Waiau Hut | St James Conservation Area
Six bunks? Six??
A hut was built to take a few of the 5000+ Te Araroa hikers streaming over from Blue Lake via Waiau Pass. Somehow, the size seems inadequate, and DOC seems to have misjudged the actual numbers on TA, but eventually, camping sites will be developed to accommodate the inevitable overflow.
Double glazing, good insulation, and a small wood burner will keep it cosy in the cooler months.
And it also solves the problem of not having a toilet between Blue Lake Hut and Anne Hut.
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 . . . 850 m
bunks . . . 6 mattresses ,in bunks
built . . . 2018
heating . . . woodburner
water . . . tap outside from 1000 litre rainwater tank
toilet . . . longdrop
← Stony Stream Bivvy | Hanmer Forest Park