Bridge On Popular Hooker Valley Track At Aoraki/Mount Cook Closed After Heavy Rainfall
Press Release – Department of Conservation
DOC staff and engineers have been closely monitoring riverbank erosion at the bridge, and following the recent heavy rain over Easter, the bridge was closed.
After heavy rainfall over Easter weekend, a bridge on the Hooker Valley Track, one of New Zealand's most popular tourist destinations, has been closed by the Department of Conservation.
The second bridge on the Hooker Valley Track has been impacted by riverbank erosion from wind and rain events over the past few years and is also susceptible to heavy snowfalls.
DOC staff and engineers have been closely monitoring riverbank erosion at the bridge, and following the recent heavy rain over Easter, the bridge was closed.
'We've been managing the second bridge for the past couple of years, adding micro piling and other measures but continued erosion of the riverbank, with the prospect of more heavy rain and snow loading this winter, we have made the decision to close the bridge permanently,' says DOC Director of Asset Management Shan Baththana.
DOC Aoraki/Mount Cook Operations Manager Sally Jones says while it's disappointing to have to close the bridge, public safety is DOC's number one priority.
She says the walk up the Hooker Valley is closed temporarily until access to the lower part of the track is secured and a new suspension bridge is built.
'Walking up the Hooker Valley to see Aoraki and staying at the popular Hooker Hut is a highlight for many visitors and the temporary closure of the track will disrupt plans. But public safety is always number one.'
'We're now focused on securing the site so we can reopen the lower section of the track as soon as possible. In the meantime, there are several other beautiful and accessible walks that remain open and offer those stunning views of Aoraki that people love. Kea Point is a great place for visitors to get those once in a lifetime photos. Aoraki/Mount Village is still very much open for business.'
Sally Jones says what's exciting is the new 189-metre-long suspension bridge being built on the Hooker Valley track.
She says the new bridge is a significant investment in the long-term resilience of the Hooker Valley Track. Once complete, it will be the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the country — and a remarkable way to safely experience the power and beauty of this landscape.
The new bridge has been specifically designed to withstand more extreme weather events.
'One of New Zealand's best day hikes, Hooker Valley Track is used by around half a million visitors annually and is the most popular visitor attraction in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. We are committed to investing in these well-loved nature experiences. We need to continue to provide safe access and make sure our infrastructure is future proofed against the effects of climate change, rainfall and winds. Nature is our most important economic asset and sustains industries like tourism.'
Sally Jones says work has already started on the bridge project with track building around the site. The aim is to have it open in Autumn 2026.
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park has over one million visitors annually and is second only to Fiordland in terms of most popular New Zealand national parks for international visitors.
Sally Jones says the number of visitors is increasing and she does have a message for those visiting Aoraki/Mount Cook.
'A concerning trend we're seeing is visitors going off track through fragile vegetation and rocky terrain. This not only causes lasting damage to the environment — it also puts people at real risk. The landscape here is breathtaking but unforgiving. We ask everyone to think carefully about where they're walking and climbing, and to stick to marked tracks for their own safety and to help protect this special place for others.
We all have a responsibility to do this. DOC staff work hard to keep people safe and over the next year while we are building the new bridge, we need everyone to respect the environment and the advice we give.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Skifields on schedule to open: CEO
For once, it is white on time. Snowguns at Queenstown's Coronet Peak and The Remarkables skifields fired up last night, and they will keep cranking for as long as possible to bolster the natural snowfall arriving in a perfectly timed polar blast, ahead of the scheduled season opening on June 14. NZSki chief executive Paul Anderson expected up to 30cm of snow could be on the way, but more importantly, bitterly cold temperatures forecast would enable "solid snow-making" over the next five or six days which should mean Coronet could open top to bottom next week. "We are confident that we will be open on the 14th, as advertised." Mr Anderson said the plan was for both Queenstown skifields to open on the same day. "The reason we've done that, I noticed this last year, as soon as we opened, town got busy. "I think it's really important that we send a really strong signal to the market that Queenstown is open for business." He believed last month was "one of the most sudden shoulder seasons we've had for a few years", but questioned if it was just more noticeable because of the huge influx of people to the Wakatipu between Easter and Anzac Day. NZSki employs about 1300 people across its three mountains including Mt Hutt. Of those, 900 are in Queenstown. Mr Anderson said the company had a staff return rate of more than 50% and a record 6000-plus applications for about 600 remaining jobs. Accommodation-wise, some of the heat had been taken out of the market through a 90-bed CBD hostel, a new apartment development off Fryer St, comprising six two-bedroom units, and four or five houses NZSki owned near Gorge Rd, all of which were full. "Then you'll have staff that are returning that already know where they're going — they kind of work out their flats and flatting situations, year to year — so we're focused on the new people coming in." Transport to and from The Remarkables would be similar to last year. Those who did not have a full car would be in carpark 4 and get a shuttle "right up to the door" of the ski area, ensuring families and those with full cars got the closest parks. Cardrona Alpine Resort, owned by RealNZ, was also targeting a June 14 opening. Treble Cone has a tentative opening date of June 27.
