Rocks Hut | Mt Richmond Forest Park

Five or six hours walk up the Dun Mountain Trail for the most part, beginning in Brook Street just in Nelson, then turning off at Coppermine and Dun Saddle. This is the closest hut to Nelson if you don’t want to involve yourself with mechanised transport.

It’s a good ‘un, complete with flushing toilets, two, a big water tank and a view into the Pelorus River valley, and, for some reason, despite its proximity to Nelson, it’s not used all that much, except by those trundling through on Te Araroa.

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 … 810 m

bunks … 16 mattresses on four sleeping platforms

built … 1983

heating … woodburner

water … outside tap at sink near rainwater tank

toilet … flush x 2