Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre set to open: 23-05-2008
The widow of Sir Edmund Hillary will officially open the new Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre at Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand on Thursday (May 29th 2008), the 55th anniversary of her late husband's first ascent of Mount Everest.
The $7.5 million centre is designed to educate visitors through a state of the art 3D cinema, stargazing, a museum, the Hillary Gallery and New Zeeland's first full dome planetarium.
The centre is based at the world-renowned Hermitage hotel and Hermitage general manager Denis Callesen says the centre promises to provide a fascinating experience.
"Visitors can explore our galaxy and beyond, soar over mountains, ski glaciers, and climb New Zealand’s highest peak all from the comfort of their seats," he told snow.co.uk.
"They can follow the fascinating history of the region and its people and gain a unique insight into the life and achievements of Sir Edmund Hillary and his longstanding connection with the region."
Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first known climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1953.
Hillary died of heart failure on January 11th 2008, aged 88, and was given a state funeral in his native New Zeeland before having his ashes scattered in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf as he desired.
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