Whitestone Contracting Limited delivered the White Horse Carpark Upgrade as part of DOC’s preparation for paid parking at one of New Zealand’s most visited alpine destinations.
Located at the end of Hooker Valley Road within Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, the carpark services a high volume of visitors, tour operators and DOC facilitators. The project focused on improving safety, traffic flow, and functionality while supporting the introduction of paid parking and minimising disruption to public access.
Delivered for Department of Conservation (DOC)
Project Status Complete
What We Delivered
- Earthworks, pavement construction and upgrades to support new parking layouts, pay station pads and pedestrian movement.
- Installation of bollards, signage and lining to improve vehicle circulation, manage visitor behaviour and enhance safety in a busy, shared public space.
- Foundations and installation of a wide range of directional, regulatory and information signage in coordination with DOC and specialist services.
- Works were staged to maintain access for visitors and tour operators, with traffic management and pedestrian controls adapted to peak visitor use.
Why It Matters
Whitehorse Hill is the gateway to the Hooker Valley Track and a key destination for both domestic and international visitors. Upgrading the carpark was about more than infrastructure – it was about managing growth, protecting the environment, and improving the visitor experience in a nationally significant location.
Delivering this project required careful planning, strong collaboration, and respect for the unique alpine and conservation setting. The result is safer, more functional infrastructure that supports DOC’s objectives while maintaining access to one of Aotearoa’s most iconic landscapes.
Strengths We Brought to the Project
We brought strong civil construction experience across a range of project types, including operating in sensitive environments. Our team effectively managed traffic flows and visitor access while maintaining proactive stakeholder coordination to ensure safe, efficient, and well-communicated project delivery.