Sealy Tarns Track

A 5.1 km hike in the Mount Cook National Park, within the region of Canterbury of the South Island of New Zealand. Known as the ‘stairway to heaven’, this out and back trail consisting of 2,200 steps and steep sections, takes you to lakes of Sealy Tarns, freshwater pools within the Hooker Valley overlooked by the surrounding peaks including Aoraki/Mount Cook. A beautiful well-maintained track offering an abundance of alpine flora and fauna, this trail is suitable for those with a reasonable level of fitness. Branching off the Kea Point Track from Mount Cook village, the trail starts near the Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre. If hiking during the winter, the trail does become icy which means mountain equipment such as crampons and an ice axe may be necessary to reach the summit. It’s advised to check the weather and mountain conditions before you go. Based on our data, the trail is graded as medium/hard. For information on how we grade trails, please click here. Also, check our latest community posts for trail updates.This trail can be completed in approx. 3 – 4 hours. Caution is advised on trail times as this depends on multiple variables. For more info, click here.