Cupola Hut | Nelson Lakes National Park

There’s a couple of hours climbing to get up to the 1390 m altitude, one of the highest huts around, but the surrounding wrap of the mountains, the steep south face of Mt Hopeless and the gnarly climb to Mt Cupola, make it all worthwhile.

Built to accommodate scientific researchers looking at various things, it is reasonably light and filled with a decent ambience. Yeah, a favourite as much for the location as the actual facilities.

Cupola Hut was renovated by the Backcountry Trust in 2021 with a new roof, wall linings, water tank, woodburner, and paint job.

category . . . standard hut

hut fee . . . 1 standard hut ticket or backcountry hut pass, free to camp

booking . . . not required

elevation . . . 1390 m

bunks . . . 8 mattresses

built . . . 1962, renovated 2021

heating . . . woodburner

water . . . tap on 3000 litre rainwater tank

toilet . . . longdrop