Aokaparangi Hut
Tararua Forest Park
Aokaparangi Hut (2 bunks, matresses, tank water): A tidy, well insulated 2-bunk hut on the bush-line overlooking the Waiohine River. There's no fire (despite the abundance of firewood), but it's fully lagged and double glazed and didn't take long to heat up with body-heat whilst around zero outside. Certainly makes a more cozy option than the cavernous and cold Maungahuka Hut.
The only down-side is the 200m drop off the Aokaparangi summit to the hut, which must be climbed again in the morning - or, if you're coming from Mid Waiohine the fact that you have to pass the the hut - 'just over there across that scrubby gully' - and continue to climb another 200m before dropping back down the correct spur.
Too many great tramps pass through here to list, including:
- Tararua Main Ridge
- Tararua Middle Crossing from Holdsworth to Otaki
- Loop from Otaki Forks via Y2YY, Andsersons, Maungahuka & Field

Owner
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Owner: DOC |
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Category
|
Basic Hut/Bivvy |
Sleeps
|
Sleeps 2
2
|
Facilities
|
Toilet |
Water supply
|
Tap or tank water |
Getting there
|
Holdsworth Roadend: Holdsworth -> Powell (2-4hrs, +1000m) -> Mid Waiohine (2-4 hrs, -1200m) -> Here (2-4 hrs, +1000m). Track - very steep! Kaitoke / Otaki Forks: -> Field/Kime -> Maungahuka (4-8 hrs) -> Here (2-4 hrs). Exposed ridgeline route Arete: Arete -> Dracophylum (2.5-5hrs) -> Nichols (2.5-5hrs) -> Andersons Memorial (2.5-5hrs) -> Here (2-4hrs). Track Otaki Forks: Forks -> Waitawaewae (3-6hrs) -> Andersons (3-6hrs) -> Here (2-4hrs). Track |
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Unlocked
|
This hut is unlocked and open to access. |
Bookings
|
No bookings — open access
No — open access
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Altitude
|
1,200m |
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Mobile phone coverage
|
No coverage |
Maps
|
NZTopo50-BP33
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Link
|
www.doc.govt.nz/p...http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/backcountry-huts-by-region/wairarapa/wairarapa/aokaparangi-hut/ |