The Hermitage

The Hermitage has a long history of being the centrepiece of the Mt Cook village. This tradition continues and in addition to providing a range of accommodation, the Hermitage is the main base for Mt Cook activities and dining. When visiting the spectacular Mt Cook region it seems only fitting to base yourself at the Hermitage.

Where is the Hermitage Hotel?

The Hermitage Hotel sits at the top of the Aoraki Mt Cook Alpine Village. The location was perfectly planned to get the best views of Mt Cook and the surrounding splendour.

Aoraki Mount Cook and the associated village lie within the Southern Alps on the South Island of New Zealand. The village is approximately 3 hours drive north of Queenstown, and 3.5 hours south of Christchurch.

Hermitage Hotel Rooms

The hotel has a range of rooms. These start at standard rooms with views of Mt Sefton and the Tasman Valley. Other standard rooms and superior rooms have little balconies that face Mt Cook. However the piece de resistance when it comes to views of Aoraki are the premium and premium plus rooms that sleep up to 4 persons and feature full picture windows. The premium rooms are huge and have two queen beds, a lounge area, desk, fridge and a coffee maker, and plenty of room to move about. The bathrooms are also large. The rooms have lots of little extras including toiletries, minibar, a safe, TV, and even binoculars.

The décor of the hotel rooms are very upscale, but the furnishings pale into insignificance in the presence of such views. It can be difficult not to just stare at Mt Cook constantly!

These hotel rooms are the place to catch up on any well needed rest. The beds are soooo comfortable, the bed linen delightful, it’s really quiet, and the curtains are dark. It can be a little difficult to get out of bed!

Facilities

The hotel has different options for dining (see below). Also contained within the complex are the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, the planetarium, and the Hermitage Retail Centre, a shop with souvenirs and a few groceries.

Wireless internet is available throughout the hotel for a fee.

Dining/Bars

The Snowline Bar is located off the lobby. With big leather couches, a nice fireplace and wood panelling, the bar is a very classy place to take in the alpenglow of Mt Cook through the huge picture windows. They have some signature cocktails such as Snowy Peak, Mt Cook Sunset, and Alpine Breeze, as well as a large range of well known concoctions. Knock yourself out!

The Alpine Restaurant next door also has large windows so that you can dine and stare at Mt Cook simultaneously. Breakfast is either continental or a buffet that includes a wide range of hot cooked items. Buffet meals are also on offer for lunch and dinner that includes seafood, salads, casserole type dishes and a plethora of mini desserts. During winter when the Panorama Restaurant is closed, a small a la carte menu is on offer.

The Panorama Restaurant (closed during winter) is the ritzy dining establishment at the Hermitage. As the name suggests, this restaurant also affords great views of the mountains.

During the day the large Sir Edmund Hillary Café is the place to hang out, especially on the balcony on a sunny day. The food is simple and very affordable and includes sandwiches, paninis, sausage rolls, basic hot dishes, cakes, pastries and a variety of beverages including alcoholic ones. During summer pizzas are sometimes available in the evenings.

Why Stay at the Hermitage Hotel Mt Cook?

The Hermitage Hotel provides a very high standard of accommodation at which to base yourself and make the most of the many activities that Mt Cook has to offer: heli skiing, tramping, mountaineering, glacier tours and scenic flights. All the dining areas and most of the rooms afford fabulous views that are incredibly intoxicating (or maybe it’s the cocktails?!). The Hermitage Hotel provides convenient access to most of the dining and activities in the village – it’s the place to stay at Mt Cook.