Roaring Billy hut Jan 2011
An NZFS 1960's style 6 bunker on the TL of the Roaring Billy. The hut is about 6km from the Haast River on the North side opposite the highway. The Roaring Billy Falls where the river cascades down to the Haast is a popular tourist vista. Very few people walk in to the hut.
There is an overgrown track up the TL of the Roaring Billy that starts with climbing the bluff beside the falls then sidles up river to the hut. We took 4.25hrs picking our way up to the hut clearing moss off permolat & tying the odd pink tape in strategic places as we went. It wasn't a surprise to discover that we were the first walk in visitors for nearly three years. (Fellow "Permolat" members Quentin D & Emma R had been the last walk in visitors) Walking out took under four hours which is the DOC guideline time but we were travelling light. Most parties would struggle to walk in or out in under 4hrs because of the heavily overgrown state of the track. It's seriously overdue for some work!
Comments
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madpom Often considered this hut, but never figured out the logistics of crossing the Haast. The kayak idea sounds good - but sort of limits you to a there-and-back trip: you'd run out of kayaks pretty soon otherwise.
26 January 2011 -
glennj It's fairly obvious that DOC are no longer or have never maintained the track to this hut. It's a shame as it's a nice valley and the original track line has been well thought out. So if there are any keen volunteer track cutters out there this track is a project in waiting.
(We would do it but are committed to other projects and prefer to work closer to home in Central Westland)
25 January 2011