Fox Glacier, Westland National Park
The nightly radio weather sked with Pioneer, Almer, Centennial and Chancellor huts will be at 1705, rather than 1805 as listed on the posters in the huts.
If guides or clients require a weather forecast but are arriving at the hut later than 1705 they can radio the DOC Visitor Centre the following morning from 0830 to request a forecast update.
Summary:
One of the busiest alpine huts in New Zealand, this alpine hut sits high on a rocky cliff above the Fox Glacier névé. There are numerous opportunists for skilled alpinists, from ski mountaineering, to ascents of the mighty Mount Tasman, New Zealand’s second highest peak.
Location:
On Pioneer Ridge, Fox Glacier névé.
Facilities:
16 bunks with mattresses only, radio, patchy utensils (suggest need to take your own), no stove, water tank (May be frozen in winter so take enough extra fuel to melt snow for water. Should be running okay in summer). The busy period is August to March, be prepared to snowcave, as the hut can't be prebooked.
Access:
Usually by air, on foot via Graham Saddle, or from Grand Plateau, Chancellor or Centennial Huts.
Fees:
Hut fees payable online by credit card or bank transfer (NZ accounts only) or to Department of Conservation Mt Cook or Westland
- Members $20 per night
- Non-members $40 per night
- Day-use $15 pp
Please remember to pay your hut fees. The existence of these high huts is dependent on human waste removal from these sites, this is what your hut fees pay for. Emptying the toilets at both Pioneer and Centennial Huts incur high costs, which are not reflected in the number of hut users being recorded. The club cannot continue to carry these costs, so if you enjoy using these huts, or even just the toilet, please pay your hut fees.
Bookings:
No bookings are possible. The hut is open all year round and beds are allocated on a first in first served basis.
Point Location:
POINT (170.18191338 -43.53066028)
NZTopo50: BX16 722 764
NZMS260 (old): H36 822 381