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Location & access
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.
Official location informationLocation source
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.
Reference point: -43.66250, 170.17580. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.
Key facts
- Distance
- 9 km return via same track
- Walking time
- 3-4 hr one way
- Track grade
- Advanced
- Location
- Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
- Dog access
- No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
Route overview
Walk to Ball Hut with superb views of the Tasman Glacier and surrounding peaks.
This DOC directory entry covers Ball Hut Track in Canterbury, within Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: 9 km return via same track
- Walking time: 3-4 hr one way
- DOC grade: Advanced
Access and alerts
Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.
- Predator control for Aoraki Mt Cook National Park; First published on 27 February 2026. Last reviewed on 13 April 2026.
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
The first 5 km section of this track follows an historical road, now a 4WD track. It opens up to spectacular views after the end of the 4WD track, where the route becomes more difficult.
A severe weather event in 2019 significantly impacted the track at Husky Flat, creating a large an impassable gorge. To navigate above the gorge at Husky Flat you will need good navigation and backcountry skills. There is no marked route and you are entering unstable and exposed backcountry terrain. We recommend you check in at the visitor centre for information on this route.
The moraine wall throughout this area, including along the 4WD track, is very unstable and should be negotiated with caution. You will need to move with care and skill around collapsed areas at various stages along the route.
Ball Hut is close to the historic site of the first Ball Hut and offers superb views of the Tasman Glacier and surrounding peaks.
Getting there
The track starts at the end of Tasman Valley Road, near Aoraki/Mount Cook village.
Know before you go
NZTopo50 map sheets: BX15, BX16
Some areas require high tramping skills
We recommend high level of tramping skills and experience if you’re going:
beyond Husky Flat on the old Ball Hut Road, and
up the east Hooker (western side) of the Ball Pass crossing.
Avalanche risk
The area around Ball Road is complex avalanche terrain. Large avalanches cross the road and track from June to November.
Call in to the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre for advice on conditions.
No drones
Flying a drone without a permit is strictly prohibited.
Drone use on conservation land
Sources and reuse
Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.
The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.
