Mount Ollivier from Mueller Hut Aoraki Mount Cook National Park Southern Alps Summit New Zealand

Mount Ollivier is a 1,933-meter tall peak in the Sealy Range of the Southern Alps in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. In 1939, Sir Edmond Hillary summited the mountain in what is recognized as his first major climb. (He went on to bag some other noteworthy peaks as well…) To get to the top of Mount Ollivier, you will first need to make your way to Mueller Hut, which is accomplished by trekking up Sealy Tarns Track and Mueller Hut Route, gaining 1,045 meters over 5.4 kilometers. If you’re still feeling energetic after that steep effort, it only takes about thirty minutes to ascend another 125 meters to the summit. No pole-guided route leads to the mountaintop, so the path is yours to forge. It should be about 1.2 kilometer round trip from hut to summit.

Mount Ollivier Mueller Hut
Mount Ollivier above Mueller Hut

Leaving Mueller Hut, you have a few potential courses to take up the mountain. You could make your way over to the ridge to the left and follow that up to the summit or head straight for the crown up a slope of looser-looking rock. Splitting the difference actually seems like the best option, joining the ridge partway up the side of the mountain. Walk away from the hut toward a collection of weather survey stations or radio towers and find a faint path to follow toward the ridge that extends northeast from the summit.

Mount Ollivier Mueller Hut
Looking back at Mueller Hut

Bear toward a darker rock that stands out on the ridge and employ a few short switchbacks to get up among the larger rocks on the spine of the ridge. At this point you may need to use your hands and do a bit of climbing to get up onto the ridgeline. The rest of the ascent is easy class 2. Hoist yourself up onto boulders, being conscious to stay on the right side of the divide. The other side of the ridge is much more precarious, with long, steep drops to the valley below.

Cairns, or stacks of rocks, mark a course for you to follow. Go over and around small and large boulders. As you make your way up the steep side of the mountain, Mueller Hut gets smaller and smaller behind you as more of the surroundings come into view. These perspectives of Mueller Hut and the vast beauty around it are a great reason to head up Mount Ollivier. About that surrounding beauty… Mount Ollivier offers broader views of the landscapes you’re familiar with from the trek to Mueller Hut, looking north toward Mount Sefton and northeast toward Mount Cook. From this lofty vantage, it might seem like you’re approaching a similar elevation to Mount Cook, but that great mountain is actually 1,800 meters taller!

Mount Ollivier Mount Cook
Mount Cook from the side of Mount Ollivier

Peering off the side of the mountain, you can look down on White Horse Hill Campground where the trek began. How small does the car park look now, 1,150 meters below? Beyond the valley to the south, you’ll see the turquoise body of Lake Pukaki standing out from the surrounding landscape. Mueller Glacier dominates the land to the west and Mount Ollivier’s summit offers views to the south that are not visible from Mueller Hut.

The climb eventually gets easier as the mountain tapers toward the top, coming to a false summit. Many hikers stop right here, across a shallow saddle from the true summit, which is 100 meters farther to the south and marked by a large cairn. Hikers are warned not to continue farther along the ridge beyond the summit as the crossing becomes dangerously steep and loose. Looking down the plunging slope to the left should certainly inspire plenty of caution.

Mount Ollivier
The top of Mount Ollivier

Beyond Mount Ollivier, the ridgeline continues southwest to Mount Sealy, a 2,627-meter tall summit draped in glaciers. Metelille Glacier clings to the upper mountain slopes above the trough carved by Mueller Glacier. Have a seat on a boulder and enjoy round-the-compass views.

Mount Sealy and Metelille Glacier
Mount Sealy and Metelille Glacier
Mueller Glacier
The top of Mueller Glacier

When you are ready to head back, return the same way. The common path may actually be a little tougher to follow on the way down, but the bright red box of Mueller Hut is an easy target to hit. Get back to the hut and relax before continuing with the descent. All in, it is about 11.7 kilometers round trip from White Horse Hill Campground to the top of Mount Ollivier with 1,170 meters of elevation change (or 7.3 miles round trip with over 3,840 feet of elevation change). Mount Ollivier is a satisfying summit to bag and perhaps, like Sir Edmond Hillary, you’ll be inspired to tackle taller mountains in the future, even if they aren’t Mount Everest.

