This picture shows a now derelict miners cottage with an equally derelict "singlemans" hut tacked on the end of it. These structures are the last of the accomodation buildings from the mining days at Big River that are still standing. [The old cottage is called Rooneys after the family who used it as a bach post mine closure. It was lived in by the McMahon's during the mining era]

On the hill in the background you can see the current DOC hut.

Last visit I mountain biked in the 4x4 road to visit the huts. Besides the 4x4 road there are various walking tracks that go to Big River. The best maintained of these is from Waiuta. Lower standard options exist from State Highway 7 beside the Inangahua River. A totally unmaintained route exists from just south of Reefton Saddle on SH7. This rough route that starts in the Slab Hut Creek catchment is unmarked. It is interesting as it traverses lots of old alluvial gold workings & sections of old miners tracks.