Ruahine Huts

Leon Kinvig (new paint job)

Richard — Sat, 03 May 2008 19:11:13 GMT

Leon Kinvig (new paint job)

Very *** and span

kiritaki hut.jpg

Richard — Sat, 03 May 2008 19:10:58 GMT

kiritaki hut.jpg

Kiritaki (aka Sea-Mac motel) is a classic six bunk hut deep in the Leatherwood zone of the Southern Ruahines.

Sleeps: Six bunks and room on the floor.

Heating: A little pot belly that goes good. Its a snug hut.

Camping: yes plenty of lumpy camping on the grass-come-heli pad outside. Steve had a night out there while I took over the deck.

Toka biv (new paint job)

Richard — Sat, 03 May 2008 19:08:31 GMT

Toka biv (new paint job)

One of the great things about DoC at the moment is that they are doing maintenance work on the places that hardly anyone visits. Toka biv is a great example. The hut book that dates back to the 1970s is still there thank goodness.

Heritage Lodge

Richard — Sat, 03 May 2008 19:05:00 GMT

Heritage Lodge

Like the old hut, this is a shared facility between the Deer Stalkers and DoC. However, unlike the old hut this one is actually worth staying at!

Sleeps: heaps on a range of bench bunks with loads of floor space.

Heating: A solid little pot belly, its also double glazed and all that jazz.

Camping: Plenty in the vicinity, and if you drop down to the Orua there is more. There i also lots of covered deck space.

Sparrowhawk biv

Richard — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:55:32 GMT

Sparrowhawk biv

Sparrowhawk biv is a quirky combination of a dog box and a standup joined together - with no bunks in the standup part. It sits just above the bushline on the eastern side of the main range. On this rather chilly night 8 people fitted inside (note our packs didn't!).

Sleeps: 8. Well we did it - actually it would be better for 2-3

Heating: No

Camping: Not a lot around the biv, but you might find some on the top of the ridge.

Barlow hut

Richard — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:10:43 GMT

Barlow hut

Barlow was one of the last huts built in the Ruahines by the NZFS in 1983. It's a comfortable haven up the Makaroro, and sits at the bottom of Colenso spur - a historic route across the Ruahine ranges.

Sleeps: 10 or so on platforms

Heating: Corker cooker

Camping: Not a lot nearby.

Ruahine hut

Richard — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:10:36 GMT

Ruahine hut

This hut is accesible by 4X4 off the No Mans road.

Sleeps: Six

Heating: Open fire

Camping: heaps

Dianes hut

Richard — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:10:30 GMT

Dianes hut

This hut is a memorial hut and sits in an improbable location in a tiny northern Ruahine valley. Not often visited, and quite dark with a concrete floor.

Sleeps: Six

Heating: Burner

Camping: I don't remember a lot.

No Mans hut (private)

Richard — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:10:22 GMT

No Mans hut (private)

This hut was reputedly done up by DoC and then claimed by the landowners in the early 90s. If you get permission then the landowners are very friendly to trampers. The road in the foreground is No Mans road.

Taruarau biv

Richard — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:10:15 GMT

Taruarau biv

The loneliest hut in the Ruahines and maybe the North Island! The hut book goes back to 1969. It's sited off the side of the rifhr way up north past the private land in the Ruahines.

Sleeps: Two

Heating: No

Camping: A limited amount

Ikawatea Forks hut

Richard — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:10:08 GMT

Ikawatea Forks hut

Ikawatea Forks is a remote hut! Its sits at the forks of Ikawatea stream and Apias Creek in the northern Ruahines. Its Whio territory.

Sleeps: Six

Heating: Open fire

Camping: Not much, the clearing was blasted from the bush

Colenso hut

Richard — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:10:01 GMT

Colenso hut

A comfortable hut in a stunning location. Lake Colenso is well worth a visit and the tramping around here is superb.

Sleeps: Around 10 on platforms

Heating: Corker cooker

Camping: You will be able to find some in the general vicinity.

Maropea Forks hut

Richard — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:09:54 GMT

Maropea Forks hut

Maropea Forks is in a stunning location and this central part of the range offers some of the finest tramping in the North Island.

Sleeps: Six

Heating: Corker cooker

Camping: Yes, the Maropea is a superb camping valley

Heritage Lodge (old hut)

Richard — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:09:46 GMT

Heritage Lodge (old hut)

This hut has now burned down and been replaced. It was a large hut, half of which was locked at the end of Table Flat road in the Orua catchment. A great friday night destination only 20min from a safe carpark, with some neat tramping on the Ngamoko range.

Iron Gates hut

Richard — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:09:40 GMT

Iron Gates hut

Iron Gates is the next hut up the Orua from Heritage Lodge.

Sleeps: Six

Heating: Corker cooker

Camping: Yes the Orua is a good camping valley

Longview hut

Richard — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:09:34 GMT

Longview hut

Longview is just up the hill from Moorcock saddle. A fit person should be up there in an hour or less. Great views of the Central Hawkes Bay, but the wind can be pretty strong round here too.

Sleeps: About 12 or 14 on two platforms

Heating: Gas on tap

Camping: No

Leon Kinvig hut

Richard — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:09:28 GMT

Leon Kinvig hut

Leon Kinvig was a deer culler who drowned in the Pohangina in the 1960s. The hut named after him is superb, and this branch of the Pohangina is a superb summer trip.

Sleeps: 10 on two platforms

Heating: Open fire

Camping: A small amount near the hut.

Iron Bark hut

Richard — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:09:19 GMT

Iron Bark hut

A gem of a four-bunker in the lower Mangatera.

Sleeps: Four

Heating: Open fire

Camping: Yes, good camping around the hut

Triangle hut

Richard — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:09:11 GMT

Triangle hut

A cosy hut high in the Orua river. Best reached via Rangiwahia and Triangle spur.

Sleeps: Six

Heating: Corker cooker

Camping: A little around the hut

Waikamaka hut

Richard — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:09:03 GMT

Waikamaka hut

One of the HeretaungaTramping clubs yellow and blue huts. The Waikamaka valley is superb Ruahine tramping, and in spring a short walk up valley to the bushedge will reveal a garden of alpine flowers.

Sleeps: 10 or so on two platforms.

Heating: Pot belly

Camping: You will find some