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, it was only the wall framing 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 relocation, it’s a brand new hut. It’s great.
Better orientated 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 . . . 1 standard hut ticket or backcountry hut pass, free to camp
booking . . . not required
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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