Mason Bay Hut | Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island

Mason Bay Hut is a 1970s hut, 15 minutes walk from the actual Mason Bay Beach, is the most acclaimed spot in NZ to get down with kiwis in their natural state. Plenty of people either fly onto the beach or do the walk from the water taxi dropoff at Freshwater Landing, so can have more patronage than some of the other huts.

You might get lucky in the evening, or have to put in some effort, but in any case you can still usually hear the kiwis repetitively screech from your bunk.

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 … 20 bunks in 3 bunkrooms

heating … woodburner

water … taps above 2 internal sinks, water from rainwater tank

toilet … 2 x longdrop