Reischek Hut

Hakatere Conservation Park

Reischek Hut (6-bunk, mattresses, stove, firewood, tank water, mountain radio) is a New Zealand Deer Stalkers Association (NZDA) hut on the south side of the Rakaia river flats. It's also the most comfortable hut I stayed at between Otira and Mt Cook (McCauley Lodge wins on luxury but not comfort).

Whilst the hut is owned by NZDA, it is open to the public. Donations are encouraged by post.

The hut is handy for those heading upstream into the heads of the Rakaia to the Lyell and Ramsay Glaciers. A marked route to Lyell Hut crosses the saddle south of Meins Knob, avoiding bluffs by the river. Details in hut.

Crossing the Rakaia at this point is possible in low-moderate flows, but those heading up the Whitcombe Pass from the road end, are advised to cross at Glenfalloch station where the river is more braided.

The Butler Saddle to the south of the hut provides an alpine route into the Lawrence, and thus onto the Clyde / Havelock.

Reischek Hut • By madpom. Licence: cc by.
Key information
Owner
Owner: NZDA
Category
Basic Hut/Bivvy
Sleeps
Sleeps 6
6
Facilities
Mountain radio, Toilet, Enclosed wood/coal burner
Water supply
Tap or tank water
Getting there
Getting there
Raikaia roadend (Glenfalloch Station): 18km. River flats (4WD route)

Erewhon Stn (Havelock River): 29km unmarked alpine route. Hut-> Lawrence Biv via Butler Saddle (10km,6-12hrs) -> Lawrence Hut (9km,3-5hrs)-> roadend (10km,2-3hrs)

Whitcombe roadend (J33 482038): 35km track/route, crossing Raikaia. Hut-> Neave Hut (12km,6-10 hrs) -> Wilkinson Hut turnoff (3.5km,1.5-3hrs) -> Prices Flat Hut (5.5km,2.5-5 hrs) -> Frew Hut (9km,3.5-7hrs) -> Rapid Ck Hut (7km) -> roadend (9km)

Unlocked
This hut is unlocked and open to access.
Bookings
No bookings — open access
No — open access
Other
Altitude
840m
Mobile phone coverage
No coverage
Maps
NZTopo50-BW18
Map
ID 2053

About this hut

Added 21 June 2007 by madpommadpom. 2 revisions, most recently 3 April 2017 by matthewmatthew.
206 views in the past year (17 per month).