Otago huts, campsites and shelters
The named tracks, Greenstone, Caples, Rees-Dart, Routeburn, etc, are often walked in various combinations of a loop as they are in parallel valleys with the same start and/or end points.
The Great Walk and serviced huts are generally comfortable with reasonable amenity, although they do have a winter season where the water to the inside taps is turned off, pipes are drained to avoid damage from freezing, instead you have to go to an outside tank. Any flushing toilets are also locked, you have to use a long drop.
The Great Walk huts have the summer/winter pricing difference and the requirement for summer season booking. This doesn’t apply to most other huts which have the same price all year round and are on a first-come-grabs-the-bunk basis.
Note that camping on a Great Walk is only permitted at the official campsites although it is okay to camp for free a minimum of 500 m from the track. The problem with this 500 m limit is that there are few locations where it is physically possible to whack up your tent, the country is either covered in tussock, not easy to sleep on those massive lumps, on a considerable slope, on private land or all of the above.
It’s in surprisingly good nick, probably as it’s not as much used as its location suggests.
Right on the Clutha River it’s, err, a cheaper alternative to staying in Wanaka. There’s a more secluded campsite 1 km further north along Te Araroa towards Lake Hawea that may be preferable.
The management and maintenance of the hut was taken over by the Rock and Pillar Hut Trust to prevent DOC from demolishing it. You are permitted to stay and there is an honesty box for the $12 per person charge.
Not for accommodation but worth a visit to see how the miners lived in the era after WWI.
A peek into history and a rugged way of life.
Was once used as a base for scientists to study the local botany, but that must have been some decades ago.
Hard to tell the vintage of this fully renovated hut. It has been re-piled, re-clad with corrugated steel, and re-lined internally with plywood, new if small windows, plywood floor, bunks, stainless steel bench, ply table, and wood burner.
It’s brown due to rust, but really interesting to see it all held together by Number 8 wire.
A basic uninsulated, unheated shed that compensates by having a terrific view over the Maniototo to the Rock and Pillar Range.
Nice setting in the gully right at the top of Chimney Creek.
If it’s raining cats and dogs you take whatever shelter you can.
A few reasonably sheltered camping spots are located around the hut.
No one’s favourite hut, but it does the job.
The best “official” campsites on the Rees Dart track are near Dart Hut.
A five-star hut built in an almost five-star location.
A surprisingly dry, if not dusty, alternative to a tent or hut for the adventurous.
Not the most comfortable of bunks here, but good enough shelter whether or not you intend to climb Mt Earnslaw.
Closest to Wanaka and therefore the most accessible on the Motatapu Track, Fern Burn Hut has a reasonable number of daytrippers and overnighters who don’t want to commit to the full expedition.
Few would choose to stay in this dusty hut.
Greenstone Hut is similar in style to the new Mid Caples Hut, ie, generous in space, firedoors on the two separate sleeping areas, double glazing, bigtime insulation, taps inside the hut, at least during summer, otherwise you need to go outside to the rainwater tank. And the big picture windows.
Not much amenity here, no bunks, etc, just a three sided shelter at the carpark, 10km or so up a cul-de-sac from Kinloch.
The Greenstone Saddle campsite, while sometimes somewhat exposed, is otherwise just dandy, with a nice view. It is removed from passers-by but it doesn’t boast much in the way of amenities for your bucks. No kitchen shelter here, just the long drop.
Hagens Hut is a compact four-bunker and is probably the most used in the valley due to its central location.
Harris Saddle Shelter is a simple shelter with a toilet, but on the positive side it is shelter.
Bit of a climb to get up there for many, but worth the effort with the views across Glenorchy towards the Greenstone track and Dart River Valley.
Highland Creek Hut has the most spectacular setting of the Motatapu huts with the same efficient design as Rose’s: two large sleeping platforms with mattresses, a big table and plenty of seating.
Right on the perimeter of the Ōteake Conservation Park, and it takes some getting to. Most visitors arrive in motorised transportation, either by four-wheel drive or trail bike.
The best hut in the park is an iconic Central Otago hut that lives up to the advertising.
The only hut I can think of with rocks on wires helping to hold the roof on.
For those who like to sleep under a rock this is perfect accommodation.
Lake Howden Hut was demolished after being hit by a landslide. DOC is not going to rebuild it.
This is a great location, pity the artificially grassed sites weren’t more suited to the activity of camping, ie, not exactly level and somewhat lumpy.
Well-sited Lake Mackenzie Hut with a view to the nearby lake with Ocean Peak around to Emily Peak as a backdrop, and round to the left some peaks of the Darran Range some distance away. Just about as picturesque a spot as you could imagine.
Leaning Lodge is officially closed due to building safety concerns.
Not many facilities here and a long way to get water from the Arrow River but it is a pleasant spot to put up a tent under the leafy trees.
A surprisingly large hut halfway up the side of a hill that takes some getting to.
McKeller Hut has a great ambience after the accommodation barns on the Routeburn.
The recently rebuilt Mid Caples Hut is typical of the bigger huts that DOC is building on the secondary tracks around NZ, generous in space, firedoors on the two separate sleeping areas, double glazing, bigtime insulation, taps inside the hut, at least during summer, otherwise you need to go outside to the rainwater tank. And the big picture windows.
An old musterers’ hut that was built sometime pre-1950 has been completely renovated by DOC in 2005.
Built in 2011 to fill the gap for Te Araroa the hut already seems too small but if less than completely full is cosy enough.
These are the new breed of DOC huts, double-glazed, heavily insulated and, in this instance, being in tussock country and lacking in firewood, no heating.
Adjacent to the actual Routeburn Falls, the Routeburn Falls Hut is built on stilts with a grand overview of the lower Routeburn valley.
Routeburn Flats campsite is a hugely popular summer camp site due to the proximity to Queenstown and the mostly flat walk in.
Routeburn Flats Hut is one of the two original huts still left on the track, although it has been recently modified and with a large picnic verandah area added for the numerous summer daytrippers.
Historic gold miners’ hut is now no longer used as overnight accommodation.
A cosy two-bunk hut in a sheltered spot part of the way up the Ahuriri River Valley.
A few camp sites scattered around near the hut are almost level, almost smooth, almost sheltered.
Located at the bushline, the backdrop is way rugged, even if the actual climb to Rees Saddle a few kilometres away is not so tough.
Slip Flat Hut is one of the cutest huts around, petite. It’s only a three-bunker, open fireplace, shelving with various jars. Those who know of its existence and whereabouts clearly respect and care for this character-filled hut.
Steele Creek Hut might be renovated but it hasn’t been overdone. The concrete floor still doesn’t extend across the entire horizontal surface where it might be expected, the beech sapling structure has bark attached, the interior lining is still old fertiliser bags. Yes, plenty of character.
An agglomeration of various huts, the oldest built in 1924 and substantially added to in 1977 with two 6 bunk accommodation buildings bought in on a trailer.
The Divide Shelter is a simple shelter with benches, tables and toilets, and plenty of space to park cars and the odd bus or five.
The hut is in a well-maintained condition and isn’t overly frequented. One of the nicest settings in the area.
A few trampers visit to experience the remarkable scenery at the head of the valley, or pop over to the South Huxley via V Notch Pass.
Favoured as a lunch stop by four-wheel drivers heading for, or having come over Omarama Saddle, and bike packers, who tend to stay.
Top Timaru Hut is an old NZFS hut that has been completely transformed with a 2011 renovation, including a usefully large verandah added.
One of the most well-appointed shelters around.
A lovely presence on a tussock landscape that is seldom used due to the better amenity at Ida Railway Hut not far away.
