The Club owns nine non-bookable huts and two bookable, member only, lodges in the Canterbury and Mount Cook regions. Club members enjoy free or discounted usage of these facilities.
The Club has a long and proud history of building huts in the mountains. We have huts from Arthurs Pass National Park down the eastern side of the Southern Alps to Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. The huts are located in areas where the club has been prominent in the exploration and development of climbing.
The Club is fortunate to have two lodges, one in Arthur’s Pass National Park and the other in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park.
Kennedy Lodge nestled in Arthur’s Pass Village is perfect for a weekend trip from Christchurch with climbs like Mt Bealey, Avalanche Peak and Mt Aicken made directly from the lodge. The lodge makes an excellent base for trips in the Bealey or Otira Valleys, Temple Basin or further afield into the National Park.
Wyn Irwin Lodge in Aoraki/Mt Cook is tucked behind Foliage Hill adjacent to the White Horse Hill campground. There are climbs that can be done directly from the lodge. The lodge is well located for trips up to Mueller Hut, Hooker Valley (Sefton Biv or Empress Hut), or further afield into the National Park.
Our backcountry huts and two lodges, Wyn Irwin Lodge and Kennedy Lodge, work very differently, so the cancellation and refund rules are different too. Hut fees work much like DOC hut fees: paying them does not reserve a bed. Lodge bookings are confirmed reservations and can be partly refunded if you cancel more than two days of your booking. Please read the section that applies to your stay.
Hut fees and refunds: Our huts operate on a fee-paying basis, like most DOC huts. You can pay your hut fees before or after your stay. Paying in advance does not reserve or guarantee a bed. Most of our huts are first come, first served, and casual visitors may already be there when you arrive. We recommend carrying a tent or other emergency shelter in case the hut is full. Because hut fees are not a booking, they are not refundable. If you happen to pay in advance and aren't able to make use of your stay, consider it payment for your next attempt or a donation to help maintain our huts.
Conditions of use:
Cancellation and refunds: You can cancel a lodge booking at any time using the 'cancel booking' link in your booking confirmation email. If you cancel more than two days before your booking date, you will receive an 80% refund. The remaining 20% covers the transaction costs the club incurs. Bookings cancelled within two days of the booking date are non-refundable.
Conditions of use:
The CMC was formed on the 10th April 1925 with a membership base of around 27 adventurers. Originally formed as a tramping club, outings on the Port Hills around Christchurch, and further afield to the foothills of Canterbury were the usual activity. As the club grew, the range of activities grew commensurately.
