visitor season is in full swing. 

If you’re planning to visit the national park but aren’t sure where to stay, I’m here to help. 

I’ve visited Aoraki/Mount Cook many times over the years, and I’ve stayed both within the national park and in every nearby town (truly). Basically, I’ve got you covered!

Here’s where to stay when visiting Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.

A heads-up: this blog is reader-supported, and this post may contain affiliate links. If you make a booking through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping me continue to write, take photos, and share my favourite places in New Zealand!

Map of where to stay near Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park

Where to stay near Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park

Note: I’m covering accommodation options in this guide, including hotels, motels, cabins, and hostels. If you’re planning to camp instead, check out my guide to the best camping spots near Aoraki/Mount Cook!

1. Aoraki/Mount Cook Village

If you want to wake up to mountain views and have hiking trails right at your doorstep, you’ll want to stay in Aoraki/Mount Cook Village in the heart of the national park.

I honestly can’t quite find the words to describe what it feels like to stay here, because it’s just so magical. It can be expensive, but I think it’s worth every cent.

The trick is actually finding accommodation in Aoraki/Mount Cook Village, as lodging is very limited and often books out months in advance.

Besides ensuring you book your accommodation in advance, another important thing to consider is that restaurants are scarce here (limited to the dining options at The Hermitage), and there isn’t a supermarket. 

Personally, I tend to self-cater when I stay in Aoraki/Mount Cook Village, so I like booking accommodation with cooking facilities. Depending on which direction you’re driving in from, the last stop for groceries is either Tekapo or Twizel. 

Where to stay in Aoraki/Mount Cook Village

• The Hermitage Hotel: This is the nicest (and most expensive) accommodation option in the village, with most of the rooms offering incredible mountain views. The rooms don’t have kitchenettes, but they do have tea/coffee making facilities and there’s a cafe and restaurant at the hotel.
  
  
• Aoraki Court Motel: I love this motel! Their cosy rooms have kitchenettes and some have spa baths (such a treat after hiking).
  
  
• Aoraki Mount Cook Alpine Lodge: The rooms here are a bit basic, but the view from the guest lounge is incredible and the communal kitchen is handy for whipping up your own meals.
  
  
• Mt Cook Lodge & Motels: This is the sister property to The Hermitage Hotel, with more budget-friendly rooms than The Hermitage. The motel rooms have kitchenettes, but the lodge rooms do not (they do have tea/coffee making facilities). There’s also an onsite restaurant here with seasonal opening hours (so check your dates if you’re planning to dine out).
  
  
• Haka House Aoraki Mt Cook: This hostel is often the “cheapest” place to stay within the national park (relatively speaking). Choose from shared dorm rooms or your own private room. The communal kitchen is handy and the onsite sauna is a nice bonus!

2. Glentanner Park

🚙 Distance from Aoraki/Mount Cook Village: 23 km / approx. 20-minute drive

Glentanner Park is located just a 20-minute drive from Aoraki/Mount Cook and is the closest place to stay outside of the national park.

In addition to their holiday park with camping options, they have cabins and dorm rooms here. 

Their cabins are a good option if you’re travelling on a budget and don’t mind staying in basic but suitable accommodation.

Glentanner is also a base for helicopter tours of Aoraki/Mount Cook, with flights leaving right from the property.

One of the things I love about staying at Glentanner is their open-air BBQ and dining area. On a nice day, it’s lovely to cook up a meal outdoors with great views of the mountains around you!

3. Twizel

🚙 Distance from Aoraki/Mount Cook Village: 67 km / approx. 50-minute drive

Twizel is the closest town to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.

While it doesn’t have the same grandiose alpine feel as staying within the national park, Twizel is a cute little town with good amenities.

There are some good places to eat in Twizel, including Mint Folk and Co Cafe and the Ministry of Works. Close by is High Country Salmon, a salmon shop and cafe. 

You’ll also find two Four Square supermarkets and a couple of petrol stations in Twizel, not to mention a great disc golf course that my partner Ty always looks forward to.

Where to stay in Twizel

• The Alps Motel Apartments: This is my top choice for accommodation in Twizel. The rooms here are modern and cosy, and feel like a home away from home (complete with a kitchenette and washing machine!).
  
