Waiaua Gorge Hut

Te Papakura o Taranaki

Waiaua Gorge hut, south-west of Mt Egmont. A large hut sleeping 16 in 2 bunkrooms (2 x platform bunks in each room). The entire front of the hut is large kitchen area, looking directly at the peak of Taranaki. Probably the best view of any of the bush-level huts on the mountain. An efficient woodburner and supplied firewood form the 'serviced' part of the hut.

The hut is less well frequented than the busy Holly Hut, and winter weeknights you're likely to have the place to yourself. However, the Taranaki circuit is still a very popular walk and in summer it can be busy. About 70% of visitors are from overseas.

The Brames Falls track gives good access to the upper tussock & rock slopes of Taranaki. This is a typical tramping track - a worn line weaving between the tussock & rocks - rather than the platformed, boardwalked highways of the northern part of the circuit.

The lower track to Lake Dive / Holly Huts is easy, well defined but can get muddy

Waiaua Gorge Hut & Mt Taranaki • By madpom. Licence: cc by.
Key information
Owner
Owner: DOC
Category
Serviced Hut
Sleeps
Sleeps 16
16
Facilities
Toilet, Enclosed wood/coal burner
Water supply
Tap or tank water
Getting there
Getting there
Most visitors stop here as part of the Around the Mountain circuit:

- Kahui Hut: 1.5-4 hours clockwise

- Holly hut: 4-8 hours clockwise

- Lake Dive hut: 2-5 hours anticlockwise via high or low tracks.

- Syme Hut: 3-6 hours anticlockwise via high track. For the adventurous an hour can be saved by climbing directly to Syme from the Brames Track - but bluffs in the area make this tricky in mist/fog.

The hut can also be accessed on a 1-2 hr walk from the Ihaia Roadend

Unlocked
This hut is unlocked and open to access.
Bookings
No bookings — open access
No — open access
Other
Altitude
600m
Mobile phone coverage
No coverage
Maps
NZTopo50-BJ29
Link
www.doc.govt.nz/p...http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/backcountry-huts-by-region/taranaki/taranaki/waiaua-gorge-hut/
Map
ID 6650

About this hut

Added 1 April 2011 by iangeorgeiangeorge. 5 revisions, most recently 15 May 2013 by madpommadpom.
153 views in the past year (13 per month).