The Hooker Valley Track Is Back: Returning to Our Mt Cook Tours
We’ve been waiting a while to share this news: the Hooker Valley Track is back.
From 28 July 2026, a brand-new suspension bridge will open across the Hooker River at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, restoring access further up one of New Zealand’s most iconic alpine walks. At 189 metres long, it’s the longest suspension bridge in New Zealand and the longest single-span footbridge of any kind in the country.
For us at Cheeky Kiwi, this means we can finally take our guests back into the Hooker Valley.
Before the previous bridge closed in April 2025, the Hooker Valley Track was a favourite experience for Cheeky Kiwi guests on our Mt Cook day tours from Queenstown.
Guests on our Mt Cook tours departing from Queenstown will once again have the opportunity to complete the full Hooker Valley Track, with three hours to explore Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park when conditions allow.
Tours departing from Christchurch have two hours at Mount Cook. While that’s not enough time to complete the full track, there’s still time to walk approximately halfway up the Hooker Valley and cross its impressive new suspension bridge.
The Hooker Valley Track is opening back up
The Hooker Valley Track has long been one of the most popular walks in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, taking visitors into a spectacular landscape of glacial rivers, alpine peaks and views towards New Zealand’s highest mountain.
In April 2025, heavy rain and storms caused erosion around the previous Hooker River bridge, forcing its closure and preventing visitors from completing the full track.
Work on its replacement began in August 2025, and building a bridge in the Southern Alps hasn’t exactly been straightforward. During construction, crews have dealt with winds reaching 180 km/h and several unseasonal snowfalls.
Following a private opening event and blessing from mana whenua, the new Hooker Valley suspension bridge will open to the public from 3pm on Tuesday 28 July 2026.
Meet New Zealand’s longest suspension bridge
The new bridge stretches 189 metres across the Hooker River in a single span, making it both New Zealand’s longest suspension bridge and the longest single-span footbridge of any kind in the country.
The $4.85 million bridge replaces the much smaller previous crossing and has been designed to provide a safer, more resilient way across the Hooker River.
Sitting approximately halfway along the Hooker Valley Track, it crosses the river with the Southern Alps rising around it.
What makes the Hooker Valley Track so special?
The Hooker Valley Track takes you right into the heart of Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, following the Hooker River through a landscape surrounded by glaciers and some of the highest peaks in the Southern Alps.
On a clear day, Aoraki/Mount Cook provides the iconic backdrop. At 3,724 metres, it’s New Zealand’s highest mountain and one of those sights that never gets old.
Compared with many alpine hikes, the Hooker Valley Track is relatively accessible, making it a brilliant way to experience the landscape on foot without taking on an advanced mountain hike.
Can you walk the full Hooker Valley Track on a Mt Cook tour?
Yes. Cheeky Kiwi guests travelling to Mount Cook from Queenstown have three hours at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, giving you enough time to complete the full Hooker Valley Track when conditions allow.
That applies whether you’re joining our return Mt Cook day tour from Queenstown or travelling one-way from Queenstown to Christchurch via Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo.
We’ll take care of the driving through some of the most spectacular scenery in the South Island. Once we reach Mount Cook, those three hours are yours to explore.
If completing the full Hooker Valley Track is high on your New Zealand bucket list, our Queenstown departure is the one to choose.
Can you walk the Hooker Valley Track on a day tour from Christchurch?
Yes, but you won’t have enough time to complete the full track. Cheeky Kiwi guests travelling from Christchurch to Mount Cook have two hours to explore Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.
The good news is that the new suspension bridge sits approximately halfway along the track, making it a great turnaround point.
You can walk into the Hooker Valley, cross the new bridge, take in the views and make your way back.
The two-hour stop applies whether you’re joining our return Mt Cook tour from Christchurch or travelling one-way southbound from Christchurch to Queenstown via Mount Cook.
So if the full Hooker Valley Track is your priority, travel from Queenstown. If you’re coming from Christchurch, you can still experience a great section of the valley and cross New Zealand’s longest suspension bridge.
Is the Hooker Valley Track open now?
The new Hooker Valley suspension bridge will open to the public from 3pm on Tuesday 28 July 2026.
Its opening restores access further into the Hooker Valley following the closure of the previous bridge in April 2025.
Weather and track conditions can still affect access, particularly during winter, so always check the latest conditions before heading out.
Walking the Hooker Valley Track in winter
Winter is a beautiful time to experience Aoraki/Mount Cook, with snow-capped peaks making the Hooker Valley even more spectacular.
Conditions can be colder and the track may be icy in places, so it’s important to come prepared. DOC recommends good walking shoes or boots, warm layers, a hat and gloves.
Whatever the season, come prepared for an alpine environment. Bring good footwear, warm layers, a weather-resistant jacket, water and sun protection and check the latest weather and track conditions before setting off.
Experience the Hooker Valley with Cheeky Kiwi
We’ve been bringing guests to Aoraki/Mount Cook for years, and giving people enough time to get out and experience the national park has always been an important part of our Mount Cook tours.
Before the bridge closure, that included the Hooker Valley Track.
And from Wednesday 29 July 2026, our tours will be taking guests back there.
If you’re travelling from Queenstown, you’ll have enough time to take on the full track when conditions allow. Coming from Christchurch? Make the new suspension bridge your destination and enjoy a taste of the Hooker Valley before heading back.
With the Hooker Valley Track reopening, we expect Mt Cook tours to be especially popular, particularly over peak travel periods. If walking the Hooker Valley is on your New Zealand bucket list, we recommend booking your Mt Cook tour in advance to secure your spot.
