Alan Thomson said the ''major refurbishment'' of the hut in the Rock and Pillar Conservation Park would be complete next month.
The trust was formed by the Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club, and much of the work was carried out by club members.
The internal furnishings of bunks, bench, table and stools were being built but the hut had new piles, floor, insulated walls and ceiling and double-glazed windows.
The hut had been painted green and the inside walls would be varnished later this week, he said.
The refurbishment had taken 830 hours of work so far by 37 men, women and children.
The hut would sleep 10 people comfortably but the bunks were sturdy enough that a mattresses could be shared by more than one person, he said.
If a tramper arrived at a full hut, then trampers friendly enough would often snuggle up, he said.
The project had received $31,000 of funding but the trust required about $7000 more.
The hut was originally built about 50 years ago and when the refurbishment was finished he expected more visitors to use the hut.
''I imagine it would treble.''
The cost to stay at the hut was $5, a small price to pay for a ''$4 million view'' from 1200m above sea level, he said.
Access to the hut required a 90km drive from Dunedin and a 9.5km hike, he said.
