Few walks make New Zealand’s alpine landscape as accessible as the Hooker Valley Track, located within the Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park. After being partially closed for more then a year, the full track is now open. A new 189 metre swing bridge -the longest in New Zealand – reconnects the route to Hooker Lake, restoring this full alpine journey through the valley floor.


The Creation of Aoraki

According to the Ngāi Tahu creation story, Aoraki was one of four brothers travelling in a great waka*, when they became stranded on a reef. Slowly, the winds froze the marooned brothers into stone. Their waka became the South Island (Te Waipounamu*), and the brothers formed the peaks of the Southern Alps. Aoraki, being the tallest and oldest brother, became New Zealand’s highest mountain (also known as Mount Cook). 

Here in Aotearoa*, Aoraki is regarded as an ancestor, not simply a mountain or landmark. Visitors are encouraged to respect and care for the landscape as a living taonga*. 


The Beginning of Tourism in Aoraki / Mount Cook.

1884 saw the opening of a small accommodation house in the area – famously known today as the Hermitage Hotel. The Hermitage provided a base for keen climbers and sightseers – and marked the start of tourism in the area. Back then, getting to The Hermitage was an expedition in itself, being a two day journey by horse and coach from the nearest train station.

Three Hermitage workers – Tom Fyfe, George Graham and Jack Clarke – had begun climbing on their days off. Toward the end of 1894, they heard whispers of an overseas mountaineer en route to claim the first ascent of Aoraki / Mount Cook. That was all the motivation the New Zealand trio needed to mount their own summit expedition. On Christmas Day, 1894, Tom, George and Jack stood on the mountain, above the rest of the country.


NZ’s most popular day hike – The Hooker Valley Track

The Hooker Valley Track is New Zealand’s most popular day hike, and follows the same valley that Tom, George and Jack used to approach Aoraki. While they would have had to navigate their way through ice-cold rivers and glaciers to begin their ascent, the track is made accessible today by three suspension bridges. 

The Hooker Valley Track is a 10km, 3-4 hour return hike along the valley floor. Being relatively flat, it offers extraordinary alpine scenes without having to do any of the alpinism. Here, you’ll walk amongst New Zealand’s largest mountains, over glacial rivers and lakes, and through landscapes shaped by ice, rock and water. The valley provides the perfect amphitheatre to hear (or see) avalanches crashing down the nearby Kakīroa / Mount Sefton. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot Kea, our mountain parrot. The further into the valley you go, the more imposing the scenery. 

The hike’s grand finale is Hooker Lake. Aoraki / Mount Cook towers above you, the Hooker Glacier spilling down his side, calving its icebergs into the lake before you. These icebergs eventually drift to the shore you’re standing on. It’s the closest you can get to Aoraki / Mount Cook before actually having to climb it.


A New Bridge for the Valley

The upper section of the Hooker Valley Track has been closed since April 2025, after years of riverbank erosion left the second swing bridge unsafe. Hooker Lake has remained inaccessible – up until now. 

Work on the new bridge began in August 2025. It’s been dubbed “The Beast” by those working on it, both for its enormous size and extreme conditions faced during construction. Its remote location meant that everything – including cranes, steel and other equipment – had to be flown in by helicopter. Heavy snow and severe winds have repeatedly disrupted the projects, at times blowing sheds and equipment down steep banks.

At 189 metres long – more then twice the length of the original 90 metre bridge – it is the longest swing bridge in New Zealand. Before opening to the public, the bridge was blessed by mana whenua*, acknowledging Aoraki as a tipuna* and asking for safe passage for those who cross it.

Kupu Māori

  • Waka: Canoe
  • Te Waipounamu: The Waters of Greenstone
  • Taonga: Treasure
  • Aotearoa: The Māori name for New Zealand, meaning “Land of the Long White Cloud”.
  • Mana Whenua: Those with authority and responsibility over the land
  • Tipuna: Ancestor

Experience the Hooker Valley Track from Queenstown

If you’d like to hike the Hooker Valley Track and need transport, we run daily tours from Queenstown. If you want to explore other areas of the Aoraki / Mount Cook national park, check out our options here.