St James Conservation Area huts

Ada Pass Hut is nestled in the forest, in a sunny spot, that’s if there’s any sun about, with a splendid view up the west branch of the Mariua River, more a stream here.

Anne Hut is a new hut built to a Five Star standard, in a different location, after the old Anne Hut was burned down.

Boyle Flat Hut is just over the swing bridge across the Boyle River on a small grassy flat.

Cannibal Gorge Hut is situated on a grassy flat with good views down to the Lewis Pass with a backdrop of the substantial peak, Gloriana, 2218 m.

Christopher Cullers Hut is an ancient, well, 1959 hut with plenty of yarns to recount no doubt from back in the day.

Christopher Hut is a well appointed 14 bunker hut on a grassy flat surrounded by mountains. It’s a goody.

It’s just off the main Rainbow Road, not exactly a highway, but suffers from excessive visitors arriving by motorised transportation, without anyone much staying.

An unrenovated three-bunk hut straight from the deer culler days. Still with an open fireplace and canvas bunks, although now with plastic-coated mattresses provided.

Lake Guyon Hut is a cutie and the lake has trout.

Magdalen Hut is a newish DOC 6 bunker not too far from the road that would make a decent base camp if you carried a fishing rod.

Don’t think anyone is going to stay at Old Bridge Hut with the dirt floor, wrecked bunks and lack of doors. It’s interesting to visit, primarily for the long-forgotten names etched in the corrugated steel cladding: old station hands from 1918, deer cullers from 1942 featuring.

Pool Hut is a whacky stuccoed hut from the old station days, not exactly luxurious accommodation.

Rokeby Hut is small, with emphasis on small. The canvas bunks are comfortable enough, kinda like sleeping in a hammock.

Spartan and cosy accommodation in an old converted musterers’ hut on the southern end of the St James Cycle Trail.

An historic station hut used in the old days for mustering.

A small two-bunk hut with an open fire, that was once seldom visited except by hunters as it didn’t have a track.

A hut built in 2017 to take a few of the 5000+ Te Araroa hikers now streaming over from Blue Lake via Waiau Pass.