The Hermitage & Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre
The Hermitage
A century-old hotel in Mount Cook Village, housing the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre and a planetarium. A statue outside gazes toward Mount Cook.
The Hermitage Hotel was founded in 1884 and marks the starting point of the history of mountaineering and tourism on Mount Cook. The Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre inside commemorates the New Zealander who first summited Everest, displaying his climbing gear and photographs. It also has a dome planetarium and screens documentaries about Mount Cook, making it ideal for rainy days. The bronze statue of Hillary outside the hotel gazes at Mount Cook and is a classic photo spot. The hotel's restaurant and bar also have views of the snowy peaks. Center admission is about NZD 25, and it is open roughly 07:30–20:00.
Opening hours
Approx. 07:30–20:00
Nearby sights
- Aoraki / Mount Cook
- Kea Point Track
- Sealy Tarns Track
- Mueller Hut Route
- Aoraki Mount Cook Scenic Flights
- Tasman Glacier & Tasman Lake
- Peters Lookout
- Lake Alexandrina