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Tracking to keep sea lions and seals safe
Seal and sea lion populations are making a comeback around New Zealand, with many returning to their historic habitats. It's also seal silly season (May to September), meaning young fur seal pups are venturing off on their own for the very first time. They can show up on roads, be chilling in paddocks or even be seen wandering around Bunnings. As the season begins and populations grow, so do our encounters. The Department of Conservation (Doc) and the New Zealand Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi have launched a nationwide project to track seals appearing near roads and want the public's help. "We're asking people to report sightings of seals, fur seals or sea lions on or near roads," Doc's marine senior technical adviser Jody Weir says. "Your sightings - date, location, even a photo if it's safe - will help us map hotspots and understand the risks. It's a great example of how citizen science could make a real difference." The project aims to analyse the road-related risks for the marine mammals. Its findings will help with road planning and improvements and to find high-risk zones. "We're thrilled to see populations recovering, but that success comes with new challenges," Weir said. "We want to protect these taonga species while also keeping people safe. That means understanding where the key hot spots are and planning smarter." Kaikōura is a prime success story with key hot spots - where fur seals were getting onto State Highway 1 - found, resulting in infrastructure upgrades to help protect the animals and drivers. "These young fur seals are out exploring their wider world while their mums are busy at sea getting food to be able to nurse that rapidly growing pup and grow the developing foetus inside her," Weir said. "It's an important stage of development, but it also means they can end up in unusual - and sometimes risky - places. By reporting sightings, you're helping us look out for them during this vulnerable time." Top seal tips • Never touch, handle, or feed a seal, as they can be aggressive if they feel threatened. It is also a breach of the Marine Mammals Protection Act. • Maintain a distance of at least 20 metres from a seal if possible and avoid getting between it and the sea. • Give seals space if encountered on or near a beach. • Always keep dogs on a leash and away from seals. • Ensure small children are at a safe distance and under control when watching seals. • If you see a seal that's badly injured, being harassed or in danger, call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468). Sightings reported to seeaseal@ before June 22 will help shape the initial national road risk model.
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Govt commits $15.2m to Milford Sound upgrades
Planes and cruise boats can keep coming to Milford Sound but the long-discussed plan to get visitors out of cars is still awaited. In an announcement yesterday by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka and Tourism Minister Louise Upston, the government also committed $15.2 million to infrastructure upgrades and "enhancing conservation" at the tourist hot spot. Tourism operators have complained bitterly for years about shabby facilities at Milford's Freshwater Basin and Deepwater Basin. Rosco's Milford Kayaks boss Rosco Gaudin responded to the announcement by saying "maybe a toilet seat" could now be afforded at Deepwater Basin's dilapidated toilet block. In a separate briefing yesterday to tourist operators, Mr Potaka indicated overdue decision-making about operators' expired and expiring permissions to run businesses out of Milford (known as consents) would be expedited by the Department of Conservation. The announcements were welcomed by the tourism operators' body Destination Milford Sound (DMS), which has long called for concession decision-making. DMS chairman Mark Quickfall, who owns helicopter companies and a cruise company, said the announcement about concessions provided greater certainty for operators, enabling them to "invest with confidence" and provide quality, safe and sustainable visitor experiences. It was a "crucial step that would allow overdue improvements at Milford Sound to be executed, providing reassurance and a sense of progress". Ministers told the tourism operators that more than half the investments - $8.2m - would come from the international visitor levy (IVL), which all international tourists pay on arrival in New Zealand. Most of the IVL-obtained funds - $6.4m - would be spent on investments to "enhance visitor experiences and strengthen cultural and biodiversity storytelling". The complaints about Milford infrastructure revolve around the visitor terminal at Freshwater Basin, where day-trippers arriving by car or tour bus access boat cruises of the Sound. The single-lane Milford road, with its variable weather conditions, many bends and brows, and often travelled by international visitors with limited experience of New Zealand roads, is also a focus for concern. It is notorious for its deaths and serious injuries. The operators were told in the briefing the remaining $1.8m would be spent on "infrastructure planning, revenue and access strategies and traffic and safety improvements" but little detail was provided. The operators were also told a further $7m would be invested by Doc, which would include expenditure on a preplanned upgrade of a boat ramp at Deepwater Basin frequently used by boaties. There would also be improvements to Cleddau River flood protection and facilities at the Divide and Lake Marian carparks, and the Little Tahiti landfill would be cleaned up. Doc receives $4 from a levy charged to every day-trip cruise boat passenger. However, the bulk of the levy income goes to Milford Sound Tourism, the private company that operates the ferry terminal and is responsible for its upkeep. Responding to questions from the ODT late yesterday, Mr Potaka's office said the concession-granting backlog was being worked through "at pace" and the IVL funding would include an upgrade of the Deepwater Basin toilet block within 18 months. Improvements to the road would include signage and infrastructure. The government would work with stakeholders to identify the best "levers" to get people out of private vehicles. Options included raising parking fees and reducing parking space at Milford and "combining bus-boat-bus tour packages". The government is also trying to reform conservation legislation to allow "special amenities areas" to enable businesses to develop infrastructure in demarcated parts of national parks. Environment Southland chairman Nicol Horrell welcomed the announcements, saying they provided "a strong foundation" for planning.
