MOTEL ESPECIALLY FOR SKIERS

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34146, 6 May 1976, Page 10

MOTEL ESPECIALLY FOR SKIERS

Accommodation near the Mount Hutt skifield received a welcome boost just before Easter with the opening of the $225,000 Mount Hutt Lodge. It is a motel complex that could reasonably expect massive patronage from Christchurch skiers, who have previously had to travel to and from Mount Hutt each day. The 10 luxury suites sleep up to four and each is -elf-contained. Another suite sleeps up to six. There are full laundry faciliti (which include a drying room) and a shop whi -h even supplies heavy jersnjs for warmth on the slope's of Mt Hutt.

Although it is officially in Malvern County, the lodge commands a tremendous view of the picturesque Rakaia Gorge looking upstream from the bridge which forms part of Sta’e Highway 72. Mt Hutt itself forms the backdrop to tilts view. The project to build Mt Hutt Lodge started with a conversation among friends of Mr and Mrs Denham Cook, the managers, about the lack of accommodation there, about four years ago. .Mrs Cook said they picnic ted at Rakaia Gorge and looked around before settling on the seven acres they eventually bought. Set on two levels high above the gorge, it lends itself well to future and staged development. The lower flat has already been

developed and includes a sealed drive and parking area. The second flat is for a restaurant and manager’s home. Mrs Cook said they were attracted to Mt Hutt by the fact that it offered a longer ski season than other areas in New Zealand. They also appreciated the possibilities which the river offered. Jet Boat rides can be arranged within 30 minutes, and there is salmon and other fishing available within a few minutes walk. Within a week of its opening by the Minister of Transport and M.P. for Rakaia (Mr McLachlan), the Mt Hutt Lodge had its house full sign up. Easter crowds soon filled it and bookings for both the May and August school holiday

attest to its popularity already. The building owes a lot to me tenacity of workmen from the Ashburton firm, Bradford Construction Ltd. who worked through a severe winter to meet its deadline. It is made in a modern Swiss style, stained half-timbering constrasting with concrete block. The tile roofing blends with the natural colours of its rural backdrop. The spacious Lodge Room features a large fireplace and looks an ideal setting for apres-ski parties. These are particularly popular with the younger people who frequent the field. For the often muddy trip through winter snow to Mt Hutt, points have been

installed — something which too many motels and hotels forget about in meeting the needs of the travelling public. Looking ahead, the lodge has exciting possibilities in that the popularity of the inland route from Christchurch to Mt Cook and the Southern Lakes is increasing rapidly. It could be considered an ideal day’s drive from the Picton ferry terminal with the next day available to see Mt Cook on the way south to, say, Queenstown. The tariff at Mt Hutt Lodge is $17.50 per couple per night with additional adults paying $4 and children under 15 $3. Bookings can be made either by writing to Mt Hutt Lodge. No. 2 R.D., Rakaia or telephoning Glenroy 898.