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Places to stay

Te Wāhipounamu - South West New Zealand World Heritage Area

Hut • Serviced Hut (DOC). Capacity: 8.Bookings required.

New hut high on the Mataketake Range above the Haast to Paringa Cattle Track. This hut opened February 2021, as a tribute to the late conservationist, Andy Dennis. The hut includes a library of De...

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...

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.

Hooker Hut

Hut • Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 12.

Historic hut built in 1909/10 and situated near the moraine wall of the Hooker Glacier. It has been shifted twice as the moraine has collapsed. Two rooms and two entrances. Removed by DOC in May, 2...

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...

Ball Shelter [Removed 2009]

Hut • Removed!

Perched on the edge of the Tasman Glacier moraine wall. Although this hut is only about 5km from the summit of Aoraki / Mount Cook, the summit is hidden from view. Good views of the Tasman Glacier ...

Architect Creek Hut

Hut • Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 2.

A small hut.

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...

Thomson Hut

Hut • Standard Hut (DOC).

(Lake) Thomson Hut - on the George Sound track at the forks with the Wapiti Creek. Wood burner, tank water, creek & pool outside

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

Clinton Hut

Hut • Great Walks Hut (DOC). Capacity: 40.Bookings required.

Great Walks hut on the Milford Track. Bookings are required during summer (see DOC link).

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.

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.

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...

Harris Saddle Shelter

Hut • Shelter (DOC).

Enclosed day shelter perched on Harris Saddle, on the Routeburn Track. Overnight use prohibited. A side trip from here leads up Conical Hill.

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...

Lake Mackenzie Hut

Hut • Great Walks Hut (DOC). Capacity: 50.Bookings required.

A Great Walks Hut on the Routeburn Track. During the summer season, bookings are required, with a maximum two-night stay. The main building sleeps 24 in bunks and on a sleeping platform, and conta...

Plateau Hut

Hut • Serviced Alpine Hut (DOC). Capacity: 33.

Alpine hut on the Grand Plateau beneath Aoraki / Mount Cook.

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).

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...

Godley Hut

Hut • Standard Hut (NZAC). Capacity: 8.

Historic hut opened 24 December 1934. This hut is located above Fitzgerald Stream at the head of the Godley Valley, and surrounded by glaciers and lakes.

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 ...

North Borland Hut

Hut • Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 2.

Small corrugated iron hut on the north branch of the Borland Burn.

Ball Hut

Hut • Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 3.

Small Hut on the moraine next to the Tasman Glacier, just south of the Ball Glacier. The first hut was built near here in 1891, and was destroyed by avalanche in 1925. The second hut lasted 50 ...

Rodger Inlet Hut

Hut • Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 6.

There are two huts on Rodger Inlet, the new (2009) 6 bunk hut (replacing the original A-frame) and the original 2 bunk hut. The new hut has a wood fireplace, outside rainwater tank and tap, and ...

Haast Hut

Hut • Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 4.

Climbers' hut located on the Haast Ridge, below Plateau Hut and the Grand Plateau.

Te Oneroa A-frame Hut

Hut • Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 2.

Tiny A-frame biv behind the beach at Te Oneroa.

Lame Duck Hut

Hut • Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 4.

Small hut in the Karangarua Valley.

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...

Onslow Hut (Steffan Memorial Hut)

Hut • Basic Hut/Bivvy (NZDA). Capacity: 4.

NZDA hut located on the Murchison River just below the glacier lake.

Eade Memorial Hut

Hut • Private hut (NZDA). Capacity: 6.

NZDA hut located moraine, on the true left of the Godley River, close to a number of glaciers and lakes.

Mackinnon Pass Shelter

Hut • Shelter (DOC).

New shelter (constructed 2010) located on Mackinnon Pass on the Milford Track. Overnight use prohibited.

The Divide Shelter

Hut • Shelter (DOC).

Open shelter at the Milford end of the Routeburn Track. Overnight use prohibited.

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.

Howden Hut

Hut • Great Walks Hut (DOC). Capacity: 28.

Hut on the Routeburn Track, destroyed by a landslide in February 2020.

Red Stag Hut

Hut • Basic Hut/Bivvy (NZDA). Capacity: 6.

NZDA hut on the true left of the Godley River. This hut can be driven to with a 4WD.

Murchison Hut

Hut • Serviced Alpine Hut (NZAC). Capacity: 10.

This hut sits high above the Muchison Glacier.

The Gut Hut

Hut • Standard Hut (DOC). Capacity: 6.

Hut on the southern coast of Secretary Island.

Landing Shed

Hut • Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 7.

Coastal hut at Otago Retreat in Preservation Inlet, built 1940. This building originally serviced the Puysegur Point Lighthouse.

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).

Routeburn Shelter

Hut • Shelter (DOC).

Enclosed shelter at the Wakatipu end of the Routeburn Track. Overnight use prohibited.

Dumpling Hut

Hut • Great Walks Hut (DOC). Capacity: 40.Bookings required.

Third hut on the Milford Track, north of Mackinnon Pass on the Arthur River. Bookings required (see DOC link).

Mintaro Hut

Hut • Great Walks Hut (DOC). Capacity: 40.Bookings required.

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'...

Rodger Inlet Historic Hut

Hut • Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 2.

Historic hut on the shores of Lake Monowai. A new hut is nearby.

Cascade Creek Campsite

Campsite • Scenic Campsite (DOC). 120 spaces.

Large campsite on the Milford Road at the foot of Lake Gunn. Wheelchair accessible toilet.

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.

Routeburn Flats

Campsite • Great Walks Campsite (DOC). 15 spaces.

Grassy camping next to Routeburn Flats Hut.

Brod Bay campsite

Campsite • Great Walks Campsite (DOC). 15 spaces.

Campsite in beech forest on the shoreline of Lake Te Anau.

Deer Flat Campsite

Campsite • Great Walks Campsite (DOC). 20 spaces.

Extensive flats under trees next to the Eglinton River.

Lake Mackenzie Campsite

Campsite • Great Walks Campsite (DOC). 9 spaces.

Small campsite on the Routeburn Track located near the hut.

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.