Places to stay
Westland / Tai Poutini National Park
Welcome Flat Hut
Hut
• Serviced Hut (DOC). Capacity: 30.Bookings required.
A two-storey lodge with wardens' quarters located near the Welcome Flat hot pools. A popular spot year-round. This hut must be booked in advance with DOC.
Castle Rocks Hut
Hut
• Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 8.
Small Hut, 8 bunks, wood stove. 5 minute walk to Castle Rock, a large granite outcrop with great views over Marahau and Tasman Bay.
Chancellor Hut
Hut
• Serviced Alpine Hut (DOC). Capacity: 12.
This historic hut is located 200m above Fox Glacier on Chancellor Ridge. The bunk room was formally the women's room. Built 1931, this is the oldest New Zealand alpine hut on its original site.
Christmas Flat Hut
Hut
• Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 4.
Located on Christmas Flat in the head of the Karangarua Valley. Mainly used by hunting parties who helicopter in. Because of this, the track up the Karangarua is somewhat overgrown.
Almer Hut
Hut
• Serviced Alpine Hut (DOC). Capacity: 12.
Located on the top of Franz Josef Glacier, this was the first prefabricated and air-lifted hut in Westland National Park, in 1950. Renovated in 1992 and 1995. Maintenance supported by Franz Josef G...
Pioneer Hut
Hut
• Serviced Alpine Hut (NZAC). Capacity: 16.
New Zealand Alpine Club hut perched on the rocky Pioneer Ridge over the Fox Glacier névé. The Pioneer Hut looks across to Mount Tasman (3497m).
Horace Walker Hut
Hut
• Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 4.
Small (4 bunk, pioneer stove, limiter firewood, stream water @ 200m), isolated hut on the Douglas River west of Mount Sefton and below the Douglass Neve.
Poled track leads to Cashell Flat in the ...
Centennial Hut
Hut
• Serviced Alpine Hut (DOC). Capacity: 20.
Located on Tusk Rock, Franz Josef névé, and named for the centennial of the New Zealand Alpine Club (established 1891).
Harpers Rock Biv
Rock bivouac
Located on a broad shelf of moraine above Douglas Lake. The biv is located near the edge of the shelf, by the creek leading down.
An image of the biv by Mark Watson is here: http://highluxphoto...
Welcome Flat Rock Biv
Rock bivouac
Substantial rock overhang very near both the Welcome Flat Hut and hot pools.
Welcome Flat Campsite
Campsite
• Backcountry Campsite (DOC). 8 spaces.
Located next to the Welcome Flat Hut and hot pools. This campsite must be booked in advance with DOC.
Otto/MacDonalds campsite
Campsite
• Basic Campsite (DOC). 20 spaces.
Roadside campsite at the northern end of Lake Mapourika.
Hut categories
- Great Walks Hut
- Well appointed DOC hut on one of the nine Great Walks. Great Walks pass required, bookings may be required. Facilities typically include toilets, heating, water, and bunks with mattresses. Some huts will have lighting, gas cooking, and a DOC ranger.
- Serviced Hut
- Larger, high standard hut. Many serviced huts have a booking system and must be booked in advance. Other huts require a back country hut pass or 3 hut tickets. Mostly owned by DOC. Facilities typically include a toilet, open fire or wood burner, water supply, and bunks with mattresses.
- Serviced Alpine Hut
- Alpine hut owned by DOC or clubs such as NZAC. Generally no heating. Payment varies. Facilities typically include a toilet, water supply, and bunks with mattresses.
- Standard Hut
- Typical DOC hut. Back country hut pass / 1 hut ticket required, no bookings. Facilities typically include a toilet, open fire or wood burner, and bunks with mattresses.
- Basic Hut/Bivvy
- Small DOC huts of 2-6 bunks. No fees or bookings. Facilities typically include a toilet and bunks with mattresses.
In general, food and cooking equipment is not available at huts. See DOC and NZAC websites for details of pricing and booking.
Campsite categories
- Great Walks Campsite
- Campsites are available on most Great Walks, usually next to huts. Great Walks pass required, bookings may be required. Toilets, water supply. No use of hut facilities not available.
- Serviced, Scenic, or Standard Campsite
- Accessible by car or boat, and offering a range of facilities.
- Basic Campsite
- Accessible by car or boat, but with minimal facilities. No fees or bookings. Toilet, water may be from stream.
- Backcountry Campsite
- Walk-in access. Fees vary. No bookings. Toilet, water may be from stream.