New DOC hut in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park

 A restored hut opens at Aoraki/MT Cook NP...

More hut news...Aoraki/Mt Cook NP now has another hut available for over night use...it is the old Hooker Hut moved to a new location. The hut originally sat on a moraine wall further up the Hooker Valley but it had to be removed in 2015 as the moraine wall was collapsing and the Department of Conservation wanted to save and restore this historic hut. 

Newly restored and relocated Hooker Hut (1910)

Hooker Hut now has superb views of Aoraki/Mt Cook

The hut was moved to Twizel where it was restored to its original condition inside and then moved to a new location on the floor of the Hooker River Valley not far from Stocking Stream. New cladding, insulation and new interior fixtures were added to the hut so that it could once again be utilised by people visiting the National Park. 

Hooker Hut in its old location...

Hooker Hut is a 8 bunk Serviced hut and it has gas cookers, a gas fire, water tanks, toilets and will be able to be booked for overnight use. Here is a potted history of the Hooker Hut from the DOC website:

Karen and I are heading up to Aoraki/Mt Cook NP in early June and I have a mission in mind to bag the hut while we are in the area. It is located just off the popular Hooker Valley Track near Stocking Stream and will be able to be pre-booked so that you have a guaranteed bunk in the hut. It is only two hours walk from Whitehorse Hill Campsite so it is going to see a lot of use...

The hut is located behind the Mueller Glacier moraine wall...

Hooker Hut tucked into its new location in the Hooker River Valley

 It is interesting to note that this is the first new hut in the park since 2003 when the current Mueller Hut was built so it is great to have another option when staying at Mt Cook. I'm really pleased they decided to reuse the old hut as it is important to hold onto this kind of outdoor history. 

I will take some photos of the hut if we are able to visit it in June...