A remarkable feat of engineering, the record-breaking Aoraki/Mount Cook suspension bridge has just opened on New Zealand’s South Island.
Cross that bridge when you come to it? New Zealand is hoping travellers will do exactly that after revealing the country’s longest suspension bridge – a record-breaking attraction expected to bring in around NZ $167 million in revenue to the local council over the next 10 years.
The eagerly awaited Aoraki/Mount Cook suspension bridge opened to the public on 28 July 2026 and hangs 189 metres over the Hooker River, offering visitors a chance to walk across a unique engineering marvel while taking in some of the nation’s most striking alpine scenery.
Costing NZ $4.85 million to build, the new bridge replaces a much shorter one which closed in April 2025 after strong storms and rainfall caused riverbank erosion.
The closure disrupted access to one of New Zealand’s most popular walking destinations – the Hooker Valley Track, where sweeping views of soaring snow-dusted ridgelines and a healthy dose of adrenaline have long lured nature enthusiasts.
The Aoraki/Mount Cook suspension bridge has reopened at 189 metres in length. (Credit: Ash Rogers/Abseil Access Ltd)
Construction of the new infrastructure began in August 2025, but the process was far from easy. Onsite workers battled unseasonable snowfall and strong 180-kilometre winds, making the completion of the infrastructure all the more gratifying.
Spearheading the design, bridge architect and engineer Dan Crocker says seeing the project come to life has been incredibly rewarding.
“It’s not just the longest suspension bridge in New Zealand; it’s the longest single span footbridge of any kind in the country. Getting the opportunity to design a bridge like this in one of our most iconic locations was an amazing experience. I can’t wait to see people crossing it," he says.
Walk across a world-class attraction with incredible mountain views. (Credit: Ash Rogers/Abseil Access Ltd)
Constructing the bridge was no easy feat. (Credit: Ash Rogers/Abseil Access Ltd)
The bridge was designed by engineer Dan Crocker. (Credit: Ash Rogers/Abseil Access Ltd)
While engineering any bridge is difficult enough on its own, designing for a remote sub-alpine environment comes with added challenges. Rather than using cranes and concrete trucks to bring in and assemble the materials, as is conventionally done, the new bridge required all the construction materials to arrive via helicopter.
To your delight (or disappointment, depending on your fear of heights), the new structure has much less ‘swing’ and considerably more stability than traditional suspension bridges – good news for visitors concerned about losing their footing.
The Hooker Valley Track already attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, and the new Aoraki/Mount Cook suspension bridge is expected to draw even more, generating millions in tourism revenue for the region.
Spanning 189 metres, the bridge is poised to become an attraction in its own right. The question remains: would you cross it?
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Eleanor Edström is International Traveller’s Associate Editor. El began her career writing for national magazines including Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel, and has since developed a soft spot for wild landscapes, thoughtful design and the human stories that bring them to life. She holds an honours degree in English and philosophy from the University of Sydney, and has lived abroad in both Switzerland and France – ostensibly to sharpen her French, though the pastries made a strong supporting case. One day, she hopes to swim with humpback whales off the coast of Mo'orea.
Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.
The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.
1. Easy access to good food
Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.
One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.
In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.
In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.
Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.
At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.
While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.
It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.
2. Better sleep options
Sleep deeply with Novotel.
There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.
For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.
The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.
3. More ways to move
Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)
Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.
At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.
Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.
4. Better connections
Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.
One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.
Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.
A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.
Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.
All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.
