Colenso Hut
Lake Colenso, Ruahine Forest Park
Colenso Hut lies not at its namesake, Lake Colenso, but 5 minutes away on the terraces of the Mangatera River (south fork). It's a standard hut with 8 bunks on two sleeping platforms, a 'corker cooker' wood-stove for heat and the option of cooking, and tank water. The hut is nicely sited to catch the morning sun, with views of the sunrise over the main Ruahine Range to the east.
The Colenso basin and lake is a destination worthy of a visit in itself: an amazing array of native flora and fauna in an area which is otherwise a beech or tussock monoculture.
The Colenso name comes from missionary William Colenso who may have been the first European to cross the Ruahines. A 'Colenso crossing' of the Ruahines via Colenso Spur above Barlow Hut, Lake Colenso and Colenso Peak is a viable 2-4 day crossing of the Ruahines.
Owner
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Owner: DOC |
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Category
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Standard Hut |
Sleeps
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Sleeps 8
8
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Facilities
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Toilet, Enclosed wood/coal burner |
Water supply
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Tap or tank water |
Getting there
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Maropea Forks Hut: -> Unknown Campsite 4km (2-4hrs) -> Maropea Forks Hut 6km, (2-4 hrs) tracks, 400m of riverbed route Iron Bark Hut: 5km (2-4 hrs) track. Riverbed options also exist via Unknown Stream or Mangatera River. Ruahine Corner Hut via Patea: 6km (time unknown) 3km gorgy riverbed route, 3km tracks Ruahine Main Range (Trig U) via Patea: 6km (time unknown) riverbed route / track Ruahine Main Range (Te Atu Mahuru): 6km, riverbed route |
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Unlocked
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This hut is unlocked and open to access. |
Bookings
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No bookings — open access
No — open access
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Altitude
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700m |
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Mobile phone coverage
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No coverage |
Maps
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NZTopo50-BK36
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