Townsend Hut | Arthurs Pass National Park
On a good day, it is worth the effort to climb 800 m from the Taramakau valley floor. The good aspect: the track is generally well marked and short, ie, you climb quickly.
The start of the track is not quite where indicated on the LINZ map. It starts about 100 m upstream from the creek junction, on the larger of the two branches.
Once above the treeline, the view down the Taramakau can really open out, with the Tasman Sea visible with the use of your imagination. The large earthquake-damaged landscape, from long ago, where the hut is sited is, err, a sight.
Can be hard to find if in the clouds and coming across the tops, although painting the hut Rescue Orange, by the hut custodian/carer, Graeme Jackson, helps in that respect. Plenty of room for a 4 bunker, and the small water tank is a bonus as the tarn water is funky.
More info on the Permolat website
category . . . basic hut. Maintained by Permolat member Graeme Jackson
hut fee . . . free
elevation . . . 1140 m
bunks . . . 4
built . . . 1962. Lined and rainwater tank installed in 1995
heating . . . none
water . . . 90 litre rainwater tank. Tarns 100 m to the north
toilet . . . none. Shovel provided
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