  
• Colonial Motel: The unassuming exterior of this motel is a bit deceiving, but the rooms are recently renovated and perfectly comfortable. I like the one-bedroom apartment-style rooms here with a kitchenette and living area that’s separate from the bedroom.
  
  
• The Dales: An adults-only, special stay with gorgeous cottages and a very nice hot tub.

4. Tekapo

🚙 Distance from Aoraki/Mount Cook Village: 100 km / approx. 1 hour 15-minute drive

Tekapo is a cute lakeside town on the shores of turquoise-blue Lake Tekapo. It’s a very popular South Island destination due to its picturesque lake, starry night skies, and wild lupins in late spring and early summer.

Tekapo can be a handy place to stay as an overnight stop on the drive from Christchurch to Aoraki/Mount Cook, or as a base for day-tripping into the national park.

The town has lots of places to eat, a good Four Square supermarket, and plenty of activities to keep you busy when you’re not visiting the national park. The Tekapo Springs hot pools, in particular, are lovely for soaking in after you’ve been out hiking.

That said, accommodation in Tekapo can book out far in advance and it can also be very expensive unless you visit in the off-season (which is basically just winter these days!). 

So, if you’d like to stay in Tekapo, I’d make sure you book your accommodation well ahead of your visit.

Where to stay in Tekapo

• Mackenzie Suites: This is my favourite place to stay in Tekapo. The rooms are just lovely and I love having my morning coffee on the deck while looking out at Lake Tekapo!
  
  
• Galaxy Boutique Hotel: One of the most luxurious places to stay in Tekapo—the rooms have skylights above the beds so you can see the stars on a clear night.
  
  
• Lake Tekapo Village Motel: The rooms here are a bit dated, but the location right in town is so handy. I prefer the upstairs rooms with lake views to the downstairs ones.
  
  
• Haka House Lake Tekapo: This hostel has an amazing lakefront location, with options ranging from shared dorms to private ensuite rooms.
  
  
• Lake’s Edge Holiday Park: This spacious holiday park has cabins and motel units in addition to campsites. The location is great—it’s just a short walk to town in one direction, and to the Tekapo Springs hot pools in the other direction.

5. Omarama

🚙 Distance from Aoraki/Mount Cook Village: 100 km / approx. 1 hour 10-minute drive

Omarama is an underrated place to stay near Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, if you ask me.

This little town is located south of Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park on the drive to or from Queenstown (or Wanaka). 

There’s not much here, but I’ve found myself staying in Omarama a couple of times in recent years when I couldn’t find accommodation closer to Aoraki/Mount Cook.

My favourite part about staying in Omarama is being able to easily visit the Omarama Hot Tubs, a truly relaxing place where you can soak in your own private wood-fired hot tub with views of the countryside around you. 

You’ll also be close to the Omarama Clay Cliffs, where you can take a short hike to see impressive rock formations.

There’s a small Four Square supermarket in Omarama, and a couple of dining options. The Wrinkly Rams has a good cafe (I love their pies!) and the Omarama Lodge has a beautiful restaurant onsite.

Where to stay in Omarama

• BigSky Motels: I was so pleasantly surprised by this motel! The property is located on a quiet street, and the rooms are modern and cosy.
  
  
• Sierra Motel & Apartments: This motel is located just off the main highway, with apartment-style rooms that have kitchenettes.
  
  
• Omarama Top 10 Holiday Park: Great for a budget-friendly stay, the Omarama Top 10 Holiday Park has nice little cabins and a relaxed atmosphere.

Thanks for reading my guide to where to stay near Aoraki/Mount Cook!

I truly hope this has helped you plan your visit to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. 

As always, please leave a comment if you have any questions or feedback for me. I really love hearing from you!

Some New Zealand itineraries for you

If you’re planning to visit Aoraki/Mount Cook on a larger New Zealand road trip, you might find these itineraries helpful!

• Christchurch to Queenstown road trip (7 days)
• 7-day South Island itinerary from Queenstown
• 10-day South Island itinerary from Christchurch
• Auckland to Queenstown road trip (14 days)