Napoleon Bivvy | Isolated Hill Scenic Reserve
The bivvy is tiny and unheated. There is an excellent outdoor fireplace, a couple of dog kennels, and an extensive coastal view, taking in both the Seaward and Inland Kaikouras. Oh, and the Pacific Ocean.
The beds were originally very narrow, but have been widened to take a standard DOC mattress.
Few visit, just occasional hunters and energetic hut baggers. This is possibly due to access.
The easy way is to get permission to go through the adjacent Tirohanga farmland, where there is a decent four-wheel-drive track that runs from Highway 1 up past Napoleon (802 m) to the Scenic Reserve boundary at the bush edge of the ridge.
Coming from Isolation Hut is more of a challenge. The track through the forest is now well marked as you steadily climb to around 1000 m. The scrabble around Ben More deters some parties. The perilous bit is only a few hundred metres, but it will tend to raise your heart rate. From there, you follow a ridge around to the hut.
category . . . basic hut
hut fee . . . free
booking . . . not required
elevation . . . 815 m
bunks . . . 2 mattresses, on two beds
built . . . 1970s?
heating . . . none. Outside fireplace
water . . . tap from 500-litre rainwater tank
toilet . . . none. Has shovel
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