Waiopehu Hut

Waiopehu sits in a delightful location just above the bushline on Waiopehu ridge. As with all the new Tararua huts, the balcony area is large and inviting with a fantastic view out over the Manawatu.

Getting There

Waiopehu can be accessed from Ohau Road end via the long and boring Waiopehu ridge or the more interesting Gable End track. You can also get to Waiopehu from TeMatawai and South Ohau hut forming quite a nice loop for the more adventuous. ... (more)

Te Matawai Hut

Te Matawai (pronounced T Matt-Ah-Why) hut sits at the base of the ridge leading up to Arete biv and Pukemoremore. It is one of the largest huts in the Tararuas and reminds me of a farm barn. It has a welcoming pot belly stove but can be difficult to heat if the door through to the bedroom area is kept open.

Getting There

Te Matawai hut can be accessed from South Ohau and Waiopehu hut (part of the Ohau loop) or, for the more adventurous, Dundas, Carkeek, Mangahao or Drachophyllum huts. The hut is also part of the infamous Northern Crossing. ... (more)

South Ohau Hut

South Ohau hut is located on a prominant ledge above the Ohau river, surrounded by the sounds of rushing water and birdsong. The front balcony is a great place to relax and let the day go by.

Getting There

South Ohau hut can be accessed from Ohau roadend via the river (betware the gorge upstream from the South and North Ohau fork, its quite tricky) or the Waiopehu / Te Matawai hut loop. For the more adventurous you can drop in from the Mangahao. ... (more)

Alpha Hut

Alpha hut sits just in the bush on the Marchant Ridge side of Alpha. Its in quite a popular area with the Southern Crossing and increasing numbers coming across from Renata. Its in an excellent location with many a warm summers day spent out in the sun in the front of the hut. It can accommodate up to 16 people on mattresses comfortably and needs to in mid summer when the Southern Crossings in full use.

Getting There

Alpha hut can be accessed from Kaitoki roadend via Marchant Ridge or the Tauherenikau river. For the more adventurous you can also get to Alpha hut from Elder, Kime, Cone and Tutuwai huts ... (more)

Powell Hut

Easily the most visited hut in the Tararuas and with good reason. Awesome is the only way to describe a night on the mountain although expect it to be cold and crowded no matter what time of year. I've spent many a comfortable night out on the balcony while everyone inside puts up with the cold, snoring and people moving around at all hours. In winter a popular activity is to wait till first thing in the morning and watch the accidental ice skating as the water on the floor freezes overnight.

Getting There

Powell Hut can be accessed from Holdsworth roadend via Gentle Annie or Jumbo. For the more adventurous you can reach Powell from Mid Waiohine, Totara Flats and Atiwhakatu hut. ... (more)

Renata Hut

Renata huts conditions has actually improved in the five or so years since I last visited it. Previously the chimney was falling off and you could see outside through the hole. However on my last visit the hut was in reasonable if a little rustic condition. It has foam mattresses on a Maori Bunk, a decent water tank, plenty of space and a wood store with the now hard to find ax (not many huts have axes these days unfortunately). The long drop is similar to the hut, fairly tidy but also rustic and is difficult to find. Basically the track to the loo starts past the water tank and down the hill a little ways.

Getting There

Renata can be accessed from Akatarawa Road via the plateau 4wd track. For the more adventurous you can also get to Renata from Kapakapanui, Elder and Waioturu huts. ... (more)

Sayers Hut

For those who like a more quiet existence then the hotel that is Totara Flats and who don't find getting their feet wet for some time away from the maddening crowds, Sayers Hut is virtually an oasis of peace. She's a rustic hunters hut best known for its many signs indicating where the jet boats are and you can place your vote. The only hut in the Tararuas that uses hammocks you can often get some trout or venison along with some great stories if your lucky enough to share the hut with some hunters.

Getting There

Sayers can be accessed from Totara Flats over the river via Walls Whare or Holdsworth roadends. ... (more)

Smiths Creek Shelter

The first tramping hut I ever visited and it may surprise you that I continued if you ever get to see the "bus stop". This hut suffers from being an hour or two from the road end although its built to survive a nuclear blast should this be required. A brick shelter (not officially a hut) can give a comfortable if exposed night to the desperate but most people will camp down by the river.

