No. 3 Hut / Number Three Hut

Lake Sumner Conservation Park

No. 3 Hut (16 beds in 2 rooms, wood-burning stove, tank/creek water) is a lovely historic hut on flats in the mid reaches of the Hurunui River. The hut is well built and lined with macrocarpa timber.

Harper Pass was the standard route to the Westland goldfields until Arthur's Pass opened in 1865. The route was neglected until 1938 when the Department of Internal Affairs attempted to promote it as a recreational walk, with the lofty goal of rivalling the Milford Track.

Five numbered huts were built along the route at Lake Taylor, Hurunui River, the head of the Taramakau, and near Toms Creek. Only Nos. 3 and 4 remain, although No. 1 Hut has been shifted to The Lakes Station.

When constructed, the side room was intended as exclusive space for women!

No. 3 Hut • By Byron.
Key information
Owner
Owner: DOC
Category
Standard Hut
Sleeps
Sleeps 16
16
Facilities
Toilet, Enclosed wood/coal burner
Water supply
Tap or tank water
Getting there
Getting there
Hurunui Hut / Lake Sumner Roadend: 9km (2.5 - 4 hours) to Hut. Valley floor track / well maintained cut track in bush sections. Roadend 2km (30 mins) beyond hut.
Unlocked
This hut is unlocked and open to access.
Bookings
No bookings — open access
No — open access
Other
Altitude
640m
Mobile phone coverage
No coverage
Maps
NZTopo50-BU22
Map
ID 863

About this hut

Added 25 September 2005 by matthewmatthew. 3 revisions, most recently 29 October 2014 by HonoraHonora.
36 views in the past year (3 per month).