Southland/Fiordland huts and campsites

Plenty of huts in the old Southland Conservancy, but many are on Stewart Island/Rakiura, or on the Great Walks.

Here are some of the other huts.

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Aparima Hut — new | Takitimu Conservation Area

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.

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Aparima Hut — old | Takitimu Conservation Area

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.

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Big River campsite | Fiordland National Park

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

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Borland Bivvy, Fiordland National Park

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

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Boundary Hut | Mavora Lakes Conservation Area

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

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Careys Hut | Mavora Lakes Conservation Area

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.

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Clark A Frame Hut, Fiordland National Park

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

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Clark Hut (historic), Fiordland National Park

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

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Grant Burn Bivvy | Fiordland National Park

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

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Green Lake Hut, Fiordland National Park

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

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Kiwi Burn Hut | Snowdon Forest Conservation Area

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 1950 school, maybe it’s those red vinyl tiles on the floor.

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Lower Princhester Hut | Takitimu Conservation Area

Lower Princhester Hut is a standard NZFS SF70 six bunk hut in remarkably original condition considering it’s possible to drive a 2WD car almost to the front door.

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Lower Wairaki Hut | Takitimu Conservation Area

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

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Martins Hut | Longwood Forest Conservation Area

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

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Monowai Campsite, Fiordland National Park

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

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Monowai Hut, Fiordland National Park

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

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Port Craig Schoolhouse Hut | near Fiordland National Park

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

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Rodger Inlet Historic Hut, Fiordland National Park

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

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Rodger Inlet Hut, Fiordland National Park

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

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Slaughterburn Hut | Fiordland National Park

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

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Taipo Hut | Mavora Lakes Conservation Area

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

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Telford campsite | Takitimu Conservation Area

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.

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Wairaurahiri Hut | near Fiordland National Park

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.

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Waitutu Hut | Fiordland National Park

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.

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Westies Hut | Fiordland National Park

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.