The Royal Forest and Bird Society is hopeful it can rebuild the Ruapehu Lodge destroyed by fire early today.
The fire, not thought to be suspicious, was reported at the 20x30m two-storey lodge in Whakapapa Village on Mt Ruapehu shortly after midnight.
The building is in ruins.
Forest and Bird general manager Mike Britton said the lodge was built in the 1960s and had been extremely popular.
"It's a great loss for thousands of Forest & Bird members and others who have stayed at the lodge over the past 40 years," Mr Britton said. "It was in the perfect spot at the foot of Mt Ruapehu, and was popular throughout the year."
The lodge was insured and he was hopeful it could be rebuilt.
Consent would be needed from the Department of Conservation as it was in Tongariro National Park, but he was hopeful that would not be an issue.
Mr Britton said investigators had not reached a definite conclusion about what started the fire, but he thought it was not believed to be suspicious.
The lodge was described as an ideal base for skiing, tramping or simply hot-pooling around the area, including Tongariro National Park.
It had a wood burner, spacious lounge and views of Mt Ruapehu, and slept up to 32 people.
NZPA