Getting There

Smiths Creek Shelter can be reached from Kaitoki Roadend via either the puffer track or the side of Marchant Ridge. You can also access the shelter from Tutuwai down the Tauherenikau river. ... (more)

Totara Flats Hut

This is the third Totara Flats Hut I've tramped to however its definitely the most palacial and comfortable although its location isn't quite as good as the previous Hut out on the grassy plain to the South. You might want to get to the hut early in peak summer time as this is a busy hut. It also happens to have awesome trout fishing in the river for both rainbow and brown trout. I recommend a stroll upstream if your keen on some fish for dinner although anywhere is pretty good. Totara Creek can be frustrating during the closed season in winter as the spawning trout literally flood Totara Creek, remember no matter how tempted you are these are next open seasons catch so hands off.

Getting There

Totara Flats can be accessed from Walls Whare or Holdsworth roadends. Sayers hut is across the river and Neil Forks hut is over the ridge at the back of the hut. ... (more)

Tutuwai Hut

A welcome sight after a hard slog up from Kaitoki although a hut that can also be missed if your casually wandering up the river terraces. The but itself is quite a distance from the river around ten meters up the bank. The hut itself is fairly basic but big. Rumours persist that its haunted although I've never seen anything myself its a legendary hut for heavy boot steps on the floor without anyone to make them. At night with a candle flickering and some noise outside (probably from possums but who knows) you may want company when you visit the long drop.

Getting There

Tutuwai hut can be accessed from Cone and Alpha huts or from Smiths Creek shelter. ... (more)

Roaring Stag Lodge

Roaring Stag lodge is one of those huts thats far enough away from the Roadend to really make you feel like you're going bush but doable in a reasonably casual weekend. Its located on the banks of the Ruamahanga river in amongst some nice bush. The lodge is well used by hunters, trampers and trout fishers so best avoided if you want some alone time.

Getting There

Roaring Stag can be accessed from Putara roadend. Nearby huts include Herepai, Cattle Ridge and, for the more adventurous, Cow Creek. ... (more)

Field Hut

While most trampers see this hut as a transit point for the Southern Crossing its also a great spot for a lazy weekend. The hut is just below the treeline so you don't get much of a view unless you climb one of the trees but Table Top is a short walk away. Field is the oldest remaining hut in the Tararuas having been built in 1924.

Getting There

Field hut can be accessed from Otaki Forks via the Southern Crossing or Kime hut coming the other way. ... (more)

Kime Hut

Kime hut can be either an oasis or hell hole depending on the weather outside. In winter its COLD, the hut book often mentions that its colder inside than outside and, just to rub it in, the hut used to have a large thermometer to prove the point. Overall though Kime Hut on a nice day is a great place to be with a prime alpine location and spectacular views out to Wellington and Mt Taranaki.

Getting There

Kime can be accessed from either Field or Alpha hut via the Southern Crossing. At a stretch you can also get to Kime from Elder and Mangahuka huts. ... (more)

Blue Range Hut

Of all the huts in the Tararuas, Blue Range wins the character competition (arguably pipping Sayers Hut at the post) with its bright blue colour scheme and plastering of signs and maps all over. Its also in a lovely location with views out to Mitre Peak, Girdlestone and the northern Tararua ranges.

Getting There

Blue Range can be accessed from Kiriwhakapa Roadend or Cow Creek and Mitre Flats huts. ... (more)

Waiotauru Hut

While Waiotauru hut sits in a nice location on the banks of the river unfortunately it suffers from easy accessibility along Wiaotauru Rd for 4wd, MotoX and mountain biking bringing in both the good and bad. I couldn't bring myself to stay in the hut on my first visit around 10 years ago because of the broken bottles on the floor; it wasn't even fit for the many rats in residence. Thankfully things look to be improving as Waiotauru Rd becomes less friendly to wheeled transport but I always take a tent just in case.

Getting There

Waiotauru hut can be reached from Otaki Forks roadend or from Kapakapanui. Nearby huts include Parawai hut, Renata hut, Kapapapnui hut and Kime hut (via snowy river). If you come from Otaki Roadend you can take either the river or the siddle track but beware of the many slips along the track. ... (more)

Kapakapanui Hut

This is one of my favourite Tararua huts because of the isolation and many great nights I've spent here. Its easily accessible with the top of the ridge having great views of the Southern Crossing and Otaki area. Unfortunately the view isn't so good from the hut but the surrounding bush more then compensates.

Getting There

The hut is situated on a flat mound amongst some mature beech forest. It can be accessed from the Ngatiawa roadend or the Akatarawa summit road and Renata and Waiotauru huts are the closest Tararua huts. ... (more)