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 than a year the full track is set to open on the 28th July, following the construction of a brand new 189 metre swing bridge – the longest in New Zealand.

The Creation of Aoraki / Mount Cook.

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, and 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 in 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.

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 in 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.

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 second bridge unsafe. With the bridge out of action, Hooker Lake is currently inaccessible.

Construction of a new bridge began in August 2025. It’s been dubbed “The Beast” by those working on it, for both its size and the extreme conditions faced during construction. Heavy snow and severe winds have repeatedly disrupted the projects, at times blowing sheds and equipment down steep banks.

The 189 metre bridge – over double the size of the original 90 metre one – will be the longest swing bridge in New Zealand, and its highly anticipated opening is set for the 28th July. After over a year of closure, visitors will be able to return to the Hooker Valley for a great alpine journey via the valley floor once again.

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”.

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.