Places to stay
Mount Aspiring National Park
Liverpool Hut
Hut
• Serviced Alpine Hut (DOC). Capacity: 10.
Located on the steep lower slopes of Mount Barff, this hut offers striking views and a route to the Arawhata Saddle. The 10 bunk hut was built in 2009, replacing the old 4 bunk bivy.
Colin Todd Hut
Hut
• Serviced Alpine Hut (NZAC). Capacity: 12.
This 1996 hut replaced the original, constructed in 1960. It was named after one of the best-known Post-War New Zealand climbers. This hut is commonly the last stop before an ascent of Aspiring.
Aspiring Hut
Hut
• Serviced Alpine Hut (NZAC). Capacity: 38.
This historic hut in the West Matukituki Valley was constructed of local schist, and opened at Easter 1949. Situated immediately beneath Cascade Saddle and en route to Mount Aspiring, the new hut o...
Esquilant Bivvy Hut
Hut
• Serviced Alpine Hut (NZAC). Capacity: 6.
Small hut located on Wright's Col in the Rees Valley.
Cattle Flat Bivy Rock
Hut
• Natural shelter (NA).
A huge shelter rock in the Dart half way between Dart & Daleys Huts. It is back in the bush a little bit so is easily missed. A good lunch stop or emergency shelter should side streams become uncro...
French Ridge Hut
Hut
• Serviced Alpine Hut (NZAC). Capacity: 20.
This new hut is located on the summer snowline on French Ridge, near the head of the Matukituki Valley West Branch. This hut built in 1999 is the fourth French Ridge Hut, the first being built slig...
Routeburn Falls Hut
Hut
• Great Walks Hut (DOC). Capacity: 48.Bookings required.
A modern hut on the Routeburn track. It is at bushline on the edge of the cirque that leads up to Lake Harris and the Harris Saddle.
Usually the first night's stop when starting from the Routeburn...
Shelter Rock Hut
Hut
• Serviced Hut (DOC). Capacity: 22.
In the Rees Valley. One of the huts on the Rees-Dart Track
Daley's Flat Hut
Hut
• Serviced Hut (DOC). Capacity: 20.
This is the oldest hut on the Rees Dart route but is a welcome stop over on the long trip down the Dart, especially in rain.
Valley of the Trolls Rock bivvy
Rock bivouac
Rock bivvy formed by an overhanging cliff. Probably enough room for about a dozen people but the northern end is very exposed to northerly down valley winds. Some drippage off the cliff also doesn'...
25 Mile Hut
Hut
• Removed!
*EDIT* From DOCs website:
28 April 2016: Rees Valley - 25 Mile Hut removed
The derelict 25 Mile Hut in the Rees Valley has been removed. Camping on the old hut site is not permitted - the site is...
North Route Burn Rock bivvy
Rock bivouac
2 person biv rumoured to be 500m from the Routeburn Track in the North Branch of the Route Burn on the true left, close to the river but near the bush edge.
Routeburn Flats Hut
Hut
• Great Walks Hut (DOC). Capacity: 20.Bookings required.
A large hut on the Routeburn Track, often bypassed for the Routeburn Falls Hut which is 1 hour further along the track. However this is a worthwhile place to stay as you can do a side trip up the N...
Rockburn Hut
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 4.
Rockburn Hut or McIntyres Hut. Near the confluence of Rock Burn and Dart River. A very rough and uninviting hut. I suppose I would be happy to stay here in a storm, but it would need to be a bad...
Earnslaw Hut
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 4.
Earnslaw hut. Located near Kea Basin on the slopes of Mt Earnslaw, above the Rees valley.
Routeburn Shelter
Hut
• Shelter (DOC).
Enclosed shelter at the Wakatipu end of the Routeburn Track. Overnight use prohibited.
Rock of Ages Bivouac
Rock bivouac
An overhang above the Kitchener River and Aspiring Flats, near the Matukituki East Branch. Room to sleep 10, although exposed to weather, with dry space for 2 to 4. Another rock just below has spac...
Hobbs Bivvy, Route Burn North Branch
Rock bivouac
A dry and sheltered bivvy underneath a giant boulder in the North Branch of the Route Burn. Sleeps 4 or 5 but with only about half a metre of clearance underneath it's crawling room only.
There'...
Scotts Rock Biv
Rock bivouac
Located at the head of the Matukituki River West Branch, beyond Pearl Flat.
The biv is 500m upstream of the upper swingbridge, but this bridge has now been destroyed.
DOC describes the biv as...
Forgotten River Rock Biv
Rock bivouac
Located above the basin at the head of the Forgotten River, west of Forgotten River Col. The biv offers a good view down the valley.
Routeburn Flats
Campsite
• Great Walks Campsite (DOC). 15 spaces.
Grassy camping next to Routeburn Flats Hut.
Pleasant Flat Campsite
Campsite
• Basic Campsite (DOC). 30 spaces.
Campsite by the highway just north of Haast Pass.
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.