It is in the Hooker Valley, in the Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park in New Zealand's South Island, just south of Aoraki / Mount Cook.

The geographic Hooker items were named by the Canterbury provincial geologist, Julius von Haast, after British botanist William Jackson Hooker.

[5] The lake is one of the most accessible glacier lakes and can be reached year-round from the White Horse Hill camp ground near Mount Cook Village via the well-formed Hooker Valley Track.

The icebergs slowly drift from the terminus of the glacier at the northern end of the lake until close to the shore.

[6] Hooker Lake drains into Hooker River, its glacial waters blueish light grey due to the suspended glacial rock flour.