Perched on a windswept ridge somewhere in the Southern Alps, this backcountry hut used to be a well-kept secret among hardcore trampers.
Today, it’s fully booked for the next two years — and it’s all because of one viral TikTok.
The video has been viewed over 8.4 million times, and what was once a quiet overnight stop has now become one of the most sought-after locations in Aotearoa.
A 6-bunk hut with million-dollar views
The hut itself is basic — no electricity, no phone signal, and just six wooden bunks with foam mattresses.
But the view? Unbelievable.
From the deck, trampers can see layers of snow-capped peaks rolling into the horizon, while clouds drift through the valleys below. On a clear night, the Milky Way is so bright it casts shadows.
“It’s like sleeping in the sky,” says one of the hut’s regulars. “You wake up above the clouds.”
One video changed everything
In April 2025, a solo hiker posted a 30-second clip of her sunrise coffee at the hut.
Set to gentle music, it showed the glow of dawn lighting up the mountains, steam rising from her mug, and a panoramic shot from the hut’s doorstep.
Within days, the video blew up on TikTok and Instagram. Travel influencers picked it up. International hiking blogs shared it. And the bookings exploded.
By mid-May, all weekends until March 2027 were taken. DOC’s website crashed twice from the sudden surge in traffic.
A system under pressure
The hut, managed by the Department of Conservation, wasn’t designed for mass tourism. There’s no road access — only a demanding 5-hour alpine hike, often exposed to strong winds and unpredictable weather.
DOC has since issued multiple warnings:
- No day visitors are allowed to sleep in tents nearby.
- No drones, due to local wildlife protection rules.
- No fire, no toilets beyond the long-drop, and no phone coverage.
Despite that, hikers continue to show up without bookings, hoping for a cancellation or a miracle.
“We had people crying because they walked up and couldn’t stay,” says a volunteer hut warden. “It’s become a social media pilgrimage.”
Locals divided
Some are thrilled that global attention is being brought to New Zealand’s natural beauty.
Others are concerned about overtourism, safety risks, and the loss of the hut’s original spirit — a quiet place for experienced trampers, not an influencer photo spot.
DOC is now considering a lottery system for future bookings, or potentially building a second, overflow hut nearby — though nothing is confirmed.
Want to go? You’ll have to wait
If you’re hoping to experience the magic yourself, be prepared to wait… or get lucky with a rare cancellation.
In the meantime, seasoned trampers suggest rediscovering lesser-known huts that offer similar views — but without the hashtags.
Because while the internet may have found this hut, the mountains still belong to those willing to walk quietly.
But what hut is it?
Image search shows up as Ivory Lake which it certainly isn’t. I suspect most of these type of stories on this site are AI generated rubbish. Check some of the other stories out re tracks and valleys near Te Anau and Aspiring