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In the heart of the national Park sits Aoraki/Mount Cook Alpine Village - the perfect base to explore the natural wonders the park has to offer. A haven for adventure travellers since 1884, the Hermitage Hotel is proudly New Zealand owned and operated. The Hermitage features a range of hotel rooms from Standard to Premium Plus, offering spectacular views of Aoraki/Mount Cook or surrounding Southern Alps. The Hermitage Hotel offers a variety of dining establishments and unique activities, providing genuine New Zealand hospitality to guests from all around the globe.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Qualmark.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Nestled amidst the majestic scenery of Aoraki/Mount Cook, the Hermitage Hotel captivates guests with its unparalleled mountain vistas and commendable cleanliness. While the rooms earn accolades for their comfort and views, some visitors feel they are compact and could benefit from additional amenities.
The hotel's location is celebrated for its convenience to local attractions and star gazing opportunities, yet the high cost of dining and premium accommodations has led to mixed perceptions of value. Amenities like the buffet are popular, but service quality appears inconsistent, with both commendations for professionalism and critiques of responsiveness.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Scenic
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Abundant
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Disappointing due to weather-related cancellations of planned activities. Not the fault of the hotel obviously. That said, we were not crazy about our stay. The rooms in the lodge (separate from the hotel itself) were very "plain wrap." The walk to the hotel for our meals was a bit taxing for older folks with knee issues -- the hotel provides shuttle service but you need to book in advance and their follow-through was not always reliable (and thus a bit annoying). To their credit, the breakfast and dinner buffets had enormous variety and good quality offerings. Lunch offerings in their cafe were over-priced and underwhelming in quality.
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Date of stay: December 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a pleasant Mount Cook Suite room with balcony in the lower front building. We appreciated having the balcony and our room was fine. Some have commented on requesting an upper story room but the views are amazing everywhere. The Hermitage would seem to be milking its location, which is stunning, but there are very few lodging choices in the area and this was the most expensive place we have ever stayed. The hotel needs to offer more reasonably priced dinner options - there is either an expensive dinner buffet or an even more expensive prix fixed dinner. We heard from others that the food is not even very good. We splurged for the room (cost) to experience Aoraki/Mount Cook but overall The Hermitage is too pricey.
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Date of stay: March 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Many tour groups stay here, the lobby can get very crowded at check in and other times.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
We loved the views from this hotel and especially from our room on the tenth floor of the Aoraki wing. It’s a good ‘tourist’ hotel with a high turnover of international coach party clients staying one or two nights.
The restaurants both offer good food (see separate reviews for the Alpine and Panorama restaurants). The quality is good and hey are typical ‘hotel’ type restaurants.
The highlight of the hotel is the location overlooking Mount Cook. Watching the sun rise and set on this mountain is magnificent. Plus you’re near the Hooker Valley track (fabulous walk), nearby helicopter flights and Tasman lake boat trips.
The bedrooms in the Aorki wing were well appointed with a good size bathroom and nice toiletries,
There was an extensive breakfast buffet.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Ask for a high level room in the Aorki wing to enjoy the fabulous views - the tenth floor is super!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our 2nd visit and the hotel is still wonderful to stay in. Room well presented and cleaned and maintained beautifully. The view which you cannot stop,looking at . Oh and all hotel staff were beautifully presented and friendly. Makes such a difference to see a smiling face or two. We ate dinner (buffet) and breakfast … all food and service could not be faulted and selection and freshness of all dishes is to be admired. Plenty for adults and children to eat. Well done to all who work at the hermitage. I left feeling sad to be going. We did the glacier explorer tour with the hotel and once again it was well handled by all staff from the hotel through to boats and bus driver.
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Although we made the arrangements at the last minute, we were able to reserve two premium rooms for three people. (It seems that only twin-based rooms were available, so we ended up with two rooms.)
First of all, we were captivated by the wonderful view of Mount Cook from the large window.
The room had a table set and a large TV by the window. The king-size bed was large and positioned so that we could see the window. The bathroom only had a shower, but there were plenty of amenities, a coffee barista, and slippers, which was very convenient for us Japanese people. Meals were included, and both dinner and breakfast were excellent. We rented mountain bikes at the hotel. I think it was NZ$40 per person for four hours. Great hotel. It's very popular and difficult to make a reservation, but I would like to stay in a corner premium room again someday. Thank you for the wonderful memories.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It was beyond doubt that the rooms booked offered a stunning view of Mt Cook's scenery. However, the positive for my stay probably ends there.
The team needs to get their act together. Firstly, we were accorded the wrong rooms upon arrival. Upon informing the service staff of the error, the reception staff gave an alarmed face and highlighted that she will have to check with the manager before reverting. This was perplexing as intuitively I would have assumed the systems would reflect which rooms were booked. Staff subsequently apologised that the right rooms would not be ready for check in as housekeeping need to be performed and that the staff would inform us once the rooms were available.
