Southland/Fiordland huts and campsites

Supposedly built to provide shelter to miners heading to Potter’s goldfield, which is not so far away, but the construction materials look more like those from the 1930s—1960s.

It’s hardly exaggerating to say every horizontal surface is covered in rat, and every vertical one in dusty cobwebs.

It’s the new Aparima Hut but not that new, maybe 30+ years old. Well sited on a clearing high above the river and right next door to the old one.

Aparima Hut is an old hunter’s hut built in the 1950s that can still be used if the newer hut adjacent has too many inhabitants.

An old New Zealand Forest Service four-bunker without a New Zealand Forest Service track makes it difficult to get to.

A spectacular place to camp and may be preferable to Westies Hut if you can be bothered carrying a tent.

Borland Bivvy is located in a strange place for accommodation, ie, directly beneath 220,000 V power lines from the Manapouri generators.

It’s a lovely location with enough distance from the four-wheel-drive track to keep most of the motorised brigade away.

No firewood is nearby, so no heating is provided; otherwise, it has a cosy feel.

Careys Hut is an older hut at the northern end of the North Mavora Lake. It suffers from the evils that befall huts with 4WD and/or boat access, both plenty of rubbish and a disappearing axe and broom.

Basic shelter, somewhat akin to staying in a garden shed.

Clark Hut was built in 1941 for hunters from local beach sapling framing, and corrugated steel roofing.

Cromel Base Hut is a standard New Zealand Forest Service SF 70 bunk hut that, due to intermittent, if not rare, use, is well preserved.

Cromel Branch Hut sits on the edge of a large, swampy clearing, and while it’s close to a steep hillside, it’s orientated to catch some afternoon sun.

It’s a lovely location at the junction of two small streams that converge to form the Waikaia River.

Mostly used by hunters, stray fishers, and random locals.

A small hut for use by various DOC scientific types, such as Kiwi monitoring.

Nicest hut in the area, with the best location. That makes it a relatively popular destination.

Irthing Hut is a recently renovated hut on the edge of a large clearing, with both an excellent water source, a small stream, and a toilet close at hand.

A great little hut with some feeling of accomplishment when you reach it.

Kiwi Burn Hut is a short walk up the creek and across some river flats from the Te Araroa official track and has the feel of an old 1950s school, maybe it’s those red vinyl tiles on the floor.

Lincoln Hut is a simple two-bunk New Zealand Forest Service hunters’ hut that is still used for that purpose.

Lower Princhester Hut is a standard NZFS SF 70 six-bunk hut in remarkably original condition, considering it’s possible to drive a 2WD car almost to the front door.

Lower Wairaki Hut is an old NZFS four bunker in the southern Takitimus in fairly original condition.

Martins Hut is the final/first hut on Te Araroa, actually the only DOC hut in the southernmost 180 km.

Picnic tables and fireplaces are useful, but the sites themselves are not particularly level and that’s not so good for tents.

Sited on a bank above the lake with great views to the south of the lake and mountains beyond.

A compact collection of four structures. Get permission to access it from the gruff farmer whose property you need to cross.

Plenty of character, and not so far from where you can park your four-wheel drive.

Now converted into a Doc hut and worth a visit to see the historic bits and pieces around.

The corrugated steel hut was built after the stone hut and has mainly been used by musterers.

This is a basic hut that is indeed quite basic. Pro tip: sleep at the new hut.

Roger Inlet Hut is a cosy, six-bunk hut with double-glazed windows, and a large woodburner.

One of those recent DOC huts with double glazing, rat proofed, etc.

The Mavora Walkway was a 1970s attempt at creating new tramping tracks purely for recreation.

The only thing that designates Telford campsite as an actual campsite is the standard DOC fibreglass long drop over the fence in official DOC-land.

Turnbulls Hut was built around 1906 as accommodation for workers maintaining a nearby water race to provide sluicing water to the goldfields.

One of the most delightful huts in the Eyre Mountains if you are on your own or with a solitary companion.

Upper Oreti Hut is an old musterers’ hut, pre-1930s, although a small patch of Illustrated Magazine wallpaper dates from 1938.

The track from Port Craig Schoolhouse Hut is on an old railway line and is easy walking, plus having four major historic viaducts to check out.

Back in the 70s they must have had a Build-It-and-People-Will-Come mentality. I don’t think they are, in fact, coming.

West Burn Hut is an old musterers’ hut that has been partially renovated, but still retains its historic charm, ie, the dirt floor and beach sapling structure for the hut and bunks.

This hut was wrongly located on the map, but this has been updated with the online version at LINZ. Old paper maps may show it in an incorrect position.

An old gold miner’s residence with a superb view over the Clutha River valley.