Wharepapa Hut
Rimutaka Forest Park
Wharepapa Hut - a large 5-bunk (8 mattresses) hut 6km from the Wairarapa roadend in the Rimutakas. River water, open fire, toilet. A tidy, quiet hut with about 1 party/month, more in summer / roar.
From the roadend the track starts with a boring 2km beside a drainage ditch to the park boundary. Beyond that the walk is pleasant and varied. A couple of sections on small streambeds, and one steep section with rope just below the saddle.
Papatahi crossing to Orongorongo is challenging: a very steep climbing bushbash from the hut to the Papatahi Summit. Rewarded by amazing views of Lake Ferry and Wairarapa coast though, and cloud-forest near the summit. Descent to Orogorongo just as steep, but on scree/gravel, not mud. Track starts 200m upriver of hut - not obvious and very hard to see.
Some parties head north-east and along the Rimutaka ridgeline from the Papatahi summit and desecend to Waiorongomai Hut - a good challenging day on a ridgeline route.
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Owner
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Owner: DOC |
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Category
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Basic Hut/Bivvy |
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Sleeps
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Sleeps 5
5
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Facilities
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Toilet, Open fireplace |
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Water supply
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Natural water source
stream
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Getting there
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Western Lake Road (300m beyond Devon Stn turnoff): 6km, 1.5-3 hrs, track. Orongoronga Valley: 5km, 1.5-4 hrs. very steep track over Papatahi summit (700m climb/descent). From the Orongoronga you can continue on increasingly good tracks downriver to the Wainuiomata-coast road (17km), or cross to Catchpool (12km) / Wainuiomata township (11km). All huts in the Orongorongo valley require booking / keys from DoC. |
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Unlocked
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This hut is unlocked and open to access. |
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Bookings
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No bookings — open access
No — open access
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Altitude
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180m |
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Mobile phone coverage
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No coverage |
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Maps
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NZTopo50-BQ32
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Link
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www.doc.govt.nz/p...http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/backcountry-huts-by-region/wairarapa/wairarapa/wharepapa-hut/ |