Maitland Hut (Ruataniwha)

Ruataniwha Conservation Park

Maitland Hut is a typical 4-bunk forestry style hut in the Maitland valley. The hut's in a large clearing in the beech forest and as such nice and sunny.

Most visitors are here to hunt the Maitland hunting block - red deer, tahr and chamois being present in the area in low-moderate numbers. However, the valley also offers an easy low-altitude route from the Hopkins to Ahuriri via the Maitland and Snowy Gorge valleys.

Access up the Maitland from the Hopkins follows a farm track and permission is required off Lake Ohau Station. Alternatively a route crosses from the South Temple via the saddle at 2251400, 5667100. This route is entirely on public land and DOC's comment was that it is also faster than the private track.

Into the Ahuriri there's two main options: over the low saddle upriver to Snowy Gorge Hut and then the Ahuriri. Alternatively you can climb either of the ridges to the west of the hut and drop into the Watson over the moderate saddle.

Maitland Hut • By madpom. Licence: cc by.
Key information
Owner
Owner: DOC
Category
Standard Hut
Sleeps
Sleeps 4
4
Facilities
Toilet, Enclosed wood/coal burner
Water supply
Natural water source
tank has been removed!
Getting there
Getting there
Lake Ohau Station (2255800,5666600): 11km, (time unknown) 4wd track, track

Temple Shelter roadend: 16km (time unknown), track/route

Ahuriri roadend via Watson (2238800, 5657300): -> Shamrock Hut (13km, 4-7 hours, route) -> roadend (6km, 1-1.5 hrs, 4wd track)

Ahuriri via Snowy Gorge (2240600, 5646400): -> Snowy Gorge Hut (10km, 2-4 hrs, track/tussock route) -> road (13km, 3-4 hrs unknown, valley route)

Unlocked
This hut is unlocked and open to access.
Bookings
No bookings — open access
No — open access
Other
Altitude
950m
Mobile phone coverage
No coverage
Maps
NZTopo50-BZ14
Link
www.doc.govt.nz/p...http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/backcountry-huts-by-region/canterbury/mackenzie-country-and-waitaki/maitland-hut/
Map
ID 3973

About this hut

Added 13 May 2009 by madpommadpom. 4 revisions, most recently 5 March 2023 by HonorarHonorar.
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