Places to stay
Kaweka Forest Park
Kiwi Saddle Hut (Kaweka Range)
Hut
• Standard Hut (Heretaunga Tramping Club). Capacity: 8.
Kiwi Saddle Hut is located on the ridge 3km west of Kuripapango and some 700m above the Ngaruroro river. The hut is on the Smith Russel Track from Kuripapango to Kiwi Mouth Hut on the Ngaruroro, an...
Comet Hut
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 4.
Comet hut (sleeps 4, tank water) is classed as a basic hut / biv, but is comfortable and of a similar standard to many 'standard huts'. The hut is located at the roadend of Comet Road, off the Ge...
Mackintosh hut
Hut
• Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 6.
6 bunk hut. Visit as part of a loop from Markahu Saddle, Mackintosh Spur, Studholme Saddle Hut and Kaweka J. Refurbished in the last two years very comfortable
Tussock Hut
Hut
• Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 6.
Hut in the Harkness Valley. Good access for hunting. 6 bunks, wood burning stove and water supply.
Built in 1964, the hut’s original standard hut design has been upgraded by adding a small covered...
Cameron Hut (Kaweka)
Hut
• Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 6.
Typical orange hut found in the Kaweka Ranges. 6 bunks with a fireplace and water from the river. Lots of room for camping.
Could possibly float back down to Cameron Carpark in innertubes with the...
Makino Hut
Hut
• Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 6.
Makino Hut (sleeps 6, stove, firewood available, tank water) sits above the deep Makino and Mohaka valleys. The hut lies on the boundary between the open, mature beech to the south and east, and t...
Harkness Hut
Hut
• Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 6.
Harkness Hut, Kaweka Forest Park.
A tidy 6-bunk forestry hut on a grassy knoll overlooking the east Harkness valley. The hut sits on the line where beech gives out to the firey red/orange Kaw...
Otutu Hut
Hut
• Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 6.
Otutu hut: a lovely 6-bunk hut on the last ridge of crown land before the tussock plateaus that run down to Ngamatea Stn. The hut is sheltered on 3 sides by beech forest, the ridge to the north ru...
Ballard Hut
Hut
• Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 4.
A 4 bunk hut at the northern end of the Kaweka range. Visit as part of an east west crossing or as a loop from Makahu Saddle. Exposed travel to and from this hut pick your days to visit
Middle Hill Hut
Hut
• Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 6.
Located in the north eastern Kaweka Forest Park, Middle Hill Hut is situated in a flat, sheltered site where the open manuka/kanuka scrublands meet red beech forest.
Built in 1963 this hut was...
Studholme Saddle Biv
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 3.
Studholme Saddle Bivouac is a wee dog-box bivvy in a clump of beech at the forks of the Kiwi Creek, below the Studholm Saddle. It sleeps 2-3 on 2 mattresses on the floor. The inside of the biv was...
Old Manson Hut (historic)
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 4.
A slab-built 1940s hut in the Kaweka Forest park. The historic Manson Hut has been restored to original condition, and is worth a visit. It feaures 4 sacking bunks, and open fire. Walls and fram...
Ngaawapurua Hut
Hut
• Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 6.
Hut on the Ngaruroro River. Popular spot for rafters, kayakers and hunters. Sleeps 6 and has wood fired stove.
Note: the swingbridge is no longer present. Crossings possible in normal flows bu...
Dominie Biv
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 2.
A two bunk Saviour to many on the side of Kaweka everybody seems to have a storey about being caught in bad conditions up here only 1 hour from the makahu saddle car park.
Back Ridge Hut
Hut
• Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 4.
A forestry hut (4 bunks, stove, firewood available, stream water) on the valley floor 5 minutes off the main Back Ridge track. The location marks the end of the beech forest (the manuka changes to...
Back Ridge Bivouac
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 3.
Back ridge Biv (sleeps 2-3, stream water) is a typical North-Island bivouac, with 2 matresses on the floor, and space for 3. For a biv, it is well equiped with pans, etc. There is no fireplace, b...
Te Puke Hut
Hut
• Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 6.
Te Puke (Te Pukeohikarua) hut, in Kaweka Forest Park. This hut has a miniature helicopter and plane mounted on the roof. Perhaps these are the gods that the hunters worship.
Studholme Saddle Hut
Hut
• Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 6.
Studholme Saddle Hut (sleeps 6, river water, wood burning stove) is a comfortable, sheltered, riverside hut in a small area of bush just below Mad Dog Hill, and close to Kaweka J. The hut is less t...
Kiwi Mouth Hut
Hut
• Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 4.
Kiwi Mouth Hut sits on grassy flats / clearing beside Kiwi Creek shortly before it enters the Ngaruroro. It's a 1960's forestry style hut with 4 bunks down one side and an open fireplace on the ot...
Rocks Ahead Hut
Hut
• Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 4.
Rocks Ahead Hut. A standard 4-bunk forestry hut on the Ngaruroro river. Steep tracks climb 600-700m onto 3 surrounding ranges to reach Back Ridge Biv, Venison Tops (Tira) Lodge, and onto the Manso...
Omarukokere Biv
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 2.
Omarukokere biv. A 2-mattress-on-the-floor dogbox with what looks like an old 4-bunk hut tacked on the front as a 3-walled porch / kitchen. There's a table, cooking bench and chairs in the front s...
Makahu saddle hut
Hut
• Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 6.
6 bunk hut 2 mins from makahu saddle carpark the perfect jumping off point for a late arrival friday night as you start out over kaweka j
Te Puia Lodge
Hut
• Serviced Hut (DOC). Capacity: 26.
Only 2-3 hours from the Makahu road end and Makatutu Hot Springs and 45 mins from the Mangatainoka Hot Springs on the true right of the River. This hut is in pretty good shape, sitting directly on...
Manson Biv
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 2.
NZFS biv built 1966, just inside the bushline on a hill in the Manson Country, Kaweka Forest.
Kaweka Flats Biv
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 2.
A two bunk biv about 1.5hrs from Makahu Saddle Carpark
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.