• The swingbridge had to be relocated recently due to river bank erosion. | Freshwater Hut, Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island
  • Yup, that's Freshwater, from the swing bridge. | Freshwater Hut, Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island
  • DoC has built a huge porch to take any wet clothing. Does it rain here? | Freshwater Hut, Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island
  • Not much living space here, if there was a crowd. | Freshwater Hut, Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island
  • Poky old bunk rooms. | Freshwater Hut, Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island
  • Yup, we've arrived. | Freshwater Hut, Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island

tramping new zealand

45 almost epic adventures on the South Island & Rakiura

Freshwater Landing Hut | Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island

Freshwater Landing Hut is an increasingly large clearing adjacent to the extreme brown, ie, tannic, Freshwater River. The hut is rather cramped for space both in the bunk spaces and the living area.

The side trip up Rocky Mountain is worth the effort if the weather allows views: Patterson Inlet/Whaka a Te Wera, Mt Rakeahua, Mason Bay and a few sandhills, the Freshwater valley, round to Mt Anglem/Hananui. Nice.

+++++horizontal rule+++++

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

bunks … 16 mattresses, in 2 bunk areas

heating … woodburner

water … tap above internal sink, water from rainwater tank

toilet … 1 x longdrop