Problems in NEW ZEALAND ๐ณ๐ฟ Mt. COOK โ AORAKI (hereโs what happened)
Mt. Cook is one of New Zealandโs most iconic destinations โ home to dramatic alpine views, stunning hikes, and the countryโs tallest mountain. On paper, it shouldโve been a dream trip. I stayed at Haka House hostel in Aoraki/Mt. Cook Village and set out to explore the region, including the scenic Kea Point hike and an epic helicopter ride over the Tasman Glacier. The views from the top? Absolutely unforgettable.
But despite the beauty, something felt… off. The village itself was surprisingly quiet, with not much to do beyond the nature (especially in the off-season), and to make things worse, I came down with a bit of a cold. That mix of feeling sick and stuck somewhere with little to do really affected the trip. Sometimes, even the most picture-perfect locations donโt deliver the experience you were hoping for.
Still, Mt. Cook is undeniably breathtaking, and I donโt regret going. In this video, Iโll take you through the highs โ and the lows โ of my time there, and share some honest thoughts for anyone thinking of visiting. If youโve been to Mt. Cook or are planning to go, let me know your experience in the comments โ Iโd love to hear how it compared.
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00:00 – 00:42 – Introduction
00:43 – Bus Journey
2:57 – Settling In
4:13 – Kea Point
8:25 – Stars at Night
9:39 – Helicopter Flight
18:51 – Struggles
#PaddyDoyle #newzealand #travel #adventure
47 Comments
I was there for lunch and never again. The cafe caters to busloads of day trippers, so does not need to rely on repeat custom. It was some of the worst food I've had in NZ (and I'm a local).
The starry night sky was beautifully captured!
Altitude and sun is a head spinner mate……… was a shock to see how much ice has gone! I was there 2001………. similar experience except we had no phones and stayed in climbers cabins
You become more human for saying how you feel- i like that. I wouldn't have turned down time with you- you're really engaging, gorgeous and the way you speak is beautiful โค
Well done! Even as a kiwi, I was disillusioned at Mount Cook, yes it's stunning but that hotel is so over priced, its such a shame as everyone deserves to see this place, also good to see no pie's this time buddy! However you may get tempted in Wanaka lol.
Ooo – looking forward to your Wanaka video – one of my favourite places in the South Island.
The night skies in the bush were one of my favorite things about my trip to NZ, beautiful images, thanks for the reminder
I totally understand regarding the "sun stroke", I had something similar when I lost my hat and had to resort to a T-shirt wrapped around my head for two days on one hike.
Looking forward to the Wanaka episode, I really enjoyed Wanaka when I was there
We toured NZ for a month back in 2019. Paddy is spot on about the sun cream. First day went on the hop on hop off bus tour of Auckland and sun burned my head. Get a good hat
Queenstown is the biggest rip off going.
Mt Cook was near the end of our holiday and it was as spectacular as it looks because it was dry and sunny. We stayed in the hotel wonderful views of Mt Cook from most rooms.
If there is one place I recommend anyone to put on their bucket list it is New Zealand.
I hear youโฆ my first trip to Mt Cook was Hostel style with my family as a 16 year old and my Dad took us up to Mueller Hut. It was cloudy and dull and incredibly boring. I returned a few years ago and stayed at the Hermitage and loved every moment . Hoping to return again soon to walk the Hooker lake track ๐
I went there 30 or 40 years ago, glad to see it hasn't changed. Cheers Paddy.
I had the same problem with the hostels in New Zealand this time (not in 2017 and 2020), and was like that for 2 months! Because I traveled alone, I said to myself that I will stay in hostels to talk to people, but nope, only the older ones (not that I'm too young or anything) are talking to other people, so sad.
About Mt Cook, I think I went there around the same time as you, I went on 24 of March, Hooker Valley opens at 10 AM indeed because they are building a new viewing platform and they use buldozers and other heavy machines. On Mueller Hut they are changing some of the steps and reinforcing them, but they had stops signs like the ones you saw on the road in NZ, where you have to wait for the cars from the other lane to come, then you will go, they did the same there, but with people.
The fact is, you need a car for Mt. Cook, without it's hard to do it and really expensive, the carpark from where all the hikes start is far from the village, it's at least 1h-1h 30min I think, and the Kea Walk sucks really hard in comparison to Mueller Hut and Hooker Valley. If you ever go back to New Zealand and rent a car, I strongly recomand to go back to Mt. Cook and do the other 2 hikes.
For the next episode, I'm guessing you will go to Lake Tekapo, I'm curious to see if you had any luck with the stargazing tours, I've been 4 times (7 nights = 7 changes in total) and the tour was always cancelled because of the clouds.
About the bus price, it's crazy you have to pay 450$, it's not that far from Queenstown, I'm guesing there were a lot of chinese, koreans or japanease people on the bus. On the same note, they charge 130 NZD for a shuttle from Taupo to Tongariro, in 2020 I paid 70 NZD and had multiple return buses in case you finished the hike earlier. Now it's only 1 return bus, so if you do the hike faster then most people, you will have to wait 2-3h for the bus.
Good reminder about the suncreen Paddy. If you're coming to NZ, wear and reapply your sunscreen, wear a hat and long sleeves. The sun here can be brutal and burn times are short. ๐ โ๏ธ ๐
Near to Mt Cook is the village of Tekapo. IMO way better for a stay and things to do. Hot pools are great, take a walk up to the cafe at the Mt John observatory, kayaking, hire a bike, pub and restaurants. Good craic with the staff in most places.
