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New Zealand Huts from O to P |
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Oaks Where: Orongorongo River, Rimutaka Forest Park Description: DOC (6) Access: 2 hours from the Catchpool carpark Comments: A "bush cabin" - book at the ranger's station at the entrance to the park. Ford the river straight over from the end of the Orongorongo Track to Browns Stream. The hut is about 100 metres along a thin track starting a few metres on the north bank of the stream. Surrounded by bush and so quite dark. |
Old Woman Date: 15 Jan 2003 Where: Old Woman Range, Central Otago. Description: DOC, coal range, sleeps 6 Access: 2hrs from Duffers Saddle on Nevis-Garston Road above Bannockburn. Comments: Classic central Otago schist tor landscapes. Views of Aspiring, Cook and Hector mountains. Good walking or occasionally ski-touring day trip in winter. |
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Omaru Date: Jan 2009 Where: Whanganui National Park, topomap R20 Matemateaonga Description: DOC (12) Access: From Kohi Saddle on Mangaehu Road, easy 1.5 hours on excellent track. Comments: First hut on the Matemateaonga Track, from west to east. Pleasant, comfortable, light, airy and well-maintained hut in grassy clearing with two sleeping platforms & foam mattresses, woodburner, inside sink bench, plenty seating around large table. Outside water supply with sink. Toilet. Plenty birds, especially long-tailed cuckoos. |
Ongaruanuku Date: 7 July 2007 Where: Waitakere Ranges, Auckland. Description: Auckland University Tramping Club Access: Ridge Road Track. Comments: A typical student tramping hut with many amusing signs. See the AUTC web site for booking information. |
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Otukota Where: Ruahine Forest Park Description: DOC (6) Comments: A basic hut. Sits above the river and is a steep climb to get up to. |
Oturere Where: Tongariro National Park Description: DOC (22) Access: 5.5 hours from Mangatepopo and 3 hours across from the new Waihohonu Hut. Comments: A grand location on the east side of Ngauruhoe in the Tongariro National Park. The smallish living area has 2 sleeping platforms on one side and 2 rooms with bunks on the other. A Great Walk hut (needs dated hut ticket in advance) with a gas heater and gas stove (in summer). 5-6 formed tent sites outside. Water levels can get low in the tanks in which case water is obtained from the nearby stream which includes a neat waterfall for freezing showers. |
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Packhorse Date: 13 June 2008 Where: Banks Peninsula Description: DOC (8) Access: From Kaituna Valley (2 hours) or longer routes from Gebbies Pass, Diamond Harbour or Summit Road. Comments: Historic stone hut, originally built as one of Harry Ell's roadhouses (Sign of the Takahe etc) but the road was never put through. |
Pahautea Where: Pirongia Forest Park Comments: This is a very small hut, with two bunk platforms that would sleep 6 or 8 at a push. It is near the summit of Pirongia and is a long walk from any entrance to the park. A standard hut under DOC's listing as has water and long drop. It rains a lot in the Waikato, and even more onto of Pirongia so there is also raised camping areas for tents because the ground is boggy, hence the wooden raised walkways around the hut. |
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Panekiri Where: Waikaremoana Great Walk, Te Urewera National Park, East Coast/Hawkes Bay. Description: DOC (36) Access: The hut is 5 hours walk from the track start at Onepoto (clockwise) or 4 hours walk from Waiopaoa Hut. Comments: The hut has a great atmosphere and fantastic views. Make sure you get up in the middle of the night to see the stars! From Onepoto the track climbs steadily to the ridge top where there are fantastic views down over the lake. The track undulates along the ridge for several hours before reaching the hut. From Waiopaoa Hut the track rises gently through undulating valleys before climbing steadily/steeply to the hut. |
Papatahi Date: August 2010 Where: Orongorongo Valley, Rimutaka Forest Park Description: DoC (10) Access: From Catchpool Stream, 3 hours. Comments: New DoC hut adjacent to, and ultimately to replace, Shamrock Hut. Locked, with bookings (on a whole hut basis) required. |
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Parawai Date: 2006 Where: Otaki Forks, Tararua Forest Park Description: PTC (30) Access: 5 minutes from the carpark by the caretakers, 2 hours down from Field Hut, 5 hours down from Kime Hut and 4-5 hours from Waitewaewae Hut. Comments: Quite tidy. 2 sleeping platforms and a fireplace. Plenty of wood supplied. |
Perry Saddle Date: Feb 2007 Where: Kahurangi National Park, DoC Parkmap 274-13 Kahurangi Description: DOC (24) Access: From the East, next hut on the Heaphy track from Brown Hut, 5 to 5.5 hours (all uphill!). Gouland Downs hut is another 2 hours away. Comments: Pleasant, cosy hut with great views to the south. Usual first stop for most people walking the Heaphy track from East to West. Gas heating/cooking facilities, water, two bunkrooms with sleeping platforms & mattresses. Hut can be crowded in the busy season, and would suggest carrying on to Gouland Downs hut (another 1.5 - 2 hours on) if you have the energy. Prior booking required, as it is a "Great Walks" hut. |
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Port Craig Date: 8 April 2005 Where: South Coast Track, Fiordland Description: DOC (15) Access: From Rarakau via Bluecliffs Beach 6 hours (5 hours if low tide option between Breakneck Creek and Te Whata is taken). Comments: The last remaining building in the 1920s timber milling village of Port Craig is the former schoolhouse, now a DoC hut. It survived when the receivers moved in as it was the only building owned by the government rather than the timber company. Apart from the amazing bush and coastal scenery, the remnants of the logging industry are a major attraction here - particularly the impressive viaducts a coupe of hours further on. There's an interpretative walk through various relics near the hut, and a chance of seeing Hector's dolphins cavorting near the old wharf. The Port Craig Village accommodation complex for the Hump Ridge track is nearby. |
Pouakai Date: 26 October 2003 Where: Egmont National Park Description: DOC (sleeps 16 on bench bunks) Access: 4 hours from Egmont Rd (start 2.3 km below North Egmont Visitor Centre); 2.5 - 3 hours to Holly Hut; 2.5 hours from Mangorei Road. Comments: A popular hut just above the bushline with good views - a great place to take families due to its proximity to the road end. |
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Pouri Date: Jan 2009 Where: Whanganui National Park, topomap R20 Matemateaonga Description: DOC (18) Access: 4 - 4.5 hours from Omaru Hut, travelling west to east, on excellent track. Comments: Second hut on the Matemateaonga Track. Similar design & layout to Omaru Hut, except this has three sleeping platforms with foam mattresses. Has woodburner, inside sink bench, and plenty seating around large table. Outside water supply with sink. Toilet a short distance from hut. Has dog kennels behind hut. Good walking on the almost level track, with good views of Mt Ruapehu. On the way a 1.5 hour (return) side trip up Mt Humphrey is well worth the effort - on a clear day you can see Tongariro, Ruapehu, Ngaruhoe and Taranaki - excellent views. |
Poutaki Date: June 2009 Where: Wakarara Conservation Area, Central Hawke's Bay Description: DOC (4) Access: From Yeoman's mill car park, cross Makaroro river, up Wakarara road, into Leatherwood road, to road end to access track. Total 3 to 3.5 hours tramp to hut. Comments: The only hut on the Wakarara Range. Standard DOC 4 bunk hut, with foam mattresses, small potbelly stove, bench and seating. Water and toilet. Not often visited, but well worth the effort - great views from ridge, summit and hut. Track is not marked on map, but it is fairly distinct with sporadic orange markers. Map 260 series U22 Ongaonga. |
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Powell Date: December, 1999 Where: below Mt. Holdsworth, Tararua Forest Park Description: DOC/HVTC (40) Access: 4 hours from the Mt. Holdsworth road end. 3-4 hours from Jumbo Hut. Comments: Great views across the Wairarapa Plains. Popular as a stop in day walks to Mt. Holdsworth (4 hours from the carpark, 1 hour from the top). Most modern long-drops in NZ! Gas stoves. Also see: Powell in Winter, Old Powell Hut Picture courtesy of Peter Sundstrom. |
Puketotara Date: Jan 2009 Where: Whanganui National Park, topomap R20 Matemateaonga Description: DOC (12) Access: About 7.5 hours on excellent (but occasionally muddy) track from Pouri Hut, or 2 hours from/1.5 hours to Bridge to Nowhere Lodge (on true right of Whanganui River, at Ramanui). Ngapurua Shelter is about halfway between Pouri and Puketotara huts. Comments:Third hut on Matemateaonga Track, travelling west to east. Similar design & layout to Omaru Hut. Two sleeping platforms with mattresses, inside sink bench, woodburner and seating/table. Outside water supply, sink and toilet. Great views over the Whanganui river and surrounding bush. The only way out from here is either by jetboat from Bridge to Nowhere Lodge, or by helicopter, or walk back to Kohi Saddle. Good extra option is to do jetboat tour to Bridge to Nowhere - great fun, and interesting - talk to Lodge owner. |
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