• Great view from the hut. | Waiau Hut, Waiau River, Te Araroa
  • Tiny wood burner will keep the hut warm enough in winter due to double glazing and massive insulation. | Waiau Hut, Waiau River, Te Araroa
  • Seems pretty small for Te Araroa traffic, but at least there's a toilet. | Waiau Hut, Waiau River, Te Araroa
  • Te Araroa seems to encourage the proliferation of long walking poles. | Waiau Hut, Waiau River, Te Araroa

tramping new zealand

45 almost epic adventures on the South Island & Rakiura

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.

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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