Belltown Manunui Hut | Kahurangi National Park
The older Belltown Manunui Hut, built in 2001 near Drain Creek, was “relocated” about 1 km downstream by the Backcountry Trust as the 1929 earthquake slip on which it was built started moving.
In the end, only the wall framing was relocated, as the earlier hut was on a concrete slab. The new hut was built on new piles, with new corrugated Coloursteel cladding and roofing, double-glazed windows, insulation, ply wall and ceiling lining, bunks, etc. A large verandah was built.
So, despite the relocation, it’s a brand-new hut. It’s great.
Better oriented to get more sun. The surrounding forest was damaged by ex-Cyclone Ita back in 2014.
It’s mostly a flat walk from the Wangapeka roadend carpark in about three hours, so it’s a good Little Adventure for teenagers.
Might point out there is no town nearby, and those wanting bells, other than bellbirds, will also be disappointed.
category . . . standard hut
hut fee . . . from 1 July 2026
Adult (18+ years): $15.00 per night
Youth (5–17 years): $7.50 per night
Child/Infant (0–4 years): free
Before you go, buy 1 Standard Hut Ticket (blue for adults, red for youth) for each night of your stay. Put this in the honesty box at the hut. A Backcountry Hut Pass is also valid year-round.
booking . . . not required all year for either hut or camping
campsite fee . . . free to camp
elevation . . . 259 m
bunks . . . 10 mattresses, on two sleeping platforms
built . . . 2001, but relocated in sections in 2022 by helicopter and otherwise rebuilt
heating . . . woodburner
water . . . tap above sink on verandah from 3000-litre rainwater tank
toilet . . . 1 x longdrop
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