Fishtail Hut

Fishtail hut (4 bunk, matresses, tank water, no fire) is located on a plateau half way up the scree face on the south side of Mt Fishtail. The hut is effectively a large bivvy, with 4 bunks - and would be somewhat crowded if full. The hut is several hundred meters above the bushline, so a fireplace / stove is out of the question - but manages to cram a decent cooking bench / table inside along with the four bunks.

A southerly wind can tear across this face of the mountain, and the wire anchoring ropes are certainly well needed. It can all make for a noisy, shaky night. However, the hut is comfortable, and provides a good high-altitude stop on the east-west traverse of the Richmond Ranges between Fosters Hut and Fell Hut. A good cut track also climbs to the hut from the Pine Valley roadend to the south, accesible from the north bank of the Wairau.

The 200m climb to the 1641m summit of Mt Fishtail is rewarded with excellent views of the Wairau and the Sounds.