Aoraki / Mount Cook in December 2026: sunrise glow by day
Short answer: On 15 December 2026: First light on Aoraki at 05:43; the red-to-gold glow lasts until about 06:18. Be at Hooker Lake or Mount Cook Village by 05:13. Every day of December is in the table.
New Zealand's highest peak lights up pink at dawn above the Hooker Valley. The summit sees the sun several minutes before the village because it looks out over the low Mackenzie Basin.
| Date | First light | Glow | Arrive by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 1 Dec | 05:44 | 05:44–06:19 | 05:14 |
| Wed 2 Dec | 05:44 | 05:44–06:18 | 05:14 |
| Thu 3 Dec | 05:44 | 05:44–06:18 | 05:14 |
| Fri 4 Dec | 05:43 | 05:43–06:18 | 05:13 |
| Sat 5 Dec | 05:43 | 05:43–06:18 | 05:13 |
| Sun 6 Dec | 05:43 | 05:43–06:18 | 05:13 |
| Mon 7 Dec | 05:42 | 05:42–06:17 | 05:12 |
| Tue 8 Dec | 05:42 | 05:42–06:17 | 05:12 |
| Wed 9 Dec | 05:42 | 05:42–06:17 | 05:12 |
| Thu 10 Dec | 05:42 | 05:42–06:17 | 05:12 |
| Fri 11 Dec | 05:42 | 05:42–06:17 | 05:12 |
| Sat 12 Dec | 05:42 | 05:42–06:17 | 05:12 |
| Sun 13 Dec | 05:42 | 05:42–06:17 | 05:12 |
| Mon 14 Dec | 05:42 | 05:42–06:18 | 05:12 |
| Tue 15 Dec | 05:43 | 05:43–06:18 | 05:13 |
| Wed 16 Dec | 05:43 | 05:43–06:18 | 05:13 |
| Thu 17 Dec | 05:43 | 05:43–06:18 | 05:13 |
| Fri 18 Dec | 05:43 | 05:43–06:19 | 05:13 |
| Sat 19 Dec | 05:44 | 05:44–06:19 | 05:14 |
| Sun 20 Dec | 05:44 | 05:44–06:19 | 05:14 |
| Mon 21 Dec | 05:44 | 05:44–06:20 | 05:14 |
| Tue 22 Dec | 05:45 | 05:45–06:20 | 05:15 |
| Wed 23 Dec | 05:45 | 05:45–06:21 | 05:15 |
| Thu 24 Dec | 05:46 | 05:46–06:21 | 05:16 |
| Fri 25 Dec | 05:47 | 05:47–06:22 | 05:17 |
| Sat 26 Dec | 05:47 | 05:47–06:23 | 05:17 |
| Sun 27 Dec | 05:48 | 05:48–06:23 | 05:18 |
| Mon 28 Dec | 05:49 | 05:49–06:24 | 05:19 |
| Tue 29 Dec | 05:49 | 05:49–06:25 | 05:19 |
| Wed 30 Dec | 05:50 | 05:50–06:25 | 05:20 |
| Thu 31 Dec | 05:51 | 05:51–06:26 | 05:21 |
Questions
What time is the sunrise glow on Aoraki in December 2026?
On 15 December 2026: First light on Aoraki at 05:43; the red-to-gold glow lasts until about 06:18. Be at Hooker Lake or Mount Cook Village by 05:13. Every day of December is in the table.