Looking forward to the next video Paddy!
One thing you can count on in NZ , is that everyone's going to be trying to extract as much money as they possibly can from you .
๐Thank You Paddy Doyle for Another Amazing and Very Beautiful Adventure๐โค๐๐Safe Travels๐
Iโve been there many times, stayed in the main hotel and taken that helicopter ride too. Mostly Iโve been during winter which is quite a different experience in that walking the trails will give you hypothermia if you can do them at all through the ice and snow. I agree itโs expensive and Iโd have to say the food at the main hotel was some of the worst food Iโve ever had anywhere. That needs sorting out! NZ is expensive and sometimes shockingly so, certainly more so than Australia.
Hi Paddy I'm a kiwi i used to live in Hokitika a small town on West Coast the sun is so hot because there's no ozone layer to filter out the harmful rays, it's always been expensive too much red tape,rules and regulations not to mention the taxes , just like Australia where I live now,It is the most beautiful place I've been as well, Thailand's got the right idea when it comes to tourism. Let small business open and operate with out all the red tape and taxes, New Zealand is so beautiful we call it God's country, enjoy it now ๐๐๐
Jake Brennan has done that heli flight
Ive been to Mt Cook probably a dozen times and every time she takes my breath away……..But……..the magnitude of the place makes you very small so you need to be there sharing the experience or it definitely a 1 night wonder of a place. You've captured it beautifully but you've also captured the side of the journey that a lot of people hate to admit….loneliness ๐Thanks for being raw and honest like always Paddy!
I had to put my sunglasses on when you were applying sunscreen to your English arms ๐
I'm glad your enjoying your adventures in New Zealand. Excellent videos
Love your honesty about it, your vids are getting better and better sir. Thank you for the enlightening video.
Hi NEUSEELAND ๐ณ๐ฟ @ from Kurdistan
Paddy, I think your videography has improved a lot over the last years
As an Irishman, used to banter and taking to everyone and anyone. Even having tried to break the ice many times, I must say that I found New Zealand to be very impersonal as I traveled about on my own.
Hope you are feeling better but the flight in the helicopter was no different from flying over the alps in a commercial flight.
Should've brought a cold beer Paddy to enjoy the views ๐บ
Hooker Valley Track next time! Kea point is underwhelming (IMHO) and Mueller Hut is too difficult for many, but the Hooker Valley Track is both absolutely stunning and an easy walk. Probably why itโs the most popular (and busiest) of the tracks!
I enjoyed everything about the vid especially the night sky, I think the sky is awesome every day is a different scene. You're awesome too for taking us everywhere you go, you are living your best life Paddy.
YES PADDY!!! NOICE!!! POPCORN TO THE READY! BEERS ๐บ ON ICE!!! READY FOR THIS ONE!! EXCITED! HOPE YOU OK PADDY? ๐๐
Very Good video โฆ.. enjoying the series. Feelings are immutable โฆ. What you feel, you feel.
at $250 a wipe the driver would be instructed to give a play by play.
Paddy you should have stocked up in twizel it's the main town.
You didnt start at sea level mt cook village is 750 metres above sea level. Cant believe you put ketchup on that steak lunch when it already had mushroom sauce.
I'm sorry you had a crappy time, but love your honesty. I love it there as it is so spectacular – been twice to that area & camped overnight – but the campsite was a bit more social than the hostel by the sound of it. The walk up to Hooker Lake was fab with a great view of Mt Cook at the top. And the other time I did a Lake Tasman boat tour – so that was just a quick stop en route from Lake Tekapo to Wanaka. I might go back again and do the Heli tour – that looked amazing! (A veteran of 6 trips to NZ & counting….)!
Stayed in the hotel loved it fantastic view โฆdonโt forget Edmund Hillary either and part of a Brit expeditionโฆsounded more like you were lonely and yes not lots t do .
You can pan for gold in rivers, =public access.
Donโt use the cancer society cream it has the worst grading in nz. You would think it would safe but itโs not. From a kiwi
Youโre killing it with your content!
100 percent onboard with the phone ban in communal areas, Paddy! The phone has stripped the soul out of backpacking
The Hooker Valley track is amazing. What a pity you could not do it. We just drove in for the day. It might have been cheaper for you to get a rental car to travel to Mt Cook.
Good for you mate! Incredible.
Paddy, I hired my own car for a 32 day vacation in NZ, got married whilst I was there too, in The Bay of Plenty. Most likely the easiest country in the World to drive in. ๐๐๐ป๐๐ป
21:50 I couldnโt agree more. Being โsocialโ seems to be a lost art, like cave paintings.
That is a tourist bus NOT a public bus mate, no way do we pay $200 ๐๐๐๐๐
You are so lucky to see Mt Cook itโs often under cloud & YES it is the most beautiful country on earth, Iโve travelled the world but NZ is stunning
I have stayed at Mt Cook, and it was after a day of traveling there, stay overnight, and drive out the next day. I think that's the ideal amount of time.
True story about Mount Cook Village, though the hooker track was a fun walk.
If you have a car you just pop in, do a hike and move on. Great video, we were thinking about doing the heli tour but didnโt. Glad we get to experience it through your eyes ๐