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Kōrero: National parks

The first hotel, Aoraki/Mt Cook

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The first hotel, Aoraki/Mt Cook

Aoraki/Mt Cook was an early tourist destination, and a small hotel, the Hermitage, was built near the Mueller Glacier in 1894–95. Seen here around 1910, it was destroyed by floods in 1913 and replaced by a new structure. This burnt down in 1957, and was replaced by the current Hermitage hotel. Land around the mountain was reserved in the late 19th century, but Mount Cook National Park was not established until 1953.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Christchurch City Libraries

Reference: Photo Collection 22, Img00344

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Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Nancy Swarbrick, National parks – National parks – the beginnings, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/14422/the-first-hotel-aorakimt-cook (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Nancy Swarbrick, i tāngia i te 2 March 2009, updated 1 August 2015.