Places to stay
Craigieburn Forest Park
Hamilton Hut
Hut
• Serviced Hut (DOC). Capacity: 20.
A large hut on the Cass-Lagoon Saddle Track. The hut is well situated on a terrace above the wide Hamilton Creek flats just above its confluence with the Harper River. Two sleeping areas, a large s...
Urquhart's Hut
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 6.
Historic hut build in 1933 during the Great Depression. Situated on a terrace in the Wilberforce Valley. Dirt floor and sacking bunks.
Avoca Hut
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (Canterbury University tramping Club). Capacity: 6.
Small hut in the Avoca Valley.
Open to public, maintained by Canterbury University tramping Club (CUTC). Report any damage to CUTC & DoC
Cass Saddle Hut
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 4.
An old Forest Service hut on the Cass-Lagoon Saddle Track, built in 1953. The hut is located just below the treeline north of Cass Saddle. Three bunks in the main part of the hut along with another...
Unknown Stream Hut
Hut
• Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 4.
Located on the true left of Unknown Stream off the Wilberforce River.
Back Basins Hide
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 2.
Small biv on the bushline on the Tobacco Range above Basin Creek.
West Harper Hut
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 5.
An historic hut on the Harper River with axe-cut beams, canvas bunks and a dirt floor. Although basic, this hut is still comfortable. There is camping space on the grassy flat arounf the hut, and w...
Moa Stream Hut
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 4.
Hut in Moa Stream, off the Wilberforce River.
Note that nearby Fanghill and Moa Huts are private.
Old Basins Hut
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 5.
Old hut in the Avoca Valley at Basin Creek. Old Basins Hut is not the north bank, while Basins Hut is on the south bank.
Bealey Hut
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 6.
A tidy hut near the end of the Cass-Lagoon Saddle Track. The hut has six bunks (most, but not all, with mattresses) and a table and chairs. Ample grass for camping outside. This hut offers a conven...
Lagoon Saddle Hut
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 2.
A shiny corrugated iron hut across the creek from the shelter near Lagoon Saddle. The hut is tidy, features shelving made from split logs, but has no mattresses. The low doorway features grafitti r...
Lagoon Saddle Shelter
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC).
An A-frame day shelter located in a sunny clearing near Lagoon Saddle on the Cass-Lagoon Saddle Track. The Lagoon Saddle Hut is also nearby, hidden in trees across the creek.
Weka Burnet biv
Hut
• Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 2.
2 person upright biv as opposed to the dogbox style at junction of Weka and Burnet Streams, not far from the Wilberforce River.
Craigieburn Shelter campsite
Campsite
• Basic Campsite (DOC). 20 spaces.
Popular campsite on the banks of Cave Stream in Craigieburn Forest Park, with a number of easy walking tracks nearby.
There are several grassy clearings, with many of the campsites tucked discr...
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.