Mueller Glacier
Looking back down on Mueller Hut

No fee is required to enter Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and you do not need a permit to hike up Sealy Tarns Track and Mueller Hut Route to Mount Ollivier. For overnight treks, visitors should reserve a bunk at Mueller Hut.

Directions: Take State Highway 8 to State Highway 80 (Mount Cook Road), at the south end of Lake Pukaki. Drive north on SH 80 for 54.5 kilometers. Before reaching Mount Cook Village, turn right on Hooker Valley Road. After 2 kilometers, the road ends at White Horse Hill Campground. Day use parking is available in front of the campground on the left where the track begins.

Trailhead address: Hooker Valley Road, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, Canterbury, 7999, New Zealand
Trailhead coordinates: -43.71875, 170.0926 (43° 43′ 07.50″S 170° 05′ 33.36″E)

Elevation Profile
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Photos

Mueller HutMount Sefton Mueller HutMount OllivierMount OllivierMount OllivierMueller Hut Mount OllivierMueller Hut Mount OllivierMount Ollivier AscentMount Ollivier AscentMount OllivierMount OllivierMueller Hut Mount OllivierMueller Hut Mount OllivierMount OllivierMount OllivierMount Ollivier Mount SealyMount Ollivier Mount SealyMount Ollivier Mount SealyMount Ollivier Mount SealyMount OllivierMount Ollivier Mueller GlacierMount Ollivier Mueller GlacierMount OllivierMount OllivierMount Ollivier Mount SeftonMount Ollivier Mount SeftonMount Ollivier Mount SeftonMount Ollivier Mount SeftonMount Ollivier Mount CookMount Ollivier Mount CookMount Ollivier Mount CookMount Ollivier Mount CookMount Ollivier Mount CookMount Ollivier Mount CookMount Ollivier Mount CookMount Ollivier Mount CookMount Ollivier Mount CookMount Ollivier Mount CookMount Ollivier Mount CookMount Ollivier Mount CookMount Ollivier Mount CookLake PukakiMount Ollivier RouteWhite Horse Hill CampgroundWhite Horse Hill Campground

These photos were taken in March of 2014. Click to enlarge.
Nearby Trails
Kea Point Track Kea Point Track
This easier 3-kilometer round trip walk goes to landing above Mueller Lake with views of Mount Sefton and Mount Cook.
Sealy Tarns Track Sealy Tarns Track
This incredibly steep and incredibly scenic 5.8-kilometer round trip hike uses a string of staircases to ascend a mountainside to pools that reflect views of Mount Sefton and Mount Cook.
Mueller Hut Route Mueller Hut Route
Ascend past Sealy Tarns on a rough route to a famed hut for a 10.5-kilometer round trip hike with spectacular views.
Hooker Valley Track Hooker Valley Track
This superb 11-kilometer round trip hike heads up Hooker Valley to an iceberg-filled lake at the end of an impressive glacier below Mount Cook.
Tasman Glacier View Track Tasman Glacier View & Blue Lakes
This pair of tracks combine for a hike of 1.85 kilometers round trip (or more) with views of small emerald pools and a large milky lake below Tasman Glacier.
New Zealand Tracks More trails in New Zealand
Explore other destinations for walking and hiking (as well camping and lodging) in New Zealand.
Nearby Camping
White Horse Hill Campground White Horse Hill Campground
This 60-site campground is surrounded by great hiking tracks and just a few kilometers from Mount Cook Village, making it an ideal place to stay during a visit to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park.
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Tagged with · Mount Cook · New Zealand Department of Conservation · New Zealand National Parks · Off Trail · Summits · Aoraki Mount Cook National Park
Distance: 1.2 kilometers / 0.75 miles · Elevation change: 125 meters / 410 feet

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One Comment on Mount Ollivier in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park

  1. […] summited Mt Cook before anyone else. The Mueller Hut is currently located just below the peak of Mt Oliver, which was the first mountain Hilary ever summited making it a significant place for him. […]