Fast forward an hour (or perhaps more) later, there were no updates or such. We proceeded to the reception counter again and the staff reacted as though nothing had happened and provided the cards to the room. If you informed a guest that an update would be provided, you should ensure that is done.
Now that wasn't the end to the woes for the stay. We had booked 2 nights albeit in separate bookings and had upfront obtained the hotel's acknowledgement that they would ensure the same rooms would be accorded. To our horror, our room cards were deactivated on day 2.
To us, this stay was worse than staying in a regular, 3 star hotel simply because the soft aspects failed the fantastic location the hotel was located in. And, do not get me started on the food. From our perspective, it was no different from a catering offering.
Done and dusted. First and last experience wirh Hermitage.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We booked one night in a Premium King room for $715 including buffet breakfast and buffet dinner in Alpine - I've been back to double check to ensure I am 100% in all my details as I feel quite a number of reviews on here aren't even about The Hermitage, they mention the motel down the road which is quite clearly a different property and clearly defined on The Hermitage website. We were at the end of our 5.5 day Alps to Ocean's cycle trip with another couple, I had booked two rooms and every part of it was a good experience. All four of us felt the same. The location is stunning and for that it's fair to pay extra, that is just the reality of the situation. This is the same anywhere in the world, you don't get a view of Central Park or the Eiffel Tower for cheap. Eddie on reception was friendly, helpful and a laugh. The rooms are stunning, the view out of this world, parking around the back free and easy. All of us are usually not keen on buffets and one of our party is celiac but both dinner and breakfast were really good. At $79 per person for dinner it was surprisingly good value. Most things in NZ are expensive so this was welcome. I cannot go anywhere half decent and get a starter, main and dessert for $79. The drinks however are expensive, but that's nothing new. I ordered a mocktail and was served a cocktail, could immediately taste and smell the alcohol but they brought another without the alcohol. Very small drink has to be said, in a small champagne flute for $18. And my husband had one beer which was $15. But alcohol is where these places make a lot of their money. We will definitely be back to stay a couple of nights next time. We're all kiwis or long time residents and we all said The Hermitage was not the usual NZ offering - averagely maintained and run premises, for top-dollar. That is sadly very often what NZ has on offer now but our stay at The Hermitage felt like a quality European Alpine Resort.
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Hermitage Hotel is true luxury in New Zealand's Southern Alps. I was fortunate to get a premium room on the top floor corner with what would have been a spectacular panoramic view, except that I arrived during a storm that persisted my entire visit. The staff were accommodating and everything about the room, from the light fixtures to the plumbing fixtures, was top notch. The room was very comfortable for a nice rest during my trip around the world.
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Date of stay: March 2024
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Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:The room does not have a safe. I cold hear my neighbors arguing through the adjoining doors....
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed 3 nights here in a premium super king room with a perfect view of Mt. Cook through a super large window. The room was large with the bed facing the mountain for best effect. An excellent design. The room was clean and the bathroom was spacious. The hotel has a cafe' and bar / lounge area which were very inviting and comfortable. We had the breakfast and dinner package and it was well worth it. Especially as the nearest town is Twizel which is a fair drive and fogged in during these months. The breaky and dinner were buffet style and the food was beautifully cooked and a good variety. Barista coffees were included with the breakfast. The only issue we found were some of the chairs in the dining room were stained and were dirty. The tables get cleaned but the chairs have crumbs etc from the previous people that ate there. I suggest that the soft furniushed chairs be replaced with more servicable ones. Overall, a great place to stay.
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Date of stay: July 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed one night in the Aoraki Wing of this hotel – without doubt the best location for any Mount Cook sightseeing. You can leave your curtains open and lie in bed viewing Mount Cook – sensational! We indulged in the gastronomic feast of the Alpine Buffet Dinner – incredible food offerings – the grilled prawns were fantastic. If you’re coming to see Mount Cook you must stay here!
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Date of stay: December 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Invercargill, New Zealand77 contributions27 helpful votes
Was open but evacuated today I think due to fire on road into mount cook village. You would need to check with hotel when reopening. Not sure what difference was but only small difference in price and got a room on top floor with great views of mount cook. Maybe cheaper ones lower down
There are more places to choose from in the Mt. Cook Village area.
PRICE RANGE
HK$2,107 - HK$2,293 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
hermitage hotel mt cook village, hermitage new zealand
LOCATION
New ZealandSouth IslandCanterbury RegionMackenzie DistrictAoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu)Mt. Cook Village
NUMBER OF ROOMS
164
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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