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New Zealand Huts from W to Z |
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Waihaha Date: March 2005 Where: Pureora Forest Park - map T18 Kuratau, central North Island Description: DOC (10) Access: From Waihaha bridge across SH32, approx. 2.5 - 3 hours easy walking along the Waihaha river. About 7 - 8 hours to/from Bog-Inn hut. About 1 hour to Mangatu Stream. 6 - 7 hours to Hauhungaroa hut Comments: Nice, easy walk along the Waihaha river - some beaut pools along the way - great swimming in summer. Hut situated in clearing next to the river - nice pool as well. Abundant birdlife. Situated at junction with main Hauhungaroa track. Individual bunks for 10, with room on the deck (sheltered porch) plus plenty of camping space. Woodburner and water tank, with inside tap/sink bench. Popular with mountain bikers and hunters. Stunning forest around hut - amazing trees. Nice roomy hut, with a good atmosphere. |
Waiharuru Date: July 2011 Where: Te Urewera National Park Description: DOC (40), Great Walk Hut Access: 3-3.5 hrs from Hopuruahine Landing, 2 hrs from Marauiti Hut Comments: Actually two huts, one for accommodation and one for cooking/dining. A separate camping area is slightly away from the hut with cooking shelter and water. If you are lucky, North Island Brown Kiwi may be heard during the night as the hut is close to a fenced off peninsula of the Puketukutuku Range which contains the Kiwi. As a great walk, separate great walk hut or camping passes are required all year round. |
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Waihohonu Where: Between Mt. Ruapehu and Mt. Ngauruhoe, Tongariro National Park Description: DOC (22) Access: 3 hours from Oturere Hut Comments: The best hut on the Tongariro Northern Crossing. New flush! toilets. Three sleeping areas: one cosy room next to the porch, a room off the central area which also has sleeping platforms. A Great Walk hut (needs dated hut ticket in advance) with a gas heater and gas stove (in summer). Camping areas across the stream (about 80 metres from the hut). |
Waikuku Where: Haurangi Forest park. Description: DOC Access: Road access in northern end of park. Comments: Ideal for family groups or to use as a base. Was an old farm homestead. Locked and needs to be booked at the Masterton DOC office. |
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Waiopehu Where: below Waiopehu, Tararua Forest Park Description: LWTC (18) Access: 4.5 hours from Gladstone Road, 3.5 hours from Te Matawai Hut. Comments: Great hut and views but very cold. No gas cookers but that is no biggy but the Hut definitely needs a gas fire. If you get wet, there is no way to dry yourself or your clothes. A good hut for the summer. The old Waiopehu Hut was located under the bushline with no views, in stark contrast to the new hut with its grand vista. Picture courtesy of: Richard & Judy Woolley |
Waiopaoa Where: Waikaremoana Great Walk, Te Urewera National Park, East Coast/Hawkes Bay. Description: DOC (30) Access: By boat/kayak, or 3-4 hours walk from Panekiri Hut (clockwise) or 5 hours walk from Marauiti Hut. Comments: Two sleeping areas with sleeping platforms reduce the chances of bunking down with a snorer! The hut has a wood burner that warms the whole hut to "tropical" standards. From Panekiri Hut the track drops steeply to rolling valleys and a very different forest. Watch for the change in birdlife also. From Marauiti Hut the track climbs over Whakaneke Ridge and then stays close to the shore. Just after crossing the Korokoro Suspension Bridge a side track leads to Korokoro Falls (approx. 30mins). The track then heads through kanuka forest before coming across the hut. |
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Waipakihi Where: Kaimanawa Forest Park Description: DOC (12) Access: Access is from Rangipo Power Station access road off the Desert Road. A 5-6 hour walk in over Umukarikari. Steep climb up through the bush to the tussock and scrub before giving way to shingle rounded tops, then a long gradual descent on an open ridge. Comments: The hut has a very effective coal range for this sort of weather. A popular spot for hunting from or further exploration of the inner Kaimanawa's. |
Waitaheta Date: 19 February 2005 Where: Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park Description: DOC (26) Access: From SH2 in the Karangahake Gorge near Waikino turn into Waitawheta Road, into Franklin Road. From road end 3.5 hours walk and 6 river crossings (not difficult under normal flow) up Waitawheta tramline track, easy gradient. Makes good introduction to river crossings and overnight tramps for beginners. Alternative access or exit from/to end of Woodside road, 4.5 hours, or from Wairongomai rd (Te Aroha) 6 hours. Comments: Large, brand new hut, two bunk rooms with sleeping platforms/mattresses and warden's accommodation. Woodburner, water supply, two toilets (state of the art!) and short tracks with signs informing about the logging history of the site. Swimming holes in river nearby. Plenty space for camping, or sleeping on decks if the hut is full. Great staging post for further tramps into the park, or as a stop on the North/South track. |
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Waitewaewae Where: Otaki River, Tararua Forest Park Description: HVTC (16) Access: 4 hours from Otaki Forks and 4 hours from Anderson Memorial Hut or Nichol Hut (steep descent!). Comments: The first architect-designed hut in the park - built to show good use of hut fees. Big windows make good use of any available light. Hot potbelly stove, 2 sleeping platforms, 16 mattresses. The last (or first) hut on the exciting circuit to the Tararua Peaks from Otaki Forks. |
West Sabine Where: West Sabine Valley, Nelson Lakes National Park Description: DOC (32) Access: 6-9 hours from Upper Travers Hut via the Travers Saddle. 5 hours from Sabine Hut. 3-4 hours down from Blue Lake Hut. Comments: A welcome stop after the hard drop from Travers Saddle. A sheltered location tucked under trees near the river. |
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West Harper Date: Dec 2009 Where: Craigieburn Forest Park Description: Basic 4 bunk hut Access: West Harper Hut is about half way (2 hours from either) between Lagoon Saddle and Hamilton Hut on the Cass/ Lagoon Saddle Circuit. Located on the true right in a small clearing next to the Harper River. Comments: This old hut has become quite dilapidated with time. Dirt floor with hessian bunks. Not an ideal place to stay except maybe when travel upstream becomes impassable. Comfort levels low but character levels high. |
Whakapapaiti Where: Tongariro National Park Description: DOC (20) Access: 1 1/2 hours from Bruce Road or 2 1/2 hours from visitors Centre. Comments: Makes a nice weekend round trip. Sleeps approximately 20 and gas. |
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Whanganui Where: Waikaremoana Great Walk, Te Urewera National Park, East Coast/Hawkes Bay. Description: DOC (18) Access: By boat/kayak, or 3-4 hours walk from Marauiti Hut (clockwise) or 45 minutes walk from the water taxi pick-up (or 2 hours from the track end). Comments: The hut has a gas heater which is notorious for not working. From Marauiti Hut the track runs parallel to the lakeshore before rising over the neck of the Puketukutuku Peninsula, then down towards the Whanganui arm of the lake. From here the track follows the shore to Whanganui Hut. From The water taxi pick-up/drop-off it is an easy 45 minute walk close to the lake shore to the hut. |
Whariwharangi Date: November 2010 Where: Abel Tasman National Park Description: DOC (20) Access: On the Abel Tasman Coastal Track, 1.5 hours from Wainui Inlet or 3 hours from Totaranui. Comments: Restored 19th century farmhouse on the often-neglected but stunning northern sector of the track. Bookings required. |
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Yellow Date: 3 June 2007 Where: Silver Peaks Scenic Reserve, Otago. Description: DOC (2) Access: From Hightop via Tunnels Track (2.5 hours, the 1st hour on a forestry road) or via Silver Peak and Rocky Ridge (5-6 hours). Comments: Basic hut scheduled for removal by DoC a couple of years ago but still there (Sep 2008). No nearby water. |
Zekes Date: May 2011 Where: Hihitahi Scenic Reserve Description: DOC (4) Access: 2.5 -3 hrs from SH 1 approximately 15 minutes north of Taihape. Comments: Follow poled route from SH-1 over farm land to a swing bridge. After crossing, follow the fence line to where the bush starts. The track is high up to your left marked by the standard orange triangle. Once in the bush the track climbs steeply till leveling out and follows the ridge past towering Mountain Cedar and a trig point. Shortly after it decends to the cosy hut. Kiwi normally heard at night. Wood burner and tank water. Consider parking elsewhere for over night trips. Easy tramping. |
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