Date Time
Historic Hooker Hut reopens
The hut, which first opened in 1910 and is the oldest in the National Park, was removed from its previous site above the crumbling moraine wall of the receding Tasman Glacier by helicopter in 2015.
It was stored in Twizel until its restoration by contractor Recreation Construction and flown back into a much more accessible location about two hours walk into the Hooker Valley.
DOC Aoraki Operations Manager Sally Jones says it’s fantastic to have the hut back in the national park where it can be well-used by visitors.
“The refurbished hut will open up the opportunity for a wide range of people to experience a night in the pristine alpine environment of Aoraki.”
MYTCHALL BRANSGROVE/STUFF
Opening the door to the renovated Hooker Hut in the Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park on Thursday are, from left, David Dittmer, DOC senior ranger recreation, Mike Slater, DOC deputy director general operations, Recreation Construction staff Josh Soper and Fergus Watt, Brad Williamson, DOC engineer, Ray Bellringer, DOC ranger community, and Sally Jones, DOC Aoraki/Mt Cook operations manager. The hut was officially reopened on Thursday, its restoration delayed by Covid-19 and weather. Department of Conservation senior ranger in charge of search and rescue and recreation at Aoraki Mt Cook David Dittmer said the managers at the time knew if they had left the hut in the park, ‘’it would go over the side and would be completely